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Q Could a recovery vehicle he classed as a mobile

11th October 1974
Page 82
Page 82, 11th October 1974 — Q Could a recovery vehicle he classed as a mobile
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

crane, and is an hgv licence required to drive both types of vehicle?

You do not say for what A purpose it is necessary to consider the classification of a recovery vehicle as a mobile crane.

However, both vehicles are defined separately in the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971. Here, a recovery vehicle is described in Section 16(8) as "a vehicle on which there is mounted, or which is drawing, or which is carrying as part of its equipment, apparatus designed for raising a disabled vehicle partly from the ground or for drawing a disabled vehicle when so raised.. . ." It may not be used for carrying goods other 010 than the disabled vehicle and can carry no load other than the articles necessary for its operation.

From this you will see that a conventional vehicle carrying, say, a pair of jacks, can be classified as a recovery vehicle. Therefore, depending on whether you can be classed as a "motor trade" or "vehicle tester" as defined in the Act, it might be possible to obtain the issue of trade plates for which an annual fee of LI 5 a year is chargeable. Naturally, if it is operated under trade plates it may be used only in connection with a broken-down vehicle.

A mobile crane is defined in Schedule 3 paragraph 4 as "a vehicle designed and constructed as a mobile crane which (a) is used on public roads only either as a crane in connection with work being carried on on a site in the immediate vicinity or for the purpose of proceeding to and from a place where it is to be used as a crane, and (b) when it is so proceeding and neither carries nor hauls any load than such as is necessary for its propulsion or equipment." Neither vehicle is exempted as such from the provisions relating to heavy goods vehicle driving licences in Regulation 28 of the Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers' Licences) Regulations 1969.

However, as far as the mobile crane is concerned, if such a vehicle is intended to be used on public roads only from passing from land in the owner's occupation to other land in his occupation, and for distances not exceeding, in the aggregate, six miles in any calendar week, then the vehicle is exempt from duty. In that case, Regulations 28(8) exempts the driver from the need to have an hgv licence.

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