1.—(1) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires—

“the Act of 1968” means the Road Traffic Act, 1968;

“the Act of 1975” means the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act, 1975;

“the Act of 1994” means the Road Traffic Act, 1994;

“the Acts” means the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1995;

“appeal” includes an appeal by way of case stated;

“appropriate date” shall be construed in accordance with section 7;

“entry”, in relation to a person, means the entry in the licence record relating to the person;

F1["Irish licence" means an Irish driving licence or a learner permit granted under Part III of the Principal Act;]

F2["licence" means an Irish licence or a foreign driving licence, as the case may be;]

“licence record” means the record jointly established and maintained by the Minister and all the licensing authorities under section 60(2) of the Finance Act, 1993, in relation to licences;

“penalty point” means a point specified in column (4) or (5) of the First Schedule;

“penalty point offence” means an offence specified in column (2) of the First Schedule committed after the commencement of section 2;

“the Principal Act” means the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

(2) A word or expression that is used in this Act and is also used in the Principal Act has in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the same meaning as it has in the Principal Act.

(3) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section or a Schedule is a reference to a section of, or a Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection or paragraph is a reference to a subsection or paragraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended, and

(c) a reference to any enactment or instrument made under statute shall be construed as a reference to that enactment or instrument as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment or instrument made under statute.

1A.— ...]

2.—F4[(1) Where a person makes a payment under section 103 (inserted by section 11) of the Principal Act or under section 37 or 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 in respect of an alleged penalty point offence (other than such an offence specified at reference number 2A, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 or 19 in column (2) of Part 1 of the First Schedule), the number of penalty points specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite the mention of the offence in the said column (2), standing so specified on the day of the commission of the alleged offence, shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, be endorsed on the entry relating to the person in respect of the alleged offence.]

(2) Where a person is convicted of a penalty point offence, the number of penalty points specified in column (5) of the First Schedule opposite the mention of the offence in column (2) of that Schedule F5[, standing so specified on the day of the commission of the alleged offence,] shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, be endorsed on the entry relating to the person in respect of the offence.

(3) (a)  Where a person, whether on the same occasion or not—

(i) makes 2 or more payments referred to in subsection (1) in respect of alleged penalty point offences committed on the same occasion, or

(ii) is convicted of 2 or more penalty point offences committed on the same occasion,

penalty points in respect of one only of the alleged offences or offences, determined, where appropriate, in accordance with subsection (4), shall be endorsed on the entry relating to the person.

(b)  Where a person, whether on the same occasion or not, makes one or more payments referred to in subsection (1) and is convicted of one or more penalty point offences and the alleged penalty point offences concerned and the penalty point offences were committed on the same occasion, penalty points in respect only of any one of the alleged offences and offences, determined in accordance with subsection (4), shall be endorsed on the entry relating to the person.

(4) In a case referred to in subsection (3)—

(a) if the number of penalty points falling (but for that subsection) to be endorsed on the entry concerned in respect of one of the alleged offences, or offences, concerned differs from that or those in respect of the other or others, the number which is the bigger or biggest shall, subject to paragraph (b), be endorsed on the entry, and

(b) if 2 or more of the numbers aforesaid are bigger than the other or others, or are the biggest of the numbers, and are equal, one only of them shall be so endorsed.

(5) Upon the making of a payment referred to in subsection (1) to a member of the Garda Síochána F6[or a person appointed under section 103 of the Principal Act], the Commissioner F6[or a person appointed under section 103 of the Principal Act] shall, as soon as may be after the payment, cause the Minister to be notified of the payment and, thereupon, subject to subsections (3), (7) and (8), the Minister shall cause the appropriate number of penalty points to be endorsed on the entry concerned.

(6) F7[(a) Where a person is convicted of a penalty point offence, the Minister shall be notified of the conviction by the Courts Service—

(i) in case an appeal is brought against the conviction and it is determined against the person, as soon as may be after such determination, and

(ii) in case an appeal is not brought against the conviction, as soon as may be after the expiration of the ordinary time for bringing such an appeal.]

