Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations –

“the 1994 Act” means the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994(1);

“the Order” means the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;

“the Construction and Use Regulations” means the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999(2);

“the Lighting Regulations” means the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(3);

“agricultural motor vehicle”, “articulated bus”, “articulated vehicle”, “minibus”, “pedestrian controlled vehicle”, “rigid vehicle”, “track laying” and “works truck” have the meanings given by regulation 2(l) of the Construction and Use Regulations;

“ambulance” means a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted, and primarily used, for the carriage of persons to a place where they will receive, or from a place where they have received, medical or dental treatment, and which, by reason of design, marking or equipment is readily identifiable as a vehicle so constructed or adapted.

“break-down vehicle” means a motor vehicle –

(a)

on which is permanently mounted apparatus designed for raising one disabled vehicle partly from the ground and for drawing that vehicle when so raised; and

(b)

which is not equipped to carry any load other than articles required for the operation of or in connection with, that apparatus or for repairing disabled vehicles;

“child restraint”, “disabled person’s belt”, “forward-facing seat” and “seat belt” have the meanings given by regulation 55(11) of the Construction and Use Regulations;

“Community Recording Equipment Regulation” has the meaning given in Article 53 of the Order;

“dual-purpose vehicle” has the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Order of 1981;

“examination” means an examination of a motor vehicle for the purposes of Article 61 of the Order;

“large passenger-carrying vehicle” means a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than twelve seated passengers in addition to the driver, and which is not a public service vehicle;

“light motor bicycle” means a motor bicycle of which the cylinder capacity of the engine does not exceed 200 cubic centimetres;

“light motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle with three wheels the unladen weight of which does not exceed 450 kilograms;

“motor bicycle” means a two-wheeled motor cycle, whether having a sidecar attached to it or not;

“play bus” means a motor vehicle which was originally constructed to carry more than 12 passengers but which has been adapted primarily for the carriage of playthings for children (including articles required in connection with the use of those things);

“the prescribed statutory requirements” has the meaning given by regulation 3(1);

“public service vehicle” has the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Order of 1981(4);

“road construction vehicle” means a motor vehicle –

(a)

which is constructed or adapted for use for the conveyance of built-in road construction machinery; and

(b)

which is not constructed or adapted for the conveyance of any other load except articles and material used for the purposes of such machinery;

“serial number” in relation to a vehicle the chassis of which has not been constructed separately from its superstructure, means the number given to, and for the purpose of identifying, the vehicle by its manufacturer;

“taxi” has the meaning given by Article 79A of the Order of 1981(5);

“tower wagon” means either –

(a)

a vehicle into which there is built, as part of the vehicle, an expanding or extendible device designed for facilitating the erection, inspection, repair or maintenance of overhead structures or equipment, and which is not constructed or adapted for use, or used, for the conveyance of any load other than such a device or articles used in connection with it, or

(b)

a vehicle into which there is built, as part of the vehicle, an expanding or extendible device designed for facilitating the erection, inspection, repair or maintenance of overhead structures or equipment, and which is not constructed or adapted for use, or used, for the conveyance of any load other than –

(i)

such a device or articles used in connection with it, or

(ii)

articles used in connection with the installation or maintenance (by means of such a device) of materials or apparatus for lighting streets, roads or public places;

“vehicle testing centre” has the meaning given by Article 73 of the Order.

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations the unladen weight of a vehicle shall be computed in accordance with Article 2(3) of the Order of 1981.

(3) In calculating for the purposes of the definition of “large passenger-carrying vehicle” the number of seated passengers which the vehicle is constructed or adapted to carry a length of at least 400 millimetres measured horizontally along the front of each seat shall be allowed for the accommodation of each such passenger. Where a continuous seat is fitted with arms for the purpose of separating the seating spaces and the arms are so constructed that they can be folded back or otherwise put out of use, the seat shall be measured for the purposes of this paragraph as though it were not fitted with arms.

(4) For the purposes of these Regulations the provisions of regulation 2(4) of the Construction and Use Regulations shall apply for determining when a motor vehicle is first used.

(1)

1994 c. 22

(2)

S.R. 1999 No. 454; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2001 No. 173

(3)

S.R. 2000 No. 169

(4)

Article 2(2) was amended by S.I. 1981/1117 (N.I. 24), Art. 3

(5)

Article 79A was inserted by Part II of Sch. 3 to S.I. 1991/197 (N.I. 3)