Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Part IIIPlates, Markings, Testing and Inspection

Plates for goods vehicles and buses

79.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a)a wheeled heavy motor car or motor car first used on or after 1st January 1968 not being—

(i)a dual-purpose vehicle;

(ii)an agricultural motor vehicle;

(iii)a works truck;

(iv)a pedestrian-controlled vehicle; or

(v)save as provided in sub-paragraph (b), a passenger vehicle;

(b)a bus first used on or after 1st November 1983;

(c)a wheeled locomotive or motor tractor first used on or after 31st December 1976 not being—

(i)an agricultural motor vehicle;

(ii)an industrial tractor;

(iii)a works truck;

(iv)engineering plant; or

(v)a pedestrian-controlled vehicle;

(d)a wheeled trailer manufactured on or after 1st January 1968 which exceeds 1,020 kg in weight unladen not being—

(i)a trailer not constructed or adapted to carry any load, other than plant or special appliances or apparatus which is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture, and not exceeding 2,290 kg in total weight;

(ii)a living van not exceeding 2,040 kg in weight unladen and fitted with pneumatic tyres;

(iii)a works trailer;

(iv)a trailer mentioned in regulation 21(3)(b) to (g); or

(v)a trailer which was manufactured and used outside the United Kingdom before it was first used in Northern Ireland; and

(e)a converter dolly manufactured on or after 1st October 1990.

(2) A vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be equipped with a plate securely attached to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily accessible position which either—

(a)contains the particulars required, in the case of a motor vehicle, by Part I of Schedule 11 or, in the case of a trailer, by Part II of that Schedule, and complies with Part III of that Schedule; or

(b)complies with the requirements specified in the Annex to Community Directive 78/507 or, in the case of a vehicle first used before 1st October 1982, in the Annex to Community Directive 76/114, such requirements being in any case modified as provided in paragraph (3).

(3) Instead of the particulars required by items 2.1.4 to 2.1.7 of that Annex, the plate required by paragraph (2)(b) shall show, for a vehicle of a class specified in column 2 of the Table against an item of that Annex so specified in column 1, the following particulars—

(a)the maximum permitted weight for that class, if any, shown in column 3 of the Table;

(b)where the maximum weight shown in column 4 of the Table exceeds the maximum permitted weight, the maximum weight in a column on the plate to the right of the maximum permitted weight; and

(c)if no weight is shown in column 3 of the Table, the maximum weight shown in column 4 of the Table, in the right hand column of the plate.

TABLE

(regulation 79(3))

(1)(2)(3)(4)
Item in Annex to DirectiveClass of vehicleMaximum permitted weightMaximum weight
2.1.4 (Laden weight of vehicle)

(i)Motor vehicles;

The maximum gross gross weight in Great Britain referred to in item 10 in Part I of Schedule 11The maximum weight referred to in item 7 in Part I of Schedule 11

(ii)Trailers, other

The maximum gross weight in the United Kingdom referred to in item 8 in Part II of Schedule 11The maximum than semi-trailers; gross weight referred to in item 6 in Part II of Schedule 11

(iii)Semi-trailers

The maximum gross weight referred to in item 6 in Part II of Schedule 11
2.1.5 (Train weight of motor vehicle)Motor vehicles constructed to draw a trailer

The lower of—

(a)

the maximum train weight referred to in item 8 in Part I of Schedule 11; and

(b)

the maximum laden weight specified in the case of vehicles constructed to form part of an articulated vehicle, in regulation 89, and in other cases, in regulation 88

The maximum train weight referred to in item 8 in Part I of Schedule 11
2.1.6 (Axle weight of vehicle)

(i)Motor vehicles;

The maximum weight in Great Britain for each axle, referred to in item 9 in Part I of Schedule 11The maximum weight for each axle, referred to in item 6 in Part I of Schedule 11

(ii)Trailers

The maximum weight in the United Kingdom for each axle referred to in item 7 in Part II of Schedule 11The maximum weight for each axle, referred to in item 6 in Part II of Schedule 11
2.1.7 (Load imposed by semi-trailer)Semi-trailersThe maximum load imposed on the drawing vehicle, referred to in item 5 in Part II of Schedule 11

(4) Part III of Schedule 11 applies for determining the relevant weights to be shown on a plate in accordance with this regulation.

(5) Where in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and of Schedule 7, a motor vehicle first used, or a trailer manufactured, after 19th July 1999, is required to be equipped with a plate showing the maximum gross weight and the train weight in the United Kingdom, and the maximum weight in the United Kingdom for each axle of the vehicle, the plate may instead show particulars of the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle and the maximum authorised weight for each axle of the vehicle.

(6) In paragraph (5) the references to the maximum authorised weight for a vehicle, and maximum authorised weight for the axle of a vehicle mean those weights determined in accordance with the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weights) Re gulations (Northern Ireland) 1999(1).

(7) The plate for a vehicle which falls within paragraph (1)(a) and which is a motor vehicle first used after 19th July 1999 need not include the particulars referred to in paragraph 9 or 10 of Part I of Schedule 11.