(b) Where the conviction of a person of a penalty point offence is reversed on appeal, it shall not be necessary to notify the Minister of the conviction.

(c) Upon the receipt by the Minister of a notification under paragraph (a), the Minister shall, subject to subsections (3), (7) and (8), cause the appropriate number of penalty points to be endorsed on the entry concerned.

F8[(7) If an entry in relation to a person cannot be identified or does not exist at a time when, if there were such an entry, penalty points would fall to be endorsed on it pursuant to subsection (5) or (6) (c), and subsequently such an entry is identified or made, thereupon, the points shall be so endorsed.]

(8) Where, upon conviction of a person of a penalty point offence, an ancillary disqualification order is made in respect of the person, penalty points in respect of the offence shall not be endorsed on the entry of the person.

(9) The particulars stated in column (3) of the First Schedule are inserted solely to facilitate reference to and identification of the provisions specified in column (2) of that Schedule and, accordingly, nothing contained in the said column (3) shall affect the construction or limit or control the operation of this section or that Schedule.

(10) F9[…]

3.—F10[(1) Where penalty points are endorsed on the entry of a person and, in consequence, the total number of penalty points standing so endorsed—

(a) equals or exceeds 12, or

(b) in the case of a person who at the time such points are endorsed is a learner driver or a novice driver, equals or exceeds 7,

the person shall stand disqualified for a period of 6 months beginning on the appropriate date for holding a licence and a licence held by him or her at the beginning of the period shall stand suspended accordingly.]

(2) At the end of a period of disqualification pursuant to subsection (1) the Minister—

(a) shall cause to be removed from the entry concerned penalty points standing endorsed on it on the date of the notice under section 5 relating to the disqualification, and

(b) shall cause a notice to be given or sent, by post or otherwise, to the person to whom the entry relates—

(i) of the ending of the period and its date, and

(ii) of the removal and particulars of the penalty points the subject of the removal.

4.—Penalty points endorsed on the entry of a person shall, subject to section 3(2), remain on the entry for a period of 3 years beginning on the appropriate date, and the Minister shall—

(a) cause the penalty points to be removed from the entry at the end of that period, and

(b) cause a notice to be given or sent, by post or otherwise, to the person—

(i) of the ending of the period and its date, and

(ii) of the removal and particulars of the penalty points the subject of the removal.

5.—(1) When penalty points are endorsed on the entry of a person, the Minister shall, as soon as may be thereafter, cause a notice to be given or sent, by post or otherwise, to the person—

(a) to the effect that the number of penalty points specified in the notice has been endorsed on the entry relating to the person following—

(i) the making by the person of a payment referred to in section 2(1), or

(ii) the conviction of the person of a penalty point offence,

and that, subject to section 3(2), they will remain on the entry for a period of 3 years beginning on the appropriate date, and

F11[(b) specifying the total number of penalty points that, following the endorsement aforesaid, stand so endorsed and, if that number—

(i) equals or exceeds 12, or

(ii) in the case of a person who at the time such points are endorsed is a learner driver or a novice driver, equals or exceeds 7,

specifying that the person will be disqualified under section 3 for holding a licence for a period of 6 months beginning on the appropriate date and directing him or her to submit the licence held by him or her to the licensing authority not later than 14 days from that date.]

(2) When a notice is given or sent to a person under subsection (1), the Minister shall cause particulars of the notice, including its date, to be entered on the entry relating to the person.

(3) A person who does not comply with a direction under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) in a notice under that subsection shall be guilty of an offence.

F12[6.—(1) Where, during the period of 3 years for which penalty points stand endorsed on the entry of a person or the period of 6 months for which a person stands disqualified pursuant to section 3 for holding a licence, the person—

(a) becomes disqualified pursuant to Part III of the Principal Act, section 29 of the Act of 2010 or section 40 of the Act of 2016, or

(b) ceases to be the holder of a licence,

no part of the period of the disqualification referred to in paragraph (a) or the cesser referred to in paragraph (b), as the case may be, shall be reckoned as part of the period of 3 years or part of the period of 6 months, and the date of the ending of the two latter periods shall be determined accordingly.

