- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001, Cross Heading: General is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
[F1(1)]Proceedings for an offence under this Part shall not be instituted[F2in England and Wales] except—
(a)by [F3the Secretary of State,] a local authority or a constable; or
(b)in any other case, with the consent of the Attorney General.
[F4(2)Proceedings for an offence under this Part shall not be instituted in Northern Ireland except—
(a)by the Secretary of State or a constable; or
(b)in any other case, with the consent of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
(3)In relation to any time before the coming into force of section 27(1) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, the reference in subsection (2)(b) to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland is to be read as a reference to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 30 renumbered (31.7.2008) as s. 30(1) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 46(8), 61(1); S.I. 2008/1864, art. 2
F2Words in s. 30(1) inserted (31.7.2008) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 46(8)(a), 61(1); S.I. 2008/1864, art. 2
F3Words in s. 30(a) inserted (16.3.2007 for E.W.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 44(3), 61(1); S.I. 2007/466, art. 2(a)
F4S. 30(2)(3) inserted (31.7.2008) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 46(8)(b), 61(1); S.I. 2008/1864, art. 2
Commencement Information
I1S. 30 wholly in force; s. 30 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 44; Pt. 2 (ss. 17-31) of the Act in force for certain purposes at 1.12.2002 and s. 30 otherwise in force at 1.1.2003 by S.I. 2002/2957, arts. {2}, {3}
(1)In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
“the 1994 Act” means the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (c.22);
[F5“the 2018 Act” means the Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018;]
“carrying on business as a registration plate supplier” has the meaning given by section 17(2);
“contravene”, in relation to any provision of regulations, includes fail to comply with it;
“exempt person” means any person who is an exempt person by virtue of regulations made under section 17(3)(b);
[F6 “ local authority ” means—
in relation to England, a county council, a district council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council;[F7or
in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994; ]]
“notice” means notice in writing;
“premises” includes any land or other place (whether or not enclosed);
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;
“a register” means a register established and maintained under section 18;
“registered” (and cognate expressions) have the meaning given by section 17(4);
“registration mark” [F8means a registration mark within the meaning given by section 23(1) of the 1994 Act or section 15(1) of the 2018 Act];
“registration plate” [F9means a trailer registration plate or a vehicle registration plate]
“selling registration plates” is to be construed in accordance with any regulations made under section 17(3)(a).
[F5“trailer registration plate” means a plate or other device which—
displays (whether alone or in conjunction with other information) in accordance with regulations made by virtue of section 15(4)(c) and (d)(i) of the 2018 Act a registration mark which complies with regulations made by virtue of section 15(4)(b) of that Act;
[F5“vehicle registration plate” means a plate or other device which—
displays (whether alone or in conjunction with other information) in accordance with regulations under paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 23 of the 1994 Act a registration mark which complies with regulations under paragraph (a) of that subsection;
complies with requirements imposed by regulations made under section 27A(1)(a) of the 1994 Act; and
is designed to be fixed to a vehicle or trailer in accordance with regulations made under section 22(2) or 23(3) of that Act.]
(2)The reference in section 22(5) to representations being made in writing includes a reference to representations being made in a text which—
F10(a)is transmitted by means of [F10an electronic communications network] or by other means but while in an electronic form;
(b)is received in legible form; and
(c)is capable of being used for subsequent reference.
(3)References in this Part to offences under this Part include references to anything which is an offence by virtue of section 24(3) and (4) or 25(2) and (3).
(4)References in this Part to an appeal under section 23 being finally determined or withdrawn include references to the final determination or withdrawal of proceedings by way of case stated which relate to a decision by a magistrates’ court on an appeal under that section.
Textual Amendments
F5Words in s. 31(1) inserted (19.7.2018) by Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018 (c. 19), s. 27(1), Sch. para. 8(10)
F6Words in s. 31(1) substituted (16.3.2007 for E.W.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 44(4), 61(1); S.I. 2007/466, art. 2(a)
F7Words in s. 31(1) inserted (31.7.2008) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 46(9), 61(1); S.I. 2008/1864, art. 2
F8Words in s. 31(1) substituted (19.7.2018) by Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018 (c. 19), s. 27(1), Sch. para. 8(11)
F9Words in s. 31(1) substituted (19.7.2018) by Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018 (c. 19), s. 27(1), Sch. para. 8(12)
F10Words in s. 31(2)(a) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), s. 411(2), Sch. 17 para. 168 (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Schs. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
Commencement Information
I2S. 31 wholly in force; s. 31 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 44; Pt. 2 (ss. 17-31) of the Act in force for certain purposes at 1.12.2002 and s. 31 otherwise in force at 1.1.2003 by S.I. 2002/2957, arts. {2}, {3}
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: