1.— In this Act—

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

“Act of 1994” means Road Traffic Act 1994;

“Act of 1995” means Road Traffic Act 1995;

“Act of 2002” means Road Traffic Act 2002;

“Act of 2003” means Road Traffic Act 2003;

“Act of 2004” means Road Traffic Act 2004;

“Minister” means Minister for Transport;

“Principal Act” means Road Traffic Act 1961.

2.— The power to make regulations under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006 includes the power to make provision in such regulations to give effect to—

(a) a provision of the treaties of the European Communities, or

(b) an act adopted by an institution of those Communities.

3.— (1) A person shall not while driving a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place hold a mobile phone.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a member of the Garda Síochána, an ambulance service or a fire brigade of a fire authority (within the meaning of the Fire Services Act 1981) who is acting in the course of his or her duties and holding a mobile phone in relation to the performance of his or her duties.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

(4) The Minister may, to avoid the impairment or interference with the driving capacity or capabilities of the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle, make regulations in relation to the restriction or prohibition in mechanically propelled vehicles in public places of the use of—

(a) a mobile phone (other than in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) ),

(b) an in-vehicle communication device,

(c) information equipment, or

(d) entertainment equipment.

(5) Different regulations may be made under subsection (4) for different classes of cases coming within the same class of equipment or for different classes of vehicles in relation to such equipment or different classes of persons.

(6) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with regulations made under subsection (4) is guilty of an offence.

(7) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (3) , in relation to holding a mobile phone while driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, or under subsection (6), in relation to the use of a mobile phone or an in-vehicle communication device, to show that he or she was—

(a) using it to call the Garda Síochána, an ambulance, fire or other emergency service on numbers prescribed for such service, or

(b) involved in or acting in response to a genuine emergency.

(8) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €2,000.

(9) In this section—

“hands-free device” means a device designed so that when used in conjunction with a mobile phone there is no need for the user to hold the phone by hand;

“hold”, in relation to a mobile phone, means holding the phone by hand or supporting or cradling it with another part of the body;

“interactive communication function” includes—

(a) sending or receiving oral or written messages,

(b) sending or receiving facsimile documents,

(c) sending or receiving still or moving images, or

(d) providing access to the internet;

“in-vehicle communication device” means a communication device designed or adapted to be attached to or integrated into a mechanically propelled vehicle or which may be used in or on such a vehicle and with which a person is capable of making or receiving a call or performing an interactive communication function and includes a two-way radio;

“mobile phone” means a portable communication device, other than a two-way radio, with which a person is capable of making or receiving a call or performing an interactive communication function, but for the purposes of subsection (1) does not include a hands-free device;

“portable” in relation to a mobile phone, means the phone is designed or adapted to be carried by a person;

“two-way radio” means an apparatus for wireless telegraphy which is designed or adapted for the purpose of transmitting or receiving spoken words or messages between a person and another, using a frequency other than a frequency used by a mobile phone.

4.—(1) F7[…]

(2) F7[…]

(3) F7[…]

(4) F7[…]

(5) F7[…]

(6) F7[…]

(7) F8[…]

(8) In a prosecution for an offence under this section, section 49 or 50 of the Principal Act or Part III of the Act of 1994 it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that an apparatus provided by a member of the Garda Síochána for the purpose of enabling a person to provide a specimen of breath pursuant to this section is an apparatus for indicating the presence of alcohol in the breath.

(9) An authorisation or a copy expressing itself to be such authorisation, shall, until the contrary is shown, be sufficient evidence in any proceedings under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006, of the facts stated in it, without proof of any signature on it or that the signatory was a person entitled under subsection (2) to sign it.

(10) F7[…]

5.— F10[…]

6.— F11[…]

7.— The following section is substituted for section 29 of the Principal Act:

“29.— (1) This section applies to a person in respect of whom a disqualification order has been made, whether before or after the commencement of section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, disqualifying the person for holding a licence during a period of more than 2 years, and which is the first such order made in respect of that person within a period of 10 years.