(2) Where, during the period when a person—

(a) is disqualified pursuant to Part III of the Principal Act, section 29 of the Act of 2010 or section 40 of the Act of 2016, or

(b) ceases to be the holder of a licence,

penalty points are endorsed on the entry of the person, no part of the period of the disqualification referred to in paragraph (a) or the cesser referred to in paragraph (b), as the case may be, shall be reckoned as part of the period of 3 years for which the penalty points stand endorsed on the entry and, should the person, in consequence of the endorsement of the penalty points, stand disqualified pursuant to section 3, no part of the period of the disqualification referred to in paragraph (a) or the cesser referred to in paragraph (b), as the case may be, shall be reckoned as part of the period of 6 months of that disqualification.]

7.—(1) In this Act, subject to the provisions of this section, the appropriate date, in relation to penalty points, is the date that is 28 days from the date of the notice under section 5 relating to the penalty points; and, for the purposes of the application of this section to section 3(1), the notice under section 5 is that relating to the penalty points concerned that are the latest to be endorsed on an entry before a disqualification occurs under section 3(1) of the person to whom the entry relates.

(2) Where, but for this subsection, the appropriate date would fall on a day in a period when the person concerned stands disqualified pursuant to F13[section 3, Part III of the Principal Act or section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 for holding a licence], or is otherwise not the holder of a licence, the appropriate date shall fall on the day immediately after the end of the period aforesaid or, as the case may be, the day on which the person becomes such a holder.

(3) If a court enlarges the time for instituting an appeal against a conviction for penalty point offence, it may, if it thinks it is appropriate and in the interests of justice to do so, by order provide that, in relation to the penalty points concerned—

(a)  (i) the period of 6 months specified in section 3, or

(ii) the period of 3 years specified in section 4,

or both such periods shall begin on such date or dates other than that or those specified in subsection (1) as may be stated in the order, or

(b) such a period shall consist of 2 discontinuous periods stated in the order or each such period shall consist of 2 discontinuous periods so stated.

F14[(4) Where an order is made under subsection (3), the Minister shall be notified by the Courts Service.]

(5) In relation to a case in which an order is made under subsection (3), subsections (1) and (2), as may be appropriate, shall be construed in accordance with the order.

(6) (a)  In any proceedings, a certificate signed by an officer of the Minister authorised by the Minister in that behalf and stating—

(i) that he or she has examined the entry relating to a person,

(ii) that a penalty point was endorsed on the entry on a specified date, and

(iii) the date of the notice under section 5 relating to the penalty point,

shall be admissible as evidence of those facts.

(b)  A document purporting to be a certificate under paragraph (a) shall be deemed to be such a certificate, and to have been signed by the person purporting to have signed it and to have been so signed in accordance with an authorisation under paragraph (a), unless the contrary is shown.

8.—For the purpose of enabling the convictions and the disqualification orders referred to in subsections (3) and (4) of section 36 of the Principal Act to be endorsed on the entries of those concerned in lieu of being endorsed on the licences held by them, the following amendments of the said section 36 are made as respects such convictions occurring, and such orders made, after the commencement of this section—

(a) the references in those subsections to an order directing particulars of a conviction or of a disqualification order to be endorsed on the licence held by a person or, if the person is not the holder of a licence but subsequently a licence is granted to him or her, on that licence are construed as references to an order directing that those particulars be endorsed on the entry then existing or subsequently made in relation to the person, and

(b) the following subsections are added to the said section 36:

"(6) In the cases referred to in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, the Minister shall cause the particulars referred to in those subsections to be endorsed on the appropriate entries.

