Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Disclosure of Vehicle Insurance Information Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and shall come into operation on 14th July 2008.

Interpretation

2.–(1) In these Regulations–

"the motor insurance database" means the database maintained by MIIC and containing the information referred to in regulation 4 of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Information Centre and Compensation Body) Regulations 2003(2);

"motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in Article 2 of the 1981 Order;

"periodic data list" means a document, including an electronic document, which comprises the following relevant vehicle insurance information–

"process" has the same meaning as in section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998(3) and "processed" and "processing" shall be construed accordingly;

"PSNI" means Police Service of Northern Ireland;

"the reference date" means a date prior to the date on which a periodic data list is produced; and

"the 1981 Order" means the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(4).

(2) In these Regulations an "insurance policy" means a policy of insurance or a security covering the use of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place which satisfies the conditions–

(a) in the case of a policy of insurance, specified in Article 92 of the 1981 Order(5); or

(b) in the case of a security, specified in Article 93 of the 1981 Order(6).

(3) A motor vehicle is treated as covered by an insurance policy whilst it is exempt from compliance with Article 90 of the 1981 Order as a result of the operation of Article 90(2) or 90(2A) of that Order(7).

(4) A motor vehicle is treated as covered by an insurance policy if it is not subject to the provisions of Article 90 of the 1981 Order because that motor vehicle is operated under the control of the Crown.

Supply of information by MIIC

3.–(1) The MIIC shall supply the PSNI with periodic data lists in such form and at such intervals as the PSNI may reasonably require so that the PSNI may carry out its functions under regulation 4.

(2) Periodic data lists shall show the following information about each motor vehicle on the list–

(a) the motor vehicle registration mark;

(b) the make and model of the motor vehicle (where shown on the motor insurance database); and

(c) the date when the insurance policy ceased to be in force in relation to the use of that motor vehicle.

Use of information provided by MIIC

4.–(1) The PSNI shall process information contained in any periodic data list and shall make the processed information available to the Chief Constable in a form that either–

(a) will enable the Chief Constable to further process the information in accordance with paragraph (2); or

(b) may be used directly by constables to assist them to