The Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles, Equipment and Items) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Release of relevant motor vehicles

7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, where an application is made to the Department by the owner of the vehicle for the release of the relevant motor vehicle and—

(a) the Department or the identified person is satisfied that the requirements of regulation 5(4)(g) have been met, and

(b) such charges in respect of its removal and retention and any fee in respect of an application to release as are provided for in regulation 8 have been paid,

the Department or the identified person shall permit the owner or their agent to remove the vehicle from their custody.

(2) In determining whether a person who claims to be the owner of the relevant motor vehicle is in fact the owner, the Department or the identified person shall refer to the register.

(3) A person who would otherwise be liable to pay a charge for removal and retention or fee for an application to release under paragraph (1) shall not be liable to pay if they did not know that the vehicle was being used to provide a taxi service, had not consented to its being so used and could not, by the taking of reasonable steps, have prevented it from being so used.