(7) Where a disqualification referred to in section 29 of this Act is removed under that section or the period of a disqualification referred to in subsection (3) or (4) of this section expires (being in each case a disqualification to which an order relates that stands endorsement on an entry), the Minister shall cause the endorsement and any endorsement relating to the relevant conviction (if any) to be removed from the entry concerned.

(8) The appropriate court registrar or court clerk or such other member of the staff of the Courts Service as that Service may designate shall notify the Minister of an order under subsection (3) or (4) of this section, of the suspension or postponement under the said subsection (3) or (4) of such an order and of an order under section 29 of this Act removing a disqualification referred to in that section.

(9) In this section, ‘entry’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Road Traffic Act, 2002.”.

9.—F15[…]

10.—

11.—F17[…]

12.—(1) The following section is substituted for section 3 of the Act of 1975:

“3.—(1) (a) This section applies to such of the offences specified in paragraph (b) as may be declared by the Minister by regulations made after consultation with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to be fixed charge offences and an offence standing so declared is referred to in this section as a fixed charge offence.

(b) The offences referred to in paragraph (a) of this section are:

(i) an offence under the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 2002, relating to the prohibition or restriction of the stopping or parking of mechanically propelled vehicles,

(ii) the offence under section 18 of the Principal Act of contravening article 5 (prohibition of use of vehicles not displaying valid test disc) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 395 of 1999),

(iii) an offence under section 73 of the Finance Act, 1976,

(iv) the offence under section 13 of the Roads Act, 1920, of using a vehicle for which a licence under the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act, 1952, is not in force,

(v) the offence under regulations under the Roads Act, 1920, of not fixing to and exhibiting on a vehicle in the manner prescribed by those regulations of a licence in respect of the vehicle for the time being in force taken out under the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act, 1952.

(2) Where a traffic warden has reasonable grounds for believing that a fixed charge offence is being or has been committed by a person—

(a) if the warden identifies the person, the warden shall serve, or cause to be served, personally or by post, on the person a notice under this section,

(b) if the warden does not identify the person and the offence involves the use of a mechanically propelled vehicle, the warden shall serve, or cause to be served, personally or by post, on the registered owner of the vehicle a notice under this section or shall affix such a notice to the vehicle.

(3) Where—

(a) a notice under this section is served on the registered owner of a mechanically propelled vehicle or affixed to such a vehicle, and

(b) the registered owner of the vehicle was not driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of the commission of the alleged offence to which the notice relates,

the registered owner shall—

(i) not later than 28 days after the date of the notice give or send to a traffic warden at a place specified in the notice a document in the prescribed form signed by the registered owner and stating the name and address of the person who was driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of such commission, and

(ii) give or send to a traffic warden within such period as may be specified by the warden at the place aforesaid such other information within his or her knowledge or procurement as the warden may reasonably request for the purpose of identifying, and establishing the whereabouts of the person referred to in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

(4) Where a document referred to in subsection (3) of this section containing the name and address of the person who was driving or otherwise using the vehicle concerned at the time of the commission of the alleged offence concerned is given or sent to a traffic warden employed by a local authority, the authority shall, not later than 28 days thereafter, cause a notice under this section to be served, personally or by post, on the person.

(5) A notice under this section shall be in the prescribed form.

(6) If a notice is served pursuant to subsection (2)(a) or (4) of this section, it shall, without prejudice to subsection (5) of this section, contain a statement to the effect that—

(a) the person on whom it is served is alleged to have committed an offence specified in the notice,

(b) the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the date of the notice, make to the local authority specified in the notice at a place so specified a payment of a fixed charge of a prescribed amount accompanied by the notice, duly completed,

(c) if the person does not make the payment specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection during the period so specified accompanied by the notice, duly completed, the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the expiration of that period, make to the local authority aforesaid at the place aforesaid a payment of a fixed charge of an amount 50 per cent. greater than the prescribed amount referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection accompanied by the notice, duly completed, and

(d) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will not be instituted during the periods specified in the notice or, if a payment so specified accompanied by the notice, duly completed, is made during the appropriate period so specified in relation to the payment, at all.

