The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

Exchangeable driving licences

35.  In Article 19D of the Order of 1981 (interpretation)–

(a) after the definition of “EEA State” in paragraph (1) insert–

““EEA State exchangeable licence” means a licence–

(a)

issued in respect of an EEA State other then the United Kingdom by an authority of that or another EEA State; and

(b)

issued in exchange for a British external licence or a document which was an exchangeable licence;”;

(b) for the definition of “exchangeable licence” in paragraph (1) substitute–

““exchangeable licence” means an EEA State exchangeable licence or a document authorising a person to drive a motor vehicle (not being a document mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of “Community licence”)–

(a)

issued in respect of Gibraltar by an authority of Gibraltar,

(b)

issued in respect of a country or territory which is designated without restriction by an order under paragraph (2)(a) by an authority of that country or territory, or

(c)

issued in respect of a country or territory which is designated by a restricted order under paragraph (2)(b) by an authority of that country or territory, being a document which is a licence of a description specified in that order,

and a licence of a description so specified as to which provision is made as mentioned in paragraph (2B) is only an exchangeable licence to the extent that it authorises its holder to drive vehicles of a class specified in the order;”;

(c) for paragraph (2) substitute–

“(2) The Department may by order designate a country or territory which neither is nor forms part of an EEA State for the purposes of the definition of “exchangeable licences” in paragraph (1)–

(a) as respects all licences authorising the driving of motor vehicles granted under the law of that country or territory, where the Department is satisfied that satisfactory provision is made by that law for the granting of licences to drive motor vehicles;

(b) as respects only licences authorising the driving of motor vehicles granted under the law of that country or territory of a description specified in the order, where the Department is satisfied that satisfactory provision is made by that law for the granting of licences of that description.

(2A) An order under paragraph (2)(b) may specify a description of licence by reference to any feature of the licences concerned (including in particular the circumstances in which they are granted, any conditions to which they are subject or the classes of vehicle which they authorise the holders to drive).”.

(2B) An order under paragraph (2)(b) may provide that a licence of a specified description shall only be an exchangeable licence in so far as it authorises its holder to drive vehicles of a class specified in the order.”.