(2) A person to whom this section applies may, at any time following the completion of one-half of the period specified in the disqualification order, apply to the court which made the order, for the removal of the disqualification.

(3) In considering an application made under this section a court, without prejudice to its power to have regard to all of the matters that appear to the court to be relevant, may, in particular, have regard to the character of the applicant, his or her conduct after the conviction and the nature of the offence.

(4) Where a court considers it to be appropriate it may confirm the period specified in the order of disqualification or it may order the removal of the disqualification from a specified date that is such that the disqualification will have effect for at least two-thirds of the period specified in the order of disqualification.

(5) A person intending to make an application under this section shall give 14 days notice in writing to the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána for the district in which the person ordinarily resides.

(6) The court hearing an application under this section may order the applicant to pay the whole or any part of the costs.

(7) In this section ‘disqualification order’ means a consequential or an ancillary disqualification order.”.

8.— The following section is inserted after section 23 of the Principal Act:

“23A.— (1) The Minister may by order declare that a licence or permit permitting a person to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a licence or permit issued to a person to enable that person to learn or provisionally to drive such a vehicle, issued by the competent authority of a state other than the State, shall be recognised for the purpose of exchange of that licence or permit for a driving licence, in respect of any one or more of the categories in respect of which the licence or permit is held, and subject to such restrictions, if any, as may be specified in the order.

(2) Every order made by the Minister under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it.”.

9.— Section 33(4) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “where a person has not been issued with a theory test certificate (within the meaning of European Communities (Driving Theoretical Tests) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 52 of 2003)) in respect of the category of vehicle in respect of which the person applied for a certificate of competency” before “subject to being satisfied”.

10.— The following section is substituted for section 42 of the Principal Act:

“42.— (1) In this section ‘licence’ means a driving licence or learner permit.

(2) The Minister may make regulations to provide for all or any of the following:

(a) the categorization for the purposes of this Part of mechanically propelled vehicles;

(b) the form of driving licences and learner permits;

(c) the form and manner of application for a licence, the particulars to be embodied in the application and the documents to be given with the application;

(d) the surrender of licences;

(e) the securing that licences for a category are not issued to persons already holding licences for such category;

(f) the issue by licensing authorities of duplicate licences in place of licences lost, destroyed, or mutilated, the fees to be paid in respect of such issue and the disposal of such fees;

(g) the communication of particulars of licences granted by licensing authorities to other licensing authorities;

(h) the making available for the use of members of the Garda Síochána and other persons of information in the possession of licensing authorities with respect to persons disqualified for holding licences and persons whose licences have been endorsed under this Part;

(i) the fees to be paid in respect of the grant of licences and the disposal of such fees;

(j) the period during which a learner permit is to remain in force;

(k) the conditions to attach to a learner permit and failure to comply with which makes the permit void;

(l) the issue of licences by officers of any Minister of the Government or the Road Safety Authority as agent of a licensing authority;

(m) conditions in relation to courses of instruction which an applicant for, or the holder of, a learner permit must comply with;

(n) the courses of instruction which persons must undergo prior to being granted a licence in respect of any category or categories of vehicles;

(o) the content of courses of instruction which persons must undergo prior to being granted a licence in respect of any category or categories of vehicles;

(p) the fees to be paid to a licensing authority in respect of the supply by the authority of information relating to a licence.

(3) The Minister may make regulations, in relation to sections 33 and 34, to provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a) the classes of persons who are required to produce a certificate of competency or fitness or a medical report when applying for a driving licence;

(b) voluntary submission to tests as to competency and knowledge of the Rules of the Road;

(c) the making of applications for certificates;

(d) the minimum period which has to elapse before a person who has failed to secure a certificate is eligible to apply again for a certificate;

(e) the fees to be paid on applications for certificates and their disposition;

(f) the persons by whom the issuing authority under section 33 may cause tests to be carried out;

(g) the persons by whom further tests directed under section 33(6) are to be carried out;

(h) the nature of and manner of holding tests;

(i) the form of reports by registered medical practitioners under section 34;

(j) the form and manner of issue of certificates and the period of their validity;

(k) the keeping of records by specified persons;

(l) the delegation by issuing authorities to specified persons of the functions of such authorities under section 33(4);

(m) the delegation by issuing authorities to specified persons of the functions of such authorities under section 34(4);

(n) the minimum period which has to elapse, following the granting of a learner permit and in circumstances as may be prescribed, during which the holder of the licence may not apply for a certificate of competency.

