Roads Act 1920

7 Amendment of 59 & 60 Vict. c.36, 3 Edw. 7 c. 36, and 9 Edw. 7 c. 37.

(1) References in section ten of the Motor Car Act, 1903, to motor cars shall be deemed to include references to vehicles within the meaning of this Act.

(2) In paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section four of the Motor Car Act, 1903, the words " may cause " shall be substituted for the words " shall cause, " and the words " where any particulars are so endorsed " shall be substituted for the word " also, " and in subsection (2) of that section the words, " if so required by the convicting court " shall be inserted after the word " shall. "

(3) Where a person who is the holder of a licence which has been endorsed under section four of the Motor Car Act, 1903, or under that section as amended by this Act, has not during a continuous period of not less than three years had any conviction so endorsed on the licence, he shall be entitled, either on applying for a renewal of the licence or, subject to payment of a fee of five shillings, at any time, to have issued to him a new licence free from endorsements.

(4) The Minister may, by order on the application of any county council after holding a public inquiry, prohibit or restrict, subject to such exceptions or conditions as to occasional user or otherwise as may be specified in the order, the driving of vehicles of any specified class on any specified highway within the area of the council in any case in which it appears to him, as the result of the inquiry, to be proved that a vehicle of that class cannot be used on that highway without endangering the safety of the vehicle or the persons therein or of other traffic using the highway, or that the highway is unsuitable for use by a vehicle of that class :

Provided that—

(a) the Minister may at any time, after giving notice in that behalf to the county council on whose application the order was made, and after considering any objections made by that council, but without holding any public inquiry, revoke, vary, or amend any order made under this subsection; and

(b) every order made under this subsection shall require the authority responsible for the maintenance of the highway to which the order relates to give in the prescribed manner notice of the fact that an order has been made under this subsection with respect to that highway.

The provisions contained in the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to applications and inquiries under this subsection.

The foregoing provisions of this subsection shall be substituted for section eight of the Motor Car Act, 1903.

(5) The power of the Minister under subsection (2) of section twelve of the Motor Car Act, 1903, to make regulations as to the speed of motor cars exceeding two tons in weight unladen shall Include power to make regulations as to the speed on any road of any agricultural tractor whether it exceeds two tons in weight unladen or not.

(6) For the purposes of the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903, and of any other enactments relating to the use of vehicles on roads, the weight unladen of any vehicle shall be taken to be the weight of the vehicle inclusive of the body and all parts (the heavier being taken where alternative bodies or parts are used) which are necessary to or ordinarily used with the vehicle when working on a road, but exclusive of the weight of water, fuel or accumulators (other than boilers) used for the purpose of propulsion and of loose tools or loose equipment:

Provided that, in the case of a vehicle which weighs more than seven and a quarter tons and is specially constructed so that all or part of the superstructure is a permanent, or essentially permanent, fixture and the axle weights of which do not exceed the maximum axle weights prescribed under the Motor Car Act, 1903, or any Act amending that Act, the weight nnladen of the vehicle shall be deemed to be seven and a quarter tons.

(7) All sums received by a county council by way of fees for licences granted under section three of the Motor Car Act, 1903, and all penalties recovered in respect of offences under the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903, shall be paid into the Exchequer in such manner and in accordance with such directions as may be contained in any Order in Council made under this Act.

(8) The Motor Car (International Circulation) Act, 1909, shall have effect as though the references therein to the Motor Car Act, 1903, included references to this Act.