1999 No. 77

ROAD TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES

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

Made

Coming into operation

The Department of the Environment, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 5(3), 13(1), 19C(1) and 218(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 19811 and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, and in accordance with Article 19C(3) of that Order with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel2 as regards regulation 2(3), hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement1

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) 19962

1

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19963 shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

2

In regulation 294 (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 25 (licence fees) there shall be substituted—

SCHEDULE 2Licence Fees

Regulation 10

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 19986.

£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 19727 or section 97 of the Road Traffic Act 19888.

£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 9A9 (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

J. RitchieAssistant Secretary

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

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

D. ThomsonAssistant Secretary

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

Regulation 29 is amended so as to increase the number of questions in the theory test for categories C and D from 25 questions to 35 questions, in line with other categories.

Fees payable for licences are amended as follows—

a

a new fee of £12 is introduced for the grant of a provisional licence following the revocation of a licence under Article 5(1) of the Road Traffic (New Drivers) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;

b

a new fee of £13.50 is introduced for the grant of a full licence in exchange for a full Community licence or an exchangeable licence;

c

a new fee of £8.50 for a full Group 1 licence where the applicant has previously been granted a provisional licence (previously no fee was charged);

d

a new fee of £8.50 for the grant of 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 (previously no fee was charged);

e

a new fee of £8.50 for the grant of 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 (previously no fee was charged); and

f

the existing fee of £6 is increased to £13.50 for a full licence granted in exchange for a full Great Britain licence which was granted under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 or section 97 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.