"proper officer", in relation to a designated council in England or Wales, has the meaning given by section 270(3) of the Local Government Act 1972;"[5];

    "section 66A examiner" means an examiner appointed under section 66A (appointment of vehicle examiners) of the 1988 Act;";

    "the records" means the records of the results of examinations for the purposes of section 45 of the 1988 Act maintained by the Secretary of State (or caused by him to be maintained); and "the electronic record" means such of those records as is maintained in electronic form;" and

    "VOSA" means the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency".

    (2) After paragraph (5), insert the following paragraph - 

        " (6) References in these Regulations to the making, by electronic communication, of entries in the electronic record include references to causing entries to be made in that record (either by electronic communication or by other means notified by the Secretary of State).".

Exemptions
     4. In regulation 6 (exemptions) - 

Approvals, authorisations and designations for the purposes of examinations
     5. For Part II (regulations 7 to 11), substitute Part II set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Applications for examinations
    
6. In regulation 12 (applications for examinations)[7] - 

    (a) in paragraph (2), in the entry in column (2) of the Table relevant to item 1, after "An", insert "authorised";

    (b) in paragraph (3) - 

      (i) after "Regulations", insert "authorised";

      (ii) in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), omit "by the examiner or, as the case may be, the designated council"; and

      (iii) in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), omit "by the examiner or, as the case may be, the designated council"; and

    (c) in paragraph (4), before "examiner" (in both places), insert "authorised";

    (d) in paragraph (5) - 

      (i) for the words from the beginning to "council", substitute "Any authorised examiner, inspector, nominated tester or section 66A examiner"; and

      (ii) omit the words from "; and the reference" to the end; and

    (e) in paragraph (6) - 

      (i) for "examiner", in the first place where that word appears, substitute "authorised examiner or a nominated tester";

      (ii) omit "appointed by such a council"; and

      (iii) for "inspectors appointed by that council", substitute "their inspectors".

Requirements as to vehicles submitted for examinations
     7. In regulation 13 (requirements as to vehicles submitted for examinations)[8] - 

    (a) in paragraph (1) for the words from the beginning to "council", substitute "An authorised examiner, a section 66A examiner, a nominated tester and an inspector";

    (b) in sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph, after "the examiner, inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be";

    (c) in sub-paragraph (c) of that paragraph, after "inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be";

    (d) in sub-paragraph (d) of that paragraph, after "the examiner or inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be";

    (e) in sub-paragraph (e) of that paragraph, after "the examiner, or inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be";

    (f) in sub-paragraph (j) of that paragraph - 

      (i) after "the examiner or inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be"; and

      (ii) omit the word "or" at the end of paragraph (ii);

    (g) in sub-paragraph (k) of that paragraph, after "the examiner or inspector", insert "or nominated tester, as the case may be";

    (h) after sub-paragraph (k) of that paragraph, insert - 

      " (l) the vehicle - 

        (i) does not have a registration mark, vehicle identification number, chassis number or serial number; or

        (ii) has one or more of those marks and numbers, but either none of them is legible or such one or more as is legible is in a script other than English."; and

    (i) omit paragraph (2).

Conditions as to responsibility for damage to vehicles and third party liabilities
     8. In regulation 14 (conditions as to responsibility for damage to vehicles and third party liabilities)[9] - 

    (a) in paragraph (1), for "an examiner or an inspector appointed by a designated council, the examiner,", substitute "a person other than a section 66A examiner, the authorised examiner or";

    (b) in sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph, for "the examiner, council", substitute "the authorised examiner or designated council (as the case may be)";

    (c) for paragraph (1A), substitute the following paragraph - 

        " (1A) Where a motor vehicle has been submitted for an examination to be carried out by a section 66A examiner, paragraph (1) shall apply in relation to the examination as if - 

      (a) for the reference to a person other than a section 66A examiner, there were substituted a reference to a section 66A examiner; and

      (b) for references to an authorised examiner or designated council, there were substituted references to the Secretary of State.";

    (d) in paragraph (2), before "examiner" insert "authorised";

    (e) in paragraph (3), before "examiner" (in both places), insert "authorised";

    (f) in paragraph (4) - 

      (i) in sub-paragraph (a), before "examiner", insert "authorised";

      (ii) in sub-paragraph (b), for the words from "of the vehicle" to the end, substitute ", in the control or care of an inspector, and"; and

      (iii) in sub-paragraph (c), for the words from "of the vehicle" to the end, substitute ", in the control or care of a section 66A examiner".

