Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 1st April 1999.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

2.—(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(1) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 29(2) (nature of tests other than extended tests), for paragraph (6) there shall be substituted—

“(6) In all cases the theory test shall—

(a) be conducted as a written examination consisting of 35 questions, the questions being in either a multiple choice or multiple response form and testing a candidate on the specified matters in accordance with Schedule 6;

(b) have a duration of 40 minutes or, in the circumstances specified in paragraph (7), 80 minutes.”.

(3) For Schedule 2(3) (licence fees) there shall be substituted—

Regulation 10

“SCHEDULE 2 Licence Fees

Table of Fees

(1)	(2)
Description of licence and circumstances of application	Fee payable
1.   A first licence.	£12
2.   A provisional licence granted following the revocation of a licence under Article 5(1) of the Road Traffic (New Drivers) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998(4).	£12
3.   A full licence granted in exchange for a full Great Britain licence which was granted under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1972(5) or section 97 of the Road Traffic Act 1988(6).	£13.50
4.   A full licence granted in exchange for a full Community licence or an exchangeable licence.	£13.50
5.   A full Group 1 licence where the applicant has previously been granted a provisional licence.	£8.50
6.   A renewal licence to remain in force for a period of 10 years under Article 15(1)(a) of the Order.	£12
7.   A renewal licence to remain in force for a period determined under Article 15(1)(b) of the Order, i.e. for a period ending on the applicant’s seventieth birthday or for 3 years, whichever is the longer.	£12
8.   A renewal licence to remain in force for a period determined under Article 15(1)(c) of the Order, i.e. granted to an applicant suffering from a relevant or prospective disability.	Nil
9.   A renewal licence where the applicant is aged 70 years or over.	Nil
10.   A licence granted under Article 15(8) of the Order (issue of a new licence in certain circumstances on surrender of a licence (unless no fee is payable)).	£12
11.   A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category C.	£24
12.   A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category D.	£24
13.   A full Group 2 licence.	£24
14.   A full Group 2 licence granted following the additional on category E entitlement.	£12
15.   A first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category C where the applicant has previously been granted a provisional licence for that category.	£8.50
16.   A first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category D where the applicant has previously been granted a provisional licence for that category.	£8.50
17.   A licence granted by way of replacement of a lost or defaced licence.	£12
18.   A full licence granted upon the expiry of a period of disqualification ordered by a court under Article 35 or Article 40 of the Offenders Order.	£12
19.   A licence issued under regulation 9A(7) (licences to drive vehicles in another category) or Article 50(3) of the Offenders Order (licence issued free from endorsement on surrender of a current licence).	£12
20.   Except if it is a first licence, a provisional licence granted first upon the expiry of a period of disqualification ordered by a court under Article 41 of the Offenders Order whether or not the court also made an order under Article 35 or 40 of that Order.	£12

In this Schedule—

“first licence” means a licence (other than a licence falling in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the table) granted to a person who has not previously held a licence granted under Article 13 of the Order;

“renewal licence” means a licence granted upon expiry of a previous licence; and

“Group 1 licence” and “Group 2 licence” have the meanings respectively given in regulation 48.”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on

L.S.

J. Ritchie

Assistant Secretary

24th February 1999.

The Department of Finance and Personnel approves regulation 2(3).

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on

L.S.

D. Thomson

Assistant Secretary

24th February 1999.