(1)In this Act a reference to the plated gross weight of a goods vehicle or trailer is a reference—
(a)in the case of a trailer which may lawfully be used in Great Britain without a Ministry plate (within the meaning of regulations under section 41 or 49 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988), to the maximum laden weight at which the trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain, and
(b)otherwise, to the weight which is the maximum gross weight which may not be exceeded in Great Britain for the vehicle or trailer as indicated on the appropriate plate.
(2)In this Act a reference to the plated train weight of a vehicle is a reference to the weight which is the maximum gross weight which may not be exceeded in Great Britain for an articulated vehicle consisting of the vehicle and any semi-trailer which may be drawn by it as indicated on the appropriate plate.
(3)In subsections (1) and (2)“appropriate plate”, in relation to a vehicle or trailer, means—
(a)where a Ministry plate (within the meaning of regulations under section 41 or 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) has been issued, or has effect as if issued, for the vehicle or trailer following the issue or amendment of a plating certificate (within the meaning of Part II of that Act), that plate,
(b)where paragraph (a) does not apply but such a certificate is in force for the vehicle or trailer, that certificate, and
(c)where neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) applies but the vehicle or trailer has been equipped with a plate in accordance with regulations under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, that plate.
(4)In this Act a reference to the relevant maximum weight of a goods vehicle or trailer is a reference—
(a)where it is required by regulations under Article 28 of the [S.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to have the maximum gross weight in Great Britain for it marked on a plate attached to it, to the maximum gross weight in Great Britain marked on the plate,
(b)where regulations under that Article do not apply to it but the maximum gross weight in Great Britain is marked by the same means as would be required by those regulations if they did apply to it, to the maximum gross weight in Great Britain so marked, and
(c)otherwise, to its notional maximum gross weight ascertained in accordance with the [S.R. (N.I.) 1976 No. 241.] Goods Vehicles (Ascertainment of Maximum Gross Weights) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976 (or any regulations replacing those Regulations, whether with or without amendments).
(5)In this Act a reference to the relevant maximum train weight of a vehicle is a reference to the maximum gross weight which may not be exceeded in Great Britain for an articulated vehicle consisting of the vehicle and any semi-trailer which may be drawn by it.
(6)In this Act“weight unladen”—
(a)in England and Wales and Scotland, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 by virtue of section 190 of that Act, and
(b)in Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the [S.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 by virtue of Article 2(3) of that Order.
(7)In this Act“design weight”, in relation to a vehicle, means the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden.
(8)In this section“trailer” has the same meaning as in Part VIII of Schedule 1.