Notification of examinations and results
     9. For regulation 15 (results of examinations), substitute the following regulation - 

Refusal of test certificate where braking test cannot be carried out
    
10. In regulation 16 (refusal of a test certificate where braking test cannot be carried out) - 

Removal of vehicles submitted for examination
    
11. In regulation 17 (removal of vehicles submitted for examination) - 

Appeal on refusal of a test certificate
    
12. In regulation 18 (appeal on refusal of a test certificate) - 

Payments to examiners and designated councils at whose premises examinations on appeals are carried out
    
13. In regulation 19 (payments to examiners and designated councils at whose premises examinations on appeals are carried out), before "examiner" (in the first place where that word appears), insert "authorised".

Fees for examinations
    
14. In regulation 20 (fees for examinations) - 

Fees on appeals
    
15. In regulation 21 (fees on appeals), in the proviso to paragraph (4), for "the office of the traffic area", substitute "the office of VOSA".

Other records to be kept and returns to be furnished
    
16. For regulation 22 (records to be kept and returns to be furnished by examiners and designated councils), substitute the following regulation - 

Duplicate test certificates
    
17. For regulation 23 (duplicate test certificates), substitute the following regulation - 

Correction of errors in records and test certificates
    
18. After regulation 23, insert the following regulation - 

Inspection of premises, apparatus and records
    
19. In regulation 24 (inspection of premises, apparatus and records) - 

Return of apparatus and documents
    
20. After regulation 24, insert the following regulation - 

Miscellaneous charges and refunds
    
21. For regulation 25 (forms), substitute the following regulations - 

Access to, and sale of, particulars in, or information derived from, the records
    
22. After regulation 28 (certificates of temporary exemption) insert the following regulations - 

Charges for purposes of regulation 25A
    
23. After Schedule 2 (the prescribed statutory requirements), insert the following Schedule - 




Savings
    
24.  - (1) The amendments made - 

shall not apply in relation to examinations at a vehicle testing station at which the apparatus required to enable entries to be made in the electronic record has not been installed and, accordingly, the principal Regulations shall have effect in relation to such examinations as if those amendments had not been made.

    (2) The amendments made by regulations 9 and 10 of these Regulations shall not apply in relation to the examination of vehicles classified, in accordance with regulation 5 of the principal Regulations, as vehicles of Class VI or Class VIA.

Transitional provisions
    
25.  - (1) In this regulation "the commencement date" means the date on which these Regulations come into force.

    (2) A person who, immediately before the commencement date, is an authorised examiner or an inspector may continue to act in that capacity on and after that date, notwithstanding that he has not complied with the relevant requirements.

    (3) Subject to paragraph (4), an authorised examiner to whom paragraph (2) applies shall, on and after the commencement date, be treated as subject to such of the conditions specified in such of regulations 8B and 8D as are applicable in his case (in addition to any conditions to which he is subject by virtue of his authorisation before that date).

    (4) An authorised examiner who, but for this paragraph, would be treated as subject to the condition specified in regulation 8D(c), shall not be so treated if on 1st April 1995 he was authorised to carry out examinations for the purposes of section 45 of the 1988 Act and has continued so be so authorised until immediately before the commencement date.

    (5) An inspector to whom paragraph (2) applies shall be treated, on and after the commencement date, as subject to the conditions specified in regulation 8A (in addition to any conditions to which he is subject by virtue of his appointment before that date).

    (6) A person whose name appears, with the agreement of the Secretary of State, in a list exhibited as mentioned in regulation 9(1)(d) of the principal Regulations immediately before the commencement date, may continue to carry out examinations at the vehicle testing station to which the list relates, notwithstanding that he has not complied with the relevant requirements.

    (7) A person to whom paragraph (6) applies shall be treated, on and after the commencement date - 

    (8) A council which, immediately before the commencement date, is designated for the purposes of section 45 and 46 of the 1988 Act may continue to act in that capacity on and after that date notwithstanding that they have not complied with the relevant requirements.

    (9) Subject to paragraph (10), a council to which paragraph (8) applies shall be treated on and after the commencement date as subject to the conditions specified in regulation 8E (in addition to any conditions to which they are subject by virtue of their designation before that date).

    (10) A designated council which, but for this paragraph, would be treated as subject to the condition specified in regulation 8E(b)(ii), shall not be so treated if on 1st April 1995 it was designated for the purposes of sections 45 and 46 of the 1988 Act and has continued so be so designated until immediately before the commencement date.