Vehicle identification numbers

80.—(1) This regulation applies to a wheeled vehicle which is first used on or after 22nd June 1987 and to which the Northern Ireland Regulations apply.

(2) A vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be equipped with a plate which is in a conspicuous and readily accessible position, is affixed to a vehicle part which is not normally subject to replacement and shows clearly and indelibly—

(a)the vehicle identification number in accordance with the requirements specified—

(i)in the case of a vehicle first used before 1st October 1991, in paragraphs 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the Annex to Community Directive 76/114/EEC;

(ii)in any case, in sections 3 and 4 of the Annex to Community Directive 78/507/EEC;

(b)the name of the manufacturer; and

(c)the approval reference number of either—

(i)the type approval certificate which relates to the vehicle model or the model variant of the vehicle model, as the case may be, issued in accordance with regulation 9(1) of, and Part I or II of Schedule 3 to, the Northern Ireland Regulations; or

(ii)the Department’s approval certificate which relates to the vehicle, issued in accordance with regulation 9(2) of, and Part I or II of Schedule 4 to, those Regulations.

  • Provided that the information required to be shown under sub-paragraph (c) may be shown clearly and indelibly on an additional plate which is fitted in a conspicuous and readibly accessible position and which is affixed to a vehicle part which is not normally subject to replacement.

(3) The vehicle identification number of a vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be marked on the chassis, frame or other similar structure, on the offside of the vehicle, in a clearly visible and accessible position, and by a method such as hammering or stamping, in such a way that it cannot be obliterated or deteriorate.

Plates — agricultural trailed appliances

81.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a wheeled agricultural trailed appliance manufactured on or after 1st December 1985 shall be equipped with a plate which is affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily accessible position clearly and indelibly marked with the particulars specified in paragraph (2).

(2) Those particulars are—

(a)the name of the manufacturer of the appliance;

(b)the year in which the appliance was manufactured;

(c)the maximum gross weight;

(d)the unladen weight; and

(e)the maximum load which would be imposed by the appliance on the drawing vehicle.

(3) In the case of a towed roller consisting of several separate rollers used in combination, a single plate shall satisfy the requirement specified in paragraph (2).

Plates — motor cycles

82.—(1) This regulation applies to a motor cycle first used on or after 1st August 1977 which is not—

(a)propelled by an internal combustion engine with a cylinder capacity exceeding 150 cc if the vehicle was first used before 1st January 1982 or 125 cc if it was first used on or after 1st January 1982;

(b)a mowing machine; or

(c)a pedestrian-controlled vehicle.

(2) A vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be equipped with a plate which is securely affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily accessible position and which complies with the requirements of Schedule 12.

Plates — vehicles fitted with speed limiters

83.—(1) This regulation applies to every vehicle to which regulation 41 or 42 applies and which is fitted with a speed limiter.

(2) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be equipped with a plate which meets the requirements specified in paragraph (3).

(3) Subject to regulation 43(8), the requirements are that the plate is in a conspicuous position in the driving compartment of the vehicle and is clearly and indelibly marked with the speed at which the speed limiter has been set.

Plate relating to dimensions

84.—(1) This regulation applies to a vehicle which is either—

(a)a bus or a heavy motor car and which was manufactured after 19th April 1999; or

(b)a trailer used in combination with a vehicle falling within paragraph (a) and manufactured after 19th April 1999.

(2) A vehicle to which this regulation applies shall not be used unless—

(a)the vehicle is equipped with a plate securely attached to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily accessible position and containing the particulars as to the dimensions of the vehicle specified in Annex III of Community Directive 96/53/EC(2); or

(b)those particulars are included in the particulars shown on the plate with which the vehicle is equipped in accordance with regulation 79.

Marking of weights on certain vehicles

85.—(1) This regulation applies to a vehicle (other than an agricultural motor vehicle which is either a track-laying vehicle not exceeding 3,050 kg in unladen weight or a wheeled vehicle) which is—

(a)a locomotive;

(b)a motor tractor; or

(c)an unbraked wheeled trailer, not being a vehicle mentioned in regulation 21(3)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (i).

(2) There shall be plainly marked in a conspicuous place on the outside of a vehicle to which this regulation applies, on its nearside—

(a)if it is a vehicle falling in paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c), its unladen weight; and

(b)if it is a vehicle falling in paragraph (1)(c), its maximum gross weight.

Marking of date of manufacture of trailers

86.—(1) This regulation applies to a trailer that—

(a)is not a motor vehicle;

(b)is manufactured on or after 1st January 2000; and

(c)has a total design axle weight not exceeding 750 kg.

(2) The date of manufacture of every trailer to which this regulation applies shall be marked on the chassis, frame or other similar structure on the nearside of the vehicle, in a clearly visible and accessible position, and by a method such as hammering or stamping, in such a way that it cannot be obliterated or deteriorate.

(2)

O.J. No. L235, 17.9.96, p. 59