(7) If a notice is served or affixed to a mechanically propelled vehicle pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section, it shall, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) of this section, contain a statement to the effect that—

(a) an offence specified in the notice is alleged to have been committed,

(b) a person liable to be prosecuted for the offence may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the date of the notice, make to a local authority specified in the notice at the place so specified a payment of a fixed charge of a prescribed amount accompanied by the notice, duly completed,

(c) if a person such as aforesaid does not make the payment specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection during the period so specified accompanied by the notice, duly completed, the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the expiration of the period specified in that subparagraph, make to the local authority aforesaid at the place aforesaid a payment of a fixed charge of an amount 50 per cent. greater than the prescribed amount referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection accompanied by the notice, duly completed,

(d) if the registered owner of the vehicle concerned was not driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of the commission of the alleged offence concerned, he or she is required by subsection (3) of this section—

(i) not later than 28 days after the date of the notice to give or send to the local authority specified in the notice at the place so specified a document in the prescribed form signed by the registered owner and stating the name and address of the person who was driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of such commission, and

(ii) to give or send to the authority aforesaid at the place aforesaid within such period as may be specified by the authority such other information within his or her knowledge or procurement as the authority may reasonably request for the purpose of identifying, and establishing the whereabouts, of the person referred to in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph,

(e) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will not be initiated during the periods specified in the notice pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection or, if a payment specified in the notice accompanied by the notice, duly completed, is made during the appropriate period so specified in relation to the payment, at all,

(f) if a payment aforesaid accompanied by the notice, duly completed, is made during the appropriate period aforesaid, the registered owner need not comply with subsection (3) of this section,

(g) if the registered owner complies with the said subsection (3), a payment aforesaid need not be made by the registered owner and a prosecution of him or her in respect of the alleged offence will not be initiated, and

(h) subject to paragraph (f) of this subsection, failure to comply with the said subsection (3) is an offence upon conviction of which the registered owner is liable to a fine not exceeding €800.

(8) Where a notice is served or affixed under subsection (2) of this section or served under subsection (4) of this section—

(a) a person or the person to whom the notice applies may, during the period specified in the notice, make to the local authority so specified at the place so specified a payment so specified at the appropriate time so specified in relation to the payment accompanied by the notice, duly completed,

(b) the local authority may receive the payment, issue a receipt therefor and retain it for disposal in accordance with regulations under this Act and no payment so received shall in any circumstances be recoverable by the person who made it,

(c) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence to which the notice relates shall not be instituted during the periods specified in the notice or, if a payment so specified accompanied by the notice, duly completed, is made during the period so specified in relation to the payment, at all,

(d) in case the notice is served or affixed pursuant to paragraph (b) of the said subsection (2) and a payment aforesaid accompanied by the notice, duly completed, is so made, the registered owner need not comply with subsection (3) of this section, and

(e) if the registered owner complies with the said subsection (3), the payment aforesaid need not be made by the registered owner and a prosecution of him or her in respect of the offence shall not be initiated.

(9) In a prosecution for a fixed charge offence, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that a payment pursuant to the relevant notice under this section accompanied by the notice, duly completed, has not been made.

(10) Where, in a case to which subsection (2)(b) of this section applies, the registered owner of the mechanically propelled vehicle concerned does not furnish in accordance with subsection (3) of this section the information specified in paragraph (i) of that subsection, then, in a prosecution of that owner for the alleged offence to which the notice under the said subsection (2)(b) relates, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that he or she was driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of the commission of the alleged offence.

(11) A notice which is affixed to a mechanically propelled vehicle under subsection (2) of this section shall not be removed or interfered with except by a person to whom the notice applies.

(12) A person who contravenes subsection (3) of this section shall, subject to subsection (8)(d) of this section, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €800, and a person who contravenes subsection (11) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €800.