    (11) In this regulation "the relevant requirements" - 

Omission of Part
    
26. Part 1 of Schedule I (diagram showing size, colour, and type of sign to be displayed by authorised examiners) shall be omitted.



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport


David Jamieson
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport

14th April 2003



SCHEDULE
Regulation 5


APPROVALS, AUTHORISATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS FOR PURPOSES OF EXAMINATIONS






EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 ("the principal Regulations"). Subject to the exceptions mentioned below, they apply in relation to, and for purposes connected with, examinations of motor vehicles under Parts III and IV of the principal Regulations ("the MoT test") carried out on or after 1st June 2003.

Many of the amendments to the principal Regulations reflect amendments to section 45 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 ("the 1988 Act") made by the Road Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999 ("the section 45 amendments"). Those amendments provide that examinations under section 45 of the 1988 Act may only be carried out by "authorised examiners", "nominated testers", inspectors appointed by "designated councils" or examiners appointed under section 66A of the 1988 Act.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends regulation 3(1) of the principal Regulations, which defines expressions used in those Regulations.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations amends regulation 6 of the principal Regulations, which deals with exemptions. The amendments reflect the fact that, except to the extent provided by section 254 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (the "1999 Act"), the functions of the Secretary of State under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1988 (c. 34) have been transferred by subsection (1) of that section to Transport for London (established under section 154 of the 1999 Act).

Regulation 5 of, and Schedule 1 to, these Regulations replaces Part II of the principal Regulations, and is mainly consequential on the section 45 amendments. The new Part II makes provision - 

    (a) for applications for approval as nominated testers or inspectors, for authorisation as authorised examiners, and for designation (new regulations 7 and 7A);

    (b) for the conditions to which approved or authorised persons and designated councils are to be subject (new regulations 8 to 8E);

    (c) for the circumstances in which persons cease to be nominated testers, inspectors or authorised examiners, or councils cease to be designated (new regulations 9 and 10); and

    (d) in those circumstances, for the return to the Secretary of State of documents and apparatus used for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying out of examinations (new regulation 11).

New regulation 8F, which qualifies new regulations 8B(h) and 8E(g), allows the display of vehicle testing stations signs of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994, notwithstanding the replacement of those Regulations by the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002, where the signs were displayed immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations.

Regulations 6 to 8 of these Regulations amend regulations 12 to 14 of the principal Regulations (applications for examinations, requirements as to vehicles submitted for examinations and conditions as to responsibility for damage to vehicles and third party liabilities, respectively) to reflect the section 45 amendments.

Regulation 9 of these Regulations substitutes regulation 15 (examinations) of the principal Regulations not only to reflect the section 45 amendments but also to make provision for the electronic recording of the results of MoT tests. Where the computerised record is not accessible at the time of the examination, the examiner is required to enter or confirm relevant particulars in the computerised record as soon as it becomes available. The person by whom the vehicle was submitted for examination may require the provision of the computer-generated certificate or notice of refusal in exchange for the certificate or notice issued at the time of the examination.

Regulation 10 of these Regulations amends regulation 16 (refusal of test certificate where braking test cannot be carried out) of the principal Regulations. The effect of the amendments is similar to that of the amendments made by regulation 9.

Regulation 11 of these Regulations amends regulation 17 (removal of vehicles submitted for examination) of the principal Regulations to reflect the section 45 amendments.

Regulation 12 of these Regulations amends regulation 18 (appeal on refusal of test certificate) of the principal Regulations. The first amendment substitutes a reference to an office of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency ("VOSA") for the reference to the office of a traffic area. (Regulation 3(1)(d) of these Regulations omits the definition of "traffic area" in regulation 3(1) of the principal Regulations.) The other amendments are similar in effect to those made by regulations 9 and 10.

Regulations 13 and 14 of these Regulations amend regulations 19 and 20 of the principal Regulations (payments to examiners and designated councils at whose premises examinations on appeals are carried out, and fees for examinations, respectively) to reflect the section 45 amendments.

Regulation 15 of these Regulations amends regulation 21 of the principal Regulations (fees on appeals) by substituting in the proviso to paragraph (4) a reference to the office of VOSA at which the appeal is lodged.

Regulations 16 and 17 of these Regulations substitute regulations 22 and 23 of the principal Regulations (records to be kept and returns to be furnished, and duplicate test certificates respectively) to reflect both the section 45 amendments and the introduction of the computerised record.

