For section 71 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 there shall be substituted—

“71Unfit and overloaded vehicles: offences

(1)

A person who—

(a)

drives a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition under section 69 or 70 of this Act, or

(b)

causes or permits a vehicle to be driven in contravention of such a prohibition, or

(c)

fails to comply within a reasonable time with a direction under section 70(3) of this Act,

is guilty of an offence.

(2)

The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for exceptions from subsection (1) above.”