# The Taxi Licensing (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

S.R. 2020/190 · made 2 September 2020

These Regulations amend the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”) to extend arrangements for the automatic renewal of existing taxi licences due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.

Made under: European Communities Act 1972 (repealed) (Section 2); Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (Section 13, Section 20, Section 56)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/taxi-licensing-amendment-no-2-coronavirus-regulations-northern-ireland-2020/pdf/nisr_20200190_en.pdf; NI Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/taxi-licensing-amendment-no-2-coronavirus-regulations-northern-ireland-2020/pdf/nisrem_20200190_en.pdf

## Introductory text

Road Traffic And Vehicles
Made 2nd September 2020
Coming into operation 7th September 2020
The Department for Infrastructure makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and sections 13(3) and (5), 20 and 56(1) and (2) of the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and now vested in it.
The Department for Infrastructure is designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to the testing of the roadworthiness of motor vehicles and measures relating to the carriage of passengers and goods by road.

## 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Taxi Licensing (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and come into operation on 7th September 2020.
(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

## 2 Amendment of the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

(1) Regulation 3A (automatic renewal of licences) of the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a taxi licence granted in respect of a taxi before 10th October 2020 has expired in the period beginning with 9th March 2020 and ending with 31st May 2021.”.
(3) At the end of paragraph (2) after “regulation 7(1) or (2)” add—
“,
provided that the aggregate period for which any consecutive automatic renewal licences are granted shall not exceed 12 months for any taxi”.

## Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Infrastructure on 2nd September 2020
L.S.
Chris Hughes
A senior officer of the
Department for Infrastructure

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”) to extend arrangements for the automatic renewal of existing taxi licences due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.
The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (“the 2020 amendment Regulations”) provided for the automatic renewal of existing taxi licences that fell within defined parameters without the prior inspection and testing of the vehicle. Licences automatically renewed under those Regulations last for a period of 6 months and are subject to the additional conditions prescribed. They were also granted free of charge.
These Regulations extend those arrangements so that those licences which have already been automatically renewed for a 6 month period can be again renewed automatically for a further 6 months. In addition, any taxi licence granted before 10th October 2020 that expires between 9th March 2020 and 31st May 2021 may now be automatically renewed for a maximum period of 12 months. All taxi licences automatically renewed under these Regulations are granted free of charge and are subject to the additional conditions already prescribed for such licences. Schedule 1A to the 2015 Regulations contains the prescribed additional conditions as inserted by the 2020 amendment Regulations. The aggregate period for which any consecutive automatic renewal licences are granted must not exceed 12 months for any taxi.
These arrangements will apply for a limited time while the effects of the COVID-19 emergency continue to adversely affect the ability of the Driver and Vehicle Agency to perform its vehicle inspection and testing role.
An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Safe and Accessible Travel Division, Department for Infrastructure, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast BT2 8GB or online alongside this Statutory Rule at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2020/190 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/taxi-licensing-amendment-no-2-coronavirus-regulations-northern-ireland-2020
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.