Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 15th July, 2014.

I, LEO VARADKAR, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 (No. 7 of 1994) and the National Roads and Road Traffic (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 298 of 2002 ) (as adapted by the Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 141 of 2011 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Car Clubs and Electrically Powered Vehicles) Regulations 2014.

(2) The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 to 2012 and these Regulations may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 to 2014.

2. The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 ( S.I. No. 182 of 1997 ) are amended-

(a) by inserting the following definitions in Article 4:

" ‘car club’ means a car club licensed in that regard by a road authority;

‘car club vehicle parking bay’ means a space intended for the parking of a mechanically propelled vehicle in which is displayed a car club vehicle permit;

‘car club vehicle permit’ means a car club permit issued by a road authority and for the purposes of Article 44A;

‘electrically powered vehicle’ means a mechanically propelled vehicle that is powered-

(a) solely by means of a re-chargeable battery, or

(b) by means of a re-chargeable battery and an internal combustion engine where either power source may be used to propel the vehicle;

‘electrically powered vehicle recharging bay’ means a space intended for the parking of an electrically powered vehicle while the vehicle’s battery is being re-charged;",

and

(b) by inserting after Article 44 the following:

"Car Club Parking Bay

44A (1) Subject to sub-article (2), where traffic sign number RRM 034 [Car Club Vehicle Parking Bay] is provided, a vehicle shall not be stopped or parked.

(2) Sub-article (1) shall not apply to a vehicle-

(a) in which is displayed a car club vehicle permit, and

(b) which is clearly marked to show that it is a vehicle that belongs to a car club.

Electrically Powered Vehicle Recharging Bay

44B (1) Subject to sub-article (2), where traffic sign number RRM 035 [Electrically Powered Vehicle Recharging Bay] is provided, a vehicle shall not be stopped or parked.

(2) Sub-article (1) shall not apply to a vehicle that is an electrically powered vehicle the battery of which is being recharged.".

Given under my Official Seal,

8 July 2014.

LEO VARADKAR,

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the reservation of parking spaces for car club cars and for the recharging of electric vehicles.