(13) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (12) of this section consisting of a contravention of subsection (3) of this section for the person to show that the information concerned was not within his or her knowledge or procurement and that he or she had taken all reasonable steps to obtain the information.

(14) In a prosecution for an offence under subsection (12) of this section consisting of a contravention of subsection (3) of this section, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that the accused person received the notice under this section to which the offence relates.

(15) In a prosecution of a person for—

(a) the alleged offence to which a notice under this section, served on the registered owner of a mechanically propelled vehicle, relates, or

(b) an offence under subsection (16) of this section,

a document, purporting to be a document under subsection (3) of this section stating the name and address of the person who was driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of the commission of the alleged offence referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection and to be signed by that registered owner, given or sent under paragraph (i) of that subsection by that owner to a traffic warden shall, until the contrary is shown, be deemed to be such a document and to be so signed and, in case the prosecution is for the offence referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, shall be admissible, until the contrary is shown, as evidence of the facts stated in it.

(16) A person who, pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, gives or sends to a traffic warden information (whether or not contained in a document) that is, to his or her knowledge, false or misleading shall be guilty of an offence.

(17) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under subsection (12) of this section consisting of a contravention of subsection (3) of this section may be brought at any time within 2 years from the date on which the offence was committed.

(18) In this section, references to a notice under this section, duly completed, are references to such a notice on which the number, the date of the grant, and the period of validity, of the driving licence of the person to whom the notice relates have been inserted by or on behalf of the person.”.

(2) Section 2 of the Act of 1975 is amended by the substitution of the following for subsection (1):

“(1) A local authority may, after consultation with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, make arrangements for the performance in the functional area of the authority, of the functions conferred on traffic wardens by this Act by persons employed by the authority or persons authorised in writing by the authority to perform those functions.”.

(3) Section 5 of the Act of 1975 is amended by the substitution of “an offence under section 3(12) of this Act” for “an offence under section 3(5) of this Act.”.

(4) Regulations under section 3 of the Act of 1975 in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue in force after such commencement as if made under section 3 (as inserted by this Act) of that Act and may be amended or revoked accordingly.

13.—F18[…]

14.—(1) The Minister may, by an agreement in writing entered into with any person, upon such terms and conditions as may be specified in the agreement, provide for the performance by that person, subject to such terms and conditions (if any) as may be so specified, of such functions as may be so specified.

(2) An agreement under this section may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), make provision in relation to all or any of the following matters:

(a) the fees (if any) to be charged by the person performing a function in pursuance of the agreement on those in relation to whom the function is performed or on the person on whom the function was originally conferred,

(b) the payments (if any) to be made to the person on whom the function was originally conferred by the person performing the function in pursuance of the agreement, and

(c) the disposal of any such fees and payments as aforesaid.

(3) An agreement under this section shall operate, so long as it continues in force, to confer and vest in the person concerned, to the extent and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the agreement, the function so specified.

(4) A function conferred on a person by an agreement under this section shall be performable by the person in his or her own name but subject to the general superintendence and control of the person on whom the function was originally conferred.

(5) A function referred to in subsection (4) shall, notwithstanding the agreement concerned, continue to be vested in the person on whom it was originally conferred but shall be so vested concurrently with the person on whom it is conferred by that agreement and so as to be capable of being performed by either of those persons.

(6) The conferral on a person by an agreement under this section of a function of the Minister shall not remove or derogate from the Minister's responsibility to Dáil Éireann or as a member of the Government for the performance of the function.

(7) In this section “function” includes a power and a duty; and the references to a function are references to a function conferred on the Minister, a licensing authority, a local authority, a road authority or the Commissioner by, or by a statutory instrument (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act, 1937), under the Acts or this Act other than a function of the Minister under this section, or a power to make, approve of, or consult in relation to, the making of, a statutory instrument (within the meaning aforesaid).