(4) Regulations under this section in relation to disqualifications and endorsements under this Act may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a) the production of licences in court;

(b) the effecting of endorsements ordered under section 36;

(c) the transmission of licences by the court to licensing authorities to be retained by them until they have expired or the disqualification ends (whichever is the shorter period);

(d) the notification to licensing authorities of the making, confirming, annulling, varying or removal of a consequential, ancillary or special disqualification order or the making, confirming or annulling of endorsements ordered under section 36.

(5) Regulations under this section may make different provisions for different classes of cases coming within the same matter.

(6) A person who contravenes a regulation under this section which is stated to be a penal regulation is guilty of an offence.”.

11.— (1) The following section is substituted for section 35 of the Principal Act:

“35.— (1) A person who wants to learn to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle of any category in order to pass a test for a certificate of competency may, except in such cases as may be prescribed, apply for a permit (‘ learner permit’ ) licensing him or her provisionally to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle of that category in a public place.

(2) An application for a learner permit shall be—

(a) made to the licensing authority in whose functional area the applicant ordinarily resides,

(b) in accordance with the regulations under section 42, and

(c) accompanied by the appropriate fee.

(3) Where an application under subsection (2) is duly made, a learner permit shall be granted to the applicant by the licensing authority.

(4) A learner permit has effect in accordance with its terms and conditions.

(5) In a prosecution for an offence under—

(a) section 38(2), it is a defence for the defendant to show that, at the time he or she drove the vehicle, he or she held a learner permit then having effect and permitting him or her to drive the vehicle,

(b) section 38(4), it is a defence for the defendant to show that the person employed to drive the vehicle held, at the time he or she drove the vehicle, a learner permit then having effect and permitting him or her to drive the vehicle,

(c) section 40, it is a defence for the defendant to show that, in lieu of producing a driving licence in accordance with that section, he or she produced a learner permit having effect at the material time and permitting him or her to drive the vehicle and that he or she permitted the member of the Garda Síochána to whom it was produced to read it.

(6) Sections 22(2), (4) and (5), 26, 27, 28(1), (3), (4) and (5), 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40 and 41 apply to learner permits as they apply to driving licences, except that where—

(a) a person has been disqualified under section 26 or 27 for holding a driving licence during a specified period and thereafter until he or she has produced to the appropriate licensing authority a certificate of competency, the person may, at the end of the specified period, apply for and be granted a learner permit in accordance with section 35,

(b) a person has been disqualified under section 28(2) for holding a driving licence, he or she may apply for and be granted a learner permit in accordance with section 35, and

(c) a holder of a learner permit in respect of a vehicle of any category for a period has been granted a certificate of competency in respect of such category he or she shall not, by virtue of the application of section 22(5), be disqualified for applying for a driving licence in respect of vehicles of that category for any period which or part of which is within that period.”.

(2) Section 1 of the Act of 2002 is amended in the definition of “licence” by substituting “learner permit” for “provisional licence”.

(3) A reference to a provisional licence in the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006 or an instrument made thereunder is to be read as a reference to a learner permit.

(4) Section 29(1) of the Act of 1994 is repealed.

