New Draft Licensing Regulations
Page 45
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COPIES of draft consolidated regulations proposed to take the place of the Goods Vehicles (Licences and Prohibitions) Provisional Regulations, dated January 23, 1939, have been circulated by the Ministry of Transport to interested parties for their comments. Observations on the new proposals have to reach the Minister by October 7. For the most part, the amendments are of a drafting or minor character, but certain of the new proposals are of more than passilrg interest.
It is sought to amend Regulation 5 (5) to make it unnecessary for C-licence applicants to submit their applications in duplicate.
Under the new Regulation 7, the period of notice in connection with applications for C licences will be reduced from eight weeks to 14 days, but the existing period of eight weeks will be retained so far as A and B licences are concerned. By deleting the reference to "special reasons" in the existing Regulation 7, Licensing Authorities will be afforded wider discretion to accept applications received outside the prescribed period.
Under Regulation 12, it is proposed to make it obligatory for C-licence vehicles to carry identity certificates, similar to those now used for vehicles operated under A and B licences. The Minister had hoped that the existing provisions would have met the case, but experience has shown that it is desirable that every vehicle should carry some readily identifiable mark to indi cate that it is licensed. The new proposal makes it possible to ensure that the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act are observed without the unnecessary stopping and questioning of drivers.
Regulation 14 has been amended to indicate more precisely the fees to be charged for licences in various circumstances and, in particular, where a licence for the currency period is granted in substitution for a short-term administrative licence and where vehicles authorized to be acquired are subsequently brought into use.
As from January 1 next, it is proposed, that appeals should be lodged within 14 days, instead of a month, This amendment is provided for in the new Regulation 23, which adds that ." an appeal may be amended at any time as the Tribunal may think fit and upon such terms as the Tribunal may consider just."