Transport Act 2000

Bus services: miscellaneous E+W

142 Traffic regulation conditions to reduce or limit pollution. E+W

In section 7 of the M1 Transport Act 1985 (traffic regulation conditions to be met in provision of local services subject to registration), in subsection (4) (reasons for which conditions may be determined), insert at the end “; or

(c) reduce or limit noise or air pollution.”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 142 wholly in force at 1.8.2001; s. 142 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 275(1)(2); s. 142 in force (E.) at 1.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (subject to the savings in Sch. 3 Pt. II); s. 142 in force (W.) at 1.8.2001 by S.I. 2001/2788, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 4

Marginal Citations

M1 1985 c. 67.

143 Power to obtain information about local services. E+W

(1) A local transport authority may, in connection with the exercise of any of their functions relating to public transport, require an operator of local services to provide them with any information relating to the matters specified in subsection (2) which is in his possession or control.

(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) the total number of journeys undertaken by passengers on the local services operated by the operator in the authority’s area or any part of its area,

(b) the structure of fares for those journeys, and

(c) the total distance covered by vehicles used by him in operating those local services.

(3) The operator may be required to provide the information in any form in which, having regard to the manner in which the information is kept, it is reasonable to expect him to provide it.

(4) No information which—

(a) has been provided under this section, or provided together with information so provided, and

(b) relates to the affairs of an individual or to a particular business,

shall be disclosed during the lifetime of the individual or while the business continues to be carried on.

(5) But subsection (4) does not apply to a disclosure made—

(a) with the consent of the individual or the person for the time being carrying on the business,

(b) in connection with the investigation of crime or for the purposes of criminal proceedings,

(c) for the purposes of civil proceedings brought by virtue of this Act or the M2 Transport Act 1985, or

(d) in order to comply with the order of a court or tribunal.

(6) A person who discloses information in contravention of subsection (4) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 143(5)(b): Disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 17, 127(2)(a), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 53(1)

Commencement Information

I2 S. 143 wholly in force at 1.8.2001; s. 143 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 275(1)(2); s. 143 in force (E.) at 1.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (subject to the savings in Sch. 3 Pt. II); s. 143 in force (W.) at 1.8.2001 by S.I. 2001/2788, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 4

Marginal Citations

M2 1985 c. 67.

[F1 143A Power to obtain information: franchising schemes E+W

(1) A franchising authority may, in connection with their functions under this Part in relation to franchising schemes, require an operator of local services to provide them with such relevant information about local services operated by the operator in the authority's area, or any part of it, as the operator possesses or controls.

(2) If two or more franchising authorities are exercising functions under this Part in relation to the same franchising scheme or proposed franchising scheme, each of them may, in connection with their functions under this Part in relation to franchising schemes, require an operator of local services to provide them with such relevant information about local services operated by the operator in the authorities' areas, or any part of those areas, as the operator possesses or controls.

(3) For the purposes of this section, information about the local services operated by an operator in an area is relevant information if it is—

(a) information about the total number of journeys undertaken by passengers on the local services operated by the operator in the area;

(b) information about the structure of fares for journeys on those local services;

(c) information about revenue received from those local services, including information about revenue attributable to particular types of fares or derived from journeys undertaken on particular parts of those local services;

(d) information about the total distance covered by vehicles used by the operator in operating those local services;

(e) information about persons employed by the operator in the provision of those local services;

(f) information about journeys that the operator has forecast will be undertaken by passengers on those services and revenue that the operator has forecast will be received from those services;

(g) information of such description as is specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(4) The powers in subsections (1) and (2) may not be used to require an operator to provide information relating to periods that fall more than five years before the date of the demand.

(5) If a franchising authority or authorities require the consent of the Secretary of State under section 123C before preparing an assessment under section 123B, that consent must be given before the authority or any of them may exercise the powers in subsections (1) and (2).

(6) The operator may be required—

(a) to provide the information in any form in which, having regard to the manner in which the information is kept, it is reasonable to expect the operator to provide it, and

(b) to provide the information before the end of such reasonable period as may be specified by the franchising authority.

(7) If it appears to a franchising authority that an operator of a local service has failed to take all reasonable steps to comply with a requirement imposed under this section, the authority must inform a traffic commissioner.

(8) A franchising authority that have obtained information under this section may—

(a) use the information for the purposes of their functions under this Part in relation to franchising schemes, and

(b) supply the information to a person specified in subsection (9) for use in connection with the same franchising scheme or the same proposed franchising scheme.