15.—F19[…]

16.—(1) The following section is substituted for section 85 of the Principal Act:

“85.—(1) A road authority may, by notice in writing, direct, in respect of a route upon which buses are operated, that specified points shall be stopping places at which persons may board or descend from buses or that specified places shall be used as stands for buses.

(2) A road authority may by notice in writing amend or revoke a direction given, or amendment made, by it under this section.

(3) A person operating or proposing to operate a bus service may apply to the road authority in whose functional area the service is being or will be operated for a direction under this section and the authority may, if it so thinks fit, after consultation with the person, give a direction specifying such points for stopping places, and places for stands, for buses as it considers appropriate.

(4) A notice under this section may direct that—

(a) one or more of the stopping places specified in the notice shall be used only for boarding buses or, as the case may be, only for descending from buses, or

(b) one or more of the stopping places so specified, or one or more of the stands so specified, shall be used only by buses providing a service or services operated by a specified person or by specified persons.

(5) A notice under this section—

(a) shall be given or sent by post to the person who is operating the bus service to which it relates, and

(b) shall specify the date on which it comes into operation,

and the notice shall come into operation on the date so specified.

(6) A certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of a road authority and stating that a notice under this section in specified terms was in force on a specified day or during a specified period shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate or that he or she was such an officer, be evidence in any legal proceedings until the contrary is shown that a notice under this section in the specified terms was given or sent by post to the person named in it and that it was in force on the specified day or during the specified period.

(7) In this section—

‘bus’ means omnibus;

‘road authority’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Roads Act, 1993.”.

(2) Directions under section 85 of the Principal Act in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue in force after such commencement as if given under section 85 (as inserted by this Act) of the Principal Act and may be amended or revoked accordingly.

17.—The following subsection is substituted for subsection (2) of section 56 of the Principal Act:

“(2) The insurance required by this section may be subject to the following limitation and the following exception or either of them—

(a) it may, in so far as it relates to injury to property, be limited to the sum of €200,000 in respect of injury caused by any one act of negligence or any one series of acts of negligence collectively constituting one event,

(b) there may be excepted from the liability covered thereby any liability (in excess of the common law or the statutory liability applicable to the case) undertaken by the insured or the principal debtor by special contract.”.

18.—

19.—Section 18 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (1) of the following subsection:

“(1A) (a) In this subsection—

‘approval’ means a document authorising the holder to issue instruction certificates;

‘approved body’ means a body that holds an approval;

‘driving instruction’ means instruction given for reward in or in respect of the driving of a vehicle;

‘instruction certificate’ means a certificate referred to in paragraph (b)(ii).

(b) Regulations under this section may provide for—

(i) the exemption from the regulations or specified provisions of the regulations of holders of instruction certificates as respects vehicles to which the certificates relate,

(ii) the issue of instruction certificates by an approved body to persons as respects whom the body is satisfied that they are competent, and appropriately qualified, to give driving instruction of a recognised standard specified in the regulations in respect of vehicles or vehicles of a specified class and the inclusion in the certificates of statements to the effect that the body is so satisfied,

(iii) the revocation by an approved body of an instruction certificate issued by it,

(iv) the grant by the Minister of approvals to persons as respects whom the Minister is satisfied that they are competent, and appropriately qualified, to assess the competence and qualifications of persons who apply to them for the issue of instruction certificates,

(v) the attachment of conditions by the Minister to approvals and the revocation or amendment of such conditions,

(vi) notification of the person concerned of a proposal to revoke an approval or instruction certificate, or to revoke or amend conditions of approvals, and of the reasons therefor,

(vii) the making of representations to the Minister or the approved body concerned by the persons affected in relation to proposals referred to in subparagraph (vi) and the consideration of any such representations by the Minister or by the body, as the case may be, before deciding whether to proceed with the proposals,

(viii) appeals to the District Court against a revocation or amendment aforesaid and against refusals to issue an approval or an instruction certificate,

(ix) applications for approvals and the conditions to be complied with by applicants (including conditions relating to competence, standards and qualifications and the payment of fees to the Minister),

(x) the systems to be established by approved bodies for ascertaining and assessing from time to time the competence and standards of holders of instruction certificates, and

(xi) the entry on premises of approved bodies and applicants for approvals at all reasonable times by duly authorised officers of the Minister and the examination and copying by such officers of records and other documents, whether in electronic or other form, kept there and the provision to such officers by such bodies and applicants and their staff of such information as they may reasonably request for the purposes of the functions of the Minister under this subsection.”.

