The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

PART 3 PLATES

15.—(1) A mobile crane must be equipped with a plate that is—

(a) securely fixed to the mobile crane in a conspicuous and readily accessible position; and

(b) indelibly marked with letters and figures, not less than 6 millimetres high, containing the information relating to the mobile crane which is specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The information is—

(a) the maximum axle weight for each axle, determined in accordance with sub-paragraph (3); and

(b) the maximum gross weight, determined in accordance with that sub-paragraph.

(3) A maximum weight is determined in accordance with this sub-paragraph if—

(a) in the case of a vehicle which is specially adapted to be a mobile crane and to which the Goods Vehicles Type Approval Regulations applied immediately before such adaptation, it is the maximum weight at or below which the vehicle is considered fit for use by the Secretary of State; and

(b) in any other case, it is the maximum weight at or below which the mobile crane is considered fit for use by the manufacturer of the mobile crane.

(4) In determining a maximum weight for the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), the person making the determination must have regard to—

(a) the design, construction and equipment of the mobile crane; and

(b) the stresses to which it is likely to be subject when in use.

16.—(1) Where, in accordance with regulation 66 (plates for goods vehicles and buses) or 71 (marking of weights on certain vehicles) of the Construction and Use Regulations, a mobile crane is already fitted with a plate (“the original plate”), paragraph 15 does not require the crane—

(a) to be fitted with an additional plate; or

(b) to have additional information stamped on the original plate;

if the condition set out in sub-paragraph (2) is satisfied.

(2) The condition is that, at all times when the mobile crane is used on roads the gross weight of the crane does not exceed either the maximum gross weight stated on the original plate or, if no gross weight is so stated, the maximum unladen weight stated on the original plate.

17.—(1) In this paragraph “ qualified person” means—

(a) the manufacturer of the vehicle (or a person duly authorised on his behalf);

(b) a person carrying on business as a manufacturer of motor vehicles or trailers (or a person duly authorised on his behalf); or

(c) a person authorised under this sub-paragraph by the Secretary of State.

(2) No person may make any alteration to a mobile crane with a view to making it fit for use at any weight exceeding the weights stated on a plate fitted to it as mentioned in paragraph 15 or 16 unless he is a qualified person.

(3) Where such an alteration is made—

(a) the existing plate must be updated to show, for each description of maximum weight referred to in paragraph 15(2)(a) or (b), the new maximum at or below which the qualified person considers that the mobile crane will then be fit for use; or

(b) an additional plate must be added showing such new maximum weights.

(4) The following details must also be shown on the plate that shows the new weights—

(a) the name of the qualified person;

(b) an indication that he is the person responsible for determining the new weights; and

(c) where he is a qualified person authorised by the Secretary of State under sub-paragraph (1)(c), an indication of that fact.

(5) In determining a maximum weight for the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), the qualified person must have regard to—

(a) the design, construction and equipment of the mobile crane;

(b) the alterations made to it; and

(c) the stresses to which it is likely to be subject when in use.

18.  Any additional plate that is specially fitted to a vehicle in order to comply with paragraph 15 or 17(3)(b) must be marked clearly with the words “SPECIAL TYPES USE”.