(9) The persons referred to in subsection (8) are—

(a) a franchising authority;

(b) a person providing services to a franchising authority;

(c) a person carrying out functions under section 123D.

(10) The requirements in sections 123E and 123G about publishing documents do not require a franchising authority to publish information obtained by the authority, or another franchising authority exercising functions under this Part in relation to the same franchising scheme or proposed franchising scheme, under this section if it is information that the authority could refuse to disclose in response to a request under—

(a) the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or

(b) the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3391) or any regulations replacing those regulations.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 143A inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 27.6.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Bus Services Act 2017 (c. 21), ss. 5, 26(3)

[F2 143B Power to obtain information about local services: enhanced partnership schemes E+W

(1) If a local transport authority in England, or two or more such authorities acting jointly, are preparing an enhanced partnership plan or scheme, the authority or any of the authorities may, in connection with preparing the plan or scheme, require an operator of a local service in their area or combined area to supply relevant information.

(2) A local transport authority in England that are party to an enhanced partnership plan may, in connection with any relevant function, require an operator of a local service in their area, or in the combined area of the authority and any other local transport authority in England that are party to the plan, to supply relevant information.

(3) If an enhanced partnership plan is proposed to be varied so as to include another local transport authority in England, that authority may, in connection with determining whether and how to vary an enhanced partnership plan or scheme, require an operator of a local service in their area, or in the combined area of that authority and any other local transport authority in England that would be party to the plan as it is proposed to be varied, to supply relevant information.

(4) The operator may be required—

(a) to provide the information in any form in which, having regard to the manner in which the information is kept, it is reasonable to expect him to provide it, and

(b) to provide the information before the end of such reasonable period as may be specified by the local transport authority.

(5) If it appears to a local transport authority that an operator of a local service has failed to take all reasonable steps to comply with a request under this section, the authority must inform a traffic commissioner.

(6) A local transport authority that have obtained information under this section in connection with a function relating to an enhanced partnership plan or scheme may—

(a) use the information for the purposes of the function for which it was obtained, and

(b) supply the information to a person specified in subsection (7) for use for those purposes in connection with the same plan or scheme.

(7) The persons referred to in subsection (6) are—

(a) a local transport authority;

(b) the Secretary of State;

(c) a metropolitan district council;

(d) a person providing services to a local transport authority, the Secretary of State or a metropolitan district council.

(8) A public authority must not disclose information supplied to the authority under this section if it is information which the authority may refuse to disclose in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in reliance on a claim that the information is exempt information by virtue of section 40, 41, 42 or 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(9) Subsection (8) does not prevent the disclosure of information—

(a) under subsection (6)(b),

(b) in the case of information relating to the affairs of an individual who is alive or a particular business that is being carried on, with the consent of the individual or the person for the time being carrying on the business,

(c) in connection with the investigation of crime or for the purposes of criminal proceedings,

(d) for the purposes of civil proceedings brought by virtue of this Act or the Transport Act 1985,

(e) in order to comply with the order of a court of tribunal, or

(f) in order to comply with a requirement imposed by law.

(10) The prohibition in subsection (8) is to be disregarded for the purposes of section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(11) In this section—

• “relevant function” means—

  (a)

  reviewing an enhanced partnership plan or the operation of an enhanced partnership scheme,

  (b)

  determining whether and how to vary an enhanced partnership plan or scheme, or

  (c)

  determining whether to revoke an enhanced partnership plan or scheme;

• “relevant information” means information relating to a local service or passengers on a local service which is of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 143B inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 27.6.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Bus Services Act 2017 (c. 21), ss. 10, 26(3)

144 Civil penalties for bus lane contraventions. E+W

[F3 (1) The relevant national authority may by regulations make provision for or in connection with—

(a) the imposition of penalty charges in respect of bus lane contraventions, and

(b) the payment of such penalty charges.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide for the imposition of penalty charges—

(a) by approved local authorities, or

(b) both by approved local authorities and by Transport for London or London local authorities or both.

(3) An authority is an approved local authority if—

(a) an order designating the whole or any part of its area has been made under paragraph 1(1) or 2(1) of Schedule 3 to the Road Traffic Act 1991 (permitted and special parking areas outside Greater London), and

(b) the relevant national authority has made an order specifying it as an approved local authority for the purposes of this section

(4) A bus lane contravention is a contravention of any such provision of—

(a) a traffic regulation order,

(b) an experimental traffic order, or

(c) a temporary traffic restriction order,

as relates to the use of an area of road which is or forms part of a bus lane.