12.— Section 38 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (2), by substituting for paragraph (a) the following:

“(a) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and, subject to subsection (5), is liable on summary conviction—

(i) where at the time of the commission of the offence he or she had been the holder of a driving licence (other than a learner permit) which had expired beyond its period of validity for a period of not more than 12 months before the commission of the offence, to a fine not exceeding €1,000, and

(ii) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding €2,000.”;

and

(b) by substituting for subsection (5) the following:

“(5) A person—

(a) who is summarily convicted of the offence of contravening subsection (1) and was at the time he or she committed the offence—

(i) disqualified for holding a driving licence, or

(ii) a person required to produce a certificate of competency or a certificate of fitness before obtaining a driving licence,

in lieu of the penalty mentioned in subsection (2)(a), or

(b) who is summarily convicted of the offence of contravening subsection (3) in a case in which the person employed to drive the vehicle was at the time he or she drove the vehicle—

(i) disqualified for holding a driving licence, or

(ii) a person required to produce a certificate of competency or a certificate of fitness before obtaining a driving licence,

in lieu of the penalty mentioned in section 102,

is liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.”.

13.— F12[…]

14.—F13[…]

15.— (1) Section 1 of the Act of 1975 is amended by substituting for the definition of “the Minister” the following:

““Minister” means Minister for Transport;”.

(2) Section 2 (as amended by section 12(2) of the Act of 2002) is amended by substituting for subsection (2) (as amended by section 12(a) of the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987) the following:

“(2) The functions referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) functions in respect of offences referred to in section 3(1), and

(b) such other functions as may be prescribed after consultation with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and different functions may be so prescribed in relation to the functional areas of different local authorities.”.

(3) Section 3 (inserted by section 12 of the Act of 2002) of the Act of 1975 is amended—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), by substituting for subparagraph (ii) the following:

“(ii) the offence under section 11 of the Principal Act of contravening Regulation 6 (requirement to display valid test disc on windscreen) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 405 of 2003),”,

(b) in subsection (5A)(b) (inserted by section 23(b) of the Act of 2004) by substituting—

(i) “prescribed form” for “prescribed forms”, and

(ii) “with or without” for “or without”,

(c) in subsection (7), by substituting for paragraph (h) (inserted by section 23(c) of the Act of 2004) the following:

“(h) subject to paragraph (f), failure to comply with subsection (3) is an offence upon conviction of which the registered owner is liable to a fine not exceeding €1,000.”,

(d) in subsection (8)(b), to delete “in any circumstances”,

(e) in subsection (9) (inserted by section 23(e) of the Act of 2004) by substituting “served or affixed” for “served”,

(f) in subsection (12), by substituting “€1,000” for “€800” in both places where it occurs,

(g) in subsection (16), by substituting “is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,000” for “shall be guilty of an offence”,

(h) by inserting after subsection (17) the following:

“(17A) Regulations prescribing the amount of a fixed charge may prescribe different amounts in relation to—

(a) different fixed charge offences,

(b) fixed charge offences involving different classes of vehicles, or

(c) fixed charge offences committed in different areas.”,

and

(i) in subsection (18), by inserting “as required in the notice” after “to whom the notice relates”.

(4) Section 4 of the Act of 1975 is amended—

(a) in subsections (1) and (3), by substituting “€1,000” for “£150” (inserted by section 12(c) of the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987), and

(b) in subsection (2), by substituting “an offence under section 3(12)” for “an offence under section 3(5) of this Act”.

(5) The following section is substituted for section 5 of the Act of 1975 (inserted by section 15(6) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 1986 and as amended by section 12(3) of the Act of 2002):

“5.— Proceedings for an offence to which section 3 applies or an offence under section 3(12) or 4 may be brought and prosecuted summarily by the local authority in whose functional area the offence is alleged to have been committed or where the local authority concerned has entered into an agreement with another local authority under section 7 by that other authority.”.

16.—(1) Section 2(1) of the Act of 2002 is amended by substituting “12, 14 or 19 in column (2) of Part 1 and reference number 1 in column (2) of Part 8 of the First Schedule),” for “12 or 14 in column (2) of Part 1 of the First Schedule),”.

(2) The First Schedule to the Act of 2002 is amended—

(a) in Part 1, by substituting “The offences specified in column (2) of this Part at reference numbers 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 19” for “The offences specified in column (2) of this Part at reference numbers 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14”,

(b) in Part 1, by substituting for the matter at reference number 4 the following:

“

”.

(c) in Part 1, by inserting after the matter at reference number 17 (inserted by section 22(a) of the Act of 2004) the following:

“

”.

