1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2000.
(2) In these Regulations—
“medical practitioner” means a registered person within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983(1).
2. The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993(2) shall be amended as follows—
(1) In regulation 3 (form of badge)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after the words “diagram 1” insert the words “or diagram 3”; and
(b)in paragraph (2), after the words “diagram 2” insert the words “or diagram 4”.
(2) In regulation 3A (manner in which badges are to be displayed) in paragraph (3) sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), after the words “Part I”, insert the words “or the front”.
(3) After regulation 3E (display of support organisation badges when vehicles are parked) insert the following regulation—
3F.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every individual to whom a disabled person’s badge is issued shall forthwith sign it in ink with his usual signature.
(2) Where the disabled person is—
(a)a child under 12 years of age; or
(b)unable because of a disability to provide a consistent signature, the usual signature of the person responsible for the disabled person’s welfare who is a parent or legal guardian or that of a medical practitioner shall be acceptable.”.
(4) In regulation 5A (duplicate badge)—
(a)for paragraph (1) substitute the following paragraph—
“(1) When a disabled person’s badge has been lost or stolen or has become so mutilated or faded as to cease to be effectively legible when displayed on a vehicle, a new badge may be issued marked ‘duplicate’ on the front.”.
(5) In regulation 9 (exemptions for vehicles displaying disabled persons' badges from provisions in certain instruments)—
(a)in paragraph (3), for the words “the vehicles to which paragraph (4) applies” substitute the words “any disabled person’s vehicle which displays a disabled person’s badge issued by the Department”; and
(b)delete paragraph (4).
(6) In regulation 10 (revocation and transitional provisions) after paragraph (2), insert the following paragraph—
“(3) Any badge issued in the form shown in diagram 1 or diagram 2 of Part I of the Schedule on or before 31st March 2000 shall be valid for a period of 3 years from and including the date on which it is issued.”.
(7) In Part I of the Schedule after diagram 2 insert the diagrams specified in the Schedule to this Order.
(8) In Part II of the Schedule insert the following—
(1) The badge shall measure 148 millimetres by 106 millimetres and shall be coloured blue.”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Regional Development on 6th March 2000.
L.S.
J. Carlisle
A senior officer of the
Department for Regional Development