(5) And an area of road is or forms part of a bus lane if the order provides that it may be used—

(a) only by buses (or a particular description of bus), or

(b) only by buses (or a particular description of bus) and some other class or classes of vehicular traffic.

(6) The roads in relation to which regulations under subsection (1) may authorise the imposition of penalty charges are—

(a) in the case of an approved local authority, roads in its area,

(b) in the case of Transport for London, roads in Greater London of a description prescribed by such regulations or all roads in Greater London, and

(c) in the case of a London local authority, roads in its area of a description prescribed by such regulations or all roads in its area.

(7) Before making any regulations by virtue of subsection (6)(b) or (c) the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) Transport for London, and

(b) the London local authorities affected by the regulations.

(8) Regulations under subsection (1) shall include provision—

(a) specifying the person by whom a penalty charge in respect of any contravention is to be paid (who may be the registered keeper of the motor vehicle involved in the contravention, its driver at the time of the contravention or any other appropriate person),

(b) permitting the imposition of a penalty charge only on the basis of a record produced by an approved device,

(c) securing that a penalty charge in respect of a contravention is not required to be paid, or is refunded, where the conduct constituting the contravention is the subject of criminal proceedings or where a fixed penalty notice has been given in respect of that conduct, and

(d) as to the application of sums paid by way of penalty charges.

(9) Regulations under subsection (1) shall include provision for the level of penalty charges in the case of approved local authorities to be set by the authorities subject to the approval of the relevant national authority; and sections 74 and 74A of the Road Traffic Act 1991 apply to penalty charges in the case of Transport for London and London local authorities as they apply to additional parking charges.

(10) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) specify exemptions from penalty charges,

(b) make provision for discounts or surcharges (or both), and

(c) make provision about the keeping of accounts, and the preparation and publication of statements of account, relating to sums paid by way of penalty charges.

(11) The Lord Chancellor may make regulations about the notification, adjudication and enforcement of penalty charges.

(12) Regulations under subsection (11) may include—

(a) provision creating criminal offences to be triable summarily and punishable with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or such lower amount as is prescribed by the regulations, and

(b) provision for or in connection with permitting evidence of a fact to be given by the production of a record produced by an approved device with a certificate as to the circumstances in which the record was produced,

but may not confer power to stop motor vehicles.

(13) Regulations under this section made by the Secretary of State or the Lord Chancellor may make provision in respect of Greater London different from that in respect of the rest of England.

(14) In this section—

• “approved device” means a device of a description specified in an order made by the relevant national authority,

• “bus” includes a tramcar (within the meaning of section 141A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984) and a trolley vehicle (within the meaning of that section),

• “experimental traffic order” means an order under section 9 of that Act,

• “fixed penalty notice” has the same meaning as in Part III of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988,

• “London local authority” means a London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London,

• “motor vehicle” has the meaning given in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, except that section 189 of that Act (exception for certain pedestrian controlled vehicles and electrically assisted pedal cycles) shall apply as it applies for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts,

• “registered keeper”, in relation to a contravention involving a motor vehicle, means the person in whose name the motor vehicle was registered under the Vehicle Registration and Excise Act 1994 at the time of the contravention,

• “relevant national authority” means—

  (a)

  the Secretary of State as respects England, or

  (b)

  the National Assembly for Wales as respects Wales,

• “road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984,

• “temporary traffic restriction order” means an order under section 14 or 16A of that Act, and

• “traffic regulation order” means an order under section 1 or 6 of that Act. ]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 144 repealed (31.3.2008 for W., 31.5.2022 for E.) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), s. 99(1), Sch. 12 Pt. 1; S.I. 2007/3174, art. 2, Sch.; S.I. 2022/66, arts. 1(2), 2(2)(d) (with art. 3(4)-(10))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 144 applied (with modifications) by 2006 c. 12, s. 16C(1)-(4) (as inserted (14.2.2012) by London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Act 2011 (c. 22), ss. 8, 10(1))

C3 S. 144 modified (temp.) (26.5.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(p), Sch. 11 para. 17 (with Sch. 11 para. 18)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 144 wholly in force at 1.4.2002; s. 144 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 275(1)(2); s. 144 in force (E.) for specified purposes at 1.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I (subject to the savings in Sch. 3 Pt. II); s. 144 in force (W.) at 1.8.2001 by S.I. 2001/2788, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 4; s. 144 in force (E.) in so far as not already in force at 1.4.2002 by S.I. 2002/658, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1