Regulation 18 of these Regulations introduces new regulation 23A of the principal Regulations. The new regulation provides for the correction of errors in records and test certificates.

Regulation 19 of these Regulations amends regulation 24 (inspection of premises, apparatus and records) of the principal Regulations to reflect both the section 45 amendments and the introduction of the computerised record.

Regulation 20 of these Regulations introduces new regulation 24A of the principal Regulations. The new regulation makes provision for the return to the Secretary of State of apparatus and documents provided in connection with the carrying out of vehicle examinations.

Regulation 21 of these Regulation substitutes regulation 25 of the principal Regulations and introduces new regulations 25A and 25B of the principal Regulations. The substituted regulation 25 makes provision for the payment to the Secretary of State by authorised examiners and designated councils of charges for the making of entries in the computerised record in respect of vehicles which pass the MoT test. The charge is set at £1.19 per entry. (There is no charge for entries in respect of vehicles which fail the MoT test.) Paragraph (2) of the new regulation requires the making of payments on account.

Authorised examiners and designated councils will be provided with apparatus with which to make entries in the computerised record, and will receive an initial installation visit, free of charge. New regulation 25A makes provision for circumstances in which the Secretary of State may charge for the provision of apparatus to replace that originally provided, and for certain services. The charges are set out in a new Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations, which is introduced by regulation 23 of these Regulations. Where apparatus is not returned in the circumstances mentioned in regulation 11 or 24A(1), is returned in an unserviceable condition (otherwise than by reason of fair wear and tear), or cannot be returned, paragraph (6) of the new regulation enables the Secretary of State to require a compensatory payment.

New regulation 25B provides for the making of refunds by the Secretary of State where a person ceases to be an authorised examiner or where a council cease to be designated, and in respect of the return to him of unused certificates, or spoilt or defaced certificates for which payment has been made in advance.

Regulation 22 of these Regulations introduces new regulations 29 and 30 of the principal Regulations. The new regulations make provision for access to particulars in the records and for the sale of particulars in, or of information derived from, the records.

Regulation 24 provides that the amendments made by regulations 9, 10(b), 12(b), 16 and 17, and, to the extent that it relates to new regulation 25 of the principal Regulations, regulation 20 of these Regulations, are not to apply in relation to examinations at any vehicle testing station at which the apparatus required to enable entries to be made in the computerised system has not been installed. It also provides that the amendments made by regulations 9 and 10 of these Regulations are not to apply in relation to the examination of vehicles classified, in accordance with regulation 5 of the principal Regulations, as vehicles of Class VI or Class VIA (certain types of public service vehicle).

Regulation 25 makes transitional provision to the effect that persons who are authorised to carry out examinations immediately before these Regulations come into force may continue to do so, and that councils continue to be designated, notwithstanding that they have not complied with the procedures contained in the substitute Part II of the principal Regulations. Subject to the exceptions mentioned in paragraphs (3) and (9), those persons and councils are treated as subject to the conditions set out in whichever of the new regulations 8A and 8E is applicable in their particular circumstances.

Regulation 26 reflects the replacement of the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994 by the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002. It amends the principal Regulations by omitting Part 1 of Schedule 1. See also the paragraph of this Note relating to new regulation 8F.

A regulatory impact assessment in respect of the Regulations may be inspected at the Department for Transport's Library, Great Minister House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR, from where a copy may be obtained. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.


Notes:

[1] 1988 c. 52. Section 45 was amended, and section 46 substituted, by sections 1 and 2, respectively, of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999 (c. 12).back

[2] S.I. 1981/1694. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1995/2438, 1998/1672 and 2000/1432.back

[3] See also section 45(3)(c)(i), substituted by the Road Vehicles (Testing) Act 1999, section 1(1)(b).back

[4] 1984 c. 12. See the definition in section 106(1), and section 4(1) and (2).back

[5] 1972 c. 70.back

[6] Transport for London was established by section 154 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29).back

[7] Relevant amendments are made by S.I. 1995/2438 and 1998/1672.back

[8] Relevant amendments are made by S.I. 1995/2438 and 2000/1432.back

[9] Relevant amendments are made by S.I. 1995/2438.back

[10] S.I. 2002/3113, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.back

[11] Part I of S.I. 2002/3113, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.back

[12] Part I of S.I. 1994/1519 (revoked, subject to savings, by S.I. 2002/3113).back

[13] 1983 c. 20. See section 94(2).back



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