Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

12.—(1) Regulations may provide that the person specified in a direction by virtue of paragraph 5(1) may retain custody of the contents of a goods vehicle until—

(a) the contents are returned, in accordance with the regulations, to a person who establishes that that person is entitled to them, or

(b) the contents are sold or destroyed by the person specified in such manner as may be prescribed

(2) Regulations may also make provision as to—

(a) the period within which a person who claims to be entitled to the contents may make a claim for their return,

(b) the requirements to be satisfied by a person who claims to be entitled to the contents (including requirements as to the person’s entitlement), and

(c) the manner in which entitlement to such contents is to be determined where there is more than one claim to them.

(3) The person specified in a direction by virtue of paragraph 5(1) may not sell or destroy the contents unless—

(a) such steps as may be required by regulations made by virtue of paragraph 6(1) have been taken and no person has, before the expiry of the period referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(a), established an entitlement to the contents, or

(b) the condition of the contents requires them to be disposed of without delay.