Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1999

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 316/1999

In exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government by section 5 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) and by section 82 of that Act as amended by section 57 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 (No. 25 of 1968), which powers were delegated to me by the Environment and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 427 of 1997 ), I, Robert Molloy, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government hereby make the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1999.

(2) The collective citation the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1999 shall include these Regulations.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of March 2000.

3. In these Regulations, save where the context otherwise requires:

“limousine” means the small public service vehicle having the qualities set out in article 6 (2) (a) and in respect of which a limousine licence has been granted;

“limousine licence” means a licence granted in respect of a small public service vehicle by a licensing authority under article 6;

“the Principal Regulations” means the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 ( S.I. No. 191 of 1963 );

“the Regulations of 1978” means the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Licensing) Regulations, 1978 ( S.I. No. 292 of 1978 );

“the Regulations of 1995” means the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995 ( S.I. No. 136 of 1995 ).

4. (1) Article 12 (2) of the Principal Regulations inserted by article 3 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1968 ( S.I. No. 273 of 1968 ) is hereby revoked.

(2) Paragraph (f) of article 3 (2) of the Principal Regulations as substituted by article 2 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1983 ( S.I. No. 273 of 1983 ) is hereby revoked.

5. Applications for limousine licences shall be made to licensing authorities and shall be in such form and manner as shall be determined by a licensing authority and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Regulations of 1995.

6. (1) A licensing authority may grant limousine licences in its functional area.

(2) The grant of a limousine licence to an applicant shall only be made—

(a) in respect of a vehicle which has an engine capacity of at least 2000 cubic centimetres and which is evidently suited by reason of its style and condition for the provision of hire services for ceremonial occasions, or for corporate or other prestige purposes, and

(b) where the applicant has paid to the licensing authority the appropriate fee specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Regulations of 1995, and

(c) where the applicant presents to the licensing authority a certificate issued by the Commissioner that the vehicle to which the licence is to refer has been inspected by the Commissioner and that the vehicle complies with the Regulations in operation under section 11 of the Act, and, as appropriate, with the requirements of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 1999 applicable to the vehicle, and

(d) where the applicant satisfies the licensing authority that the use of the vehicle as a limousine is covered by insurance.

7. (1) Where a vehicle is being operated as a limousine, there shall be carried by the driver of the limousine but not displayed in the vehicle, a document which shall be available for inspection by the person who hired the limousine or a member of the Garda Síochána on request and which shall indicate—

(i) the name and address of the holder of the limousine licence,

(ii) the licence number of the limousine licence granted in respect of that vehicle,

(iii) the name, address and telephone number of the licensing authority which granted the limousine licence.

(2) No document or sign referring to the licensing or operation of the vehicle as a limousine shall be displayed within the vehicle.

8. (1). (a) On the granting of a limousine licence, the licensing authority shall issue to the owner of the vehicle a sign (in these Regulations referred to as a limousine sign) which shall comply with the requirements of this article.

(b) A limousine sign shall be in the form of an ellipse, be white in colour and shall display the letters “LM” and the number of the limousine licence in black letters.

(2) The limousine sign shall at all times be securely affixed to the rear of the limousine on the outside, in respect of which it was issued, in such a manner that it does not obscure the view of the driver, the vehicle licence number or the vehicle lights.

(3) Where a licensing authority is satisfied that a limousine sign has been lost or destroyed or has become defaced, it may issue a substitute limousine sign to the owner of the vehicle on payment of the appropriate fee specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Regulations of 1995.

(4) No sign or advertisement other than a limousine sign which complies with this article shall be displayed on a limousine.

(5) A limousine sign shall only be displayed on a vehicle in respect of which a limousine licence is in force.

9. (1) Whenever a limousine licence is revoked or suspended the owner of the vehicle shall from the date of the revocation or suspension cease to display the limousine sign and within seven days shall deliver the licence granted in respect of the vehicle and the limousine sign to the licensing authority.

(2) Whenever a limousine licence ceases to be in force and an application for the renewal of the licence is not made, or an application for the renewal of the licence is refused, the owner of the vehicle shall immediately upon cessation of the licence or upon receipt of notification from the licensing authority of the refusal of the application for the renewal of the licence cease to display the limousine sign and within seven days shall deliver such sign to the licensing authority.

(3) On the termination or removal of a suspension of a limousine licence the licensing authority shall where the licence is still in force return the licence and the limousine sign to the owner of the vehicle.

10.(1) On the granting of a hackney licence the owner of the vehicle shall, while such vehicle is being operated as a hackney, display on the front and rear of the vehicle signs (in these Regulations referred to as hackney signs) which shall comply with the requirements set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) A hackney shall not be operated unless hackney signs are displayed on the vehicle in compliance with these Regulations.

(3) No sign or advertisement, other...