20.—Section 35 of the Act of 1994 is amended by the insertion in subsection (2) of the following paragraph after paragraph (r):

“(rr) the control and regulation of the use of stopping places, and stands, specified in notices under section 85 of the Principal Act including the restriction and prohibition of the parking and stopping of vehicles at such stopping places and stands;”.

21.—F21[…]

F22[F23[22.—F24[(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2016 other than an offence under—

(a) section 38, 84, 85 or 101 of the Principal Act, or

(b) section 35 (in so far as it relates to the parking of vehicles), 36 or 36A (inserted by section 12 of the Roads Act 2007) of the Act of 1994,

the presiding judge shall require the person to produce his or her driving licence or learner permit to the registrar, clerk or other principal officer of the court, and the court shall record—

(i) whether or not the licence or permit was produced, and

(ii) where the licence or permit was produced, the details specified in that licence or permit.]

(a) section 84 (inserted by section 15 of the Act of 2002), section 85 (inserted by section 16 of the Act of 2002) or section 101 of the Principal Act, or

(b) section 35 (in so far as it relates to the parking of vehicles), section 36 or section 36A (inserted by section 12 of the Roads Act 2007) of the Act of 1994,

and is due to appear before a court to answer the accusation or charge, shall on the first date he or she is due to appear before the court or on a subsequent date at the discretion of the presiding judge—

(i) produce to the court his or her driving licence or learner permit, and deliver it to the registrar, clerk or other principal officer of the court, and

(ii) provide a legible copy of that licence or learner permit to the court at that time, which the court shall require and retain for the purposes of establishing and recording the driving licence or learner permit details to which it relates,

and the court shall record whether or not the licence or permit and the copy of the licence or permit have been produced. ]

(2) A person who fails to produce his or her licence to the court in accordance with F24[a requirement under subsection (1)] is guilty of an offence.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)—

(a) a certified copy of a court order in relation to an offence referred to in subsection (1), or

(b) any other form of notification certifying that the driving licence was not produced to the court as provided for in the Rules of Court,

is admissible as evidence of those facts.]

23.—F25[…]

24.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of giving full effect to this Act and to the provisions inserted by this Act into the Acts and the Act of 1975.

(2) If in any respect any difficulty arises during the period of 3 years from the commencement of a provision of this Act or an amendment of another Act effected by this Act in bringing the provision or amendment into operation, the Minister may by regulations do anything which appears to be necessary or expedient for bringing the provision or amendment into operation.

(3) Regulations under this Act may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(4) Regulations under this Act (other than subsection (2)) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made and, if a resolution annulling the regulations is passed by either such House within the next subsequent 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulations are laid before it, the regulations shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(5) Where the Minister proposes to make regulations under subsection (2), he or she shall cause a draft of the regulations to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulations shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.

25.—(1) Sections 97(1)(b), 102, 107, 110, 111, 115, 125 and 126 of the Principal Act are amended by the deletion, in each place where it occurs of “Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1994,” and the substitution of “this Act”.

(2) Subsections (1) and (2) of section 36 and sections 86, 104 and 105 of the Principal Act and section 64 of the Act of 1968 are repealed as respects offences committed after the commencement of this section.

26.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Road Traffic Act, 2002.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as, by order or orders made by the Minister under this section, may be fixed therefor either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions, including the application of section 25 to different statutory provisions specified therein.

(3) The Acts and this Act shall be construed together as one Act and may be cited together as the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 2002.