(d) in Part 2, by deleting paragraphs (6) and (7)and the matter at reference numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 and

(e) by inserting after Part 5 the following:

“PART 6

Contravention of Regulation 4 of European Communities (Installation and Use of Speed Limitation Devices in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005

In this Part, a reference to a Regulation is a reference to a Regulation of the European Communities (Installation and Use of Speed Limitation Devices in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 831 of 2005).

PART 7

Contravention of Certain Provisions of European Communities (Compulsory Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraint Systems in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2006

In this Part, a reference to a Regulation is a reference to a Regulation of the European Communities (Compulsory Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraint Systems in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 240 of 2006).

PART 8

Contravention of Regulation 19 of European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 2004

In this Part, a reference to a Regulation is a reference to a Regulation of the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 771 of 2004).

”.

17.— F14[…]

18.— (1) A person convicted of an offence for which a penalty is provided by—

(a) a provision of the Principal Act mentioned in column (2) of Part 1 of the Table at any reference number mentioned in column (1) of that Part,

(b) a provision of the Road Traffic Act 1968 mentioned in column (2) of Part 2 of the Table at any reference number mentioned in column (1) of that Part,

(c) the provision of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 1984 mentioned in column (2) of Part 3 of the Table, or

(d) a provision of the Act of 1994 mentioned in column (2) of Part 4 of the Table at a reference number mentioned in column (1) of that Part,

is, in lieu of the monetary penalty so provided, liable to the monetary penalty, specified in column (3) of the Table at that reference number.

TABLE

Part 1

Principal Act

Part 2

Road Traffic Act 1968

Part 3

Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 1984

Part 4

Act of 1994

(2) Section 23 of the Act of 2002 is repealed.

19.— Section 41(1) of the Act of 1994 is amended—

(a) by substituting for paragraph (b) the following:

“(b) the vehicle is, or a member of the Garda Síochána reasonably believes it to be in the State and the member is of the opinion that the vehicle is, being so used in contravention of section 56(1) of the Principal Act,”,

(b) in paragraph (c), by substituting “2 months” for “3 months” and “use,” for “use.”, and

(c) by inserting after paragraph (c) the following:

“(d) the vehicle is, or a member of the Garda Síochána is of the opinion that the vehicle is, being so used in contravention of section 18(1) of the Principal Act,

(e) the vehicle is, or a member of the Garda Síochána is of the opinion that the vehicle is, being so used in contravention of Regulation 19(1) of the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 771 of 2004), or

(f) in the case of a vehicle registered in another Member State, the vehicle is, or a member of the Garda Síochána is of the opinion that it is, being so used without a proof of passing a roadworthiness test in accordance with Council Directive 96/96/EC of 20 December 1996 ¹ which is for the time being in force in respect of the vehicle.”.

20.— Section 115 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting for subsection (1) (inserted by section 46 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 1986) the following:

“(1) Where a person is required by or under this Act or under regulations made under section 34 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 to furnish or give particulars in connection with an application for the grant or issue of a licence, permit, plate or certificate or otherwise in connection with a licence, permit, plate, certificate or vehicle, he or she shall not furnish or give pursuant to the requirement any particulars which to his or her knowledge are false or in any material respect misleading.”,

(b) in subsection (3) (as amended by section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1968) by substituting “licence, permit, plate or certificate” for “licence, plate or certificate” in both places where it occurs, and

(c) by substituting for subsection (4) the following:

“(4) A person shall not forge or fraudulently alter or use, or fraudulently lend to, or allow to be used by, any other person, any licence, permit, plate, badge or certificate issued under this Act or under regulations made under section 34 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003.”.

21. —F17[…]

22.— The following are repealed:

(a) subsection (6) of section 69 of the Principal Act;

(b) section 16 of the Road Transport Act 1999; and

(c) section 56 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003.

23.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Road Traffic Act 2006.

(2) This Act (other than section 21 ) comes 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.

(3) The Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2005 and this Act (other than section 21 ) may be cited together as the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006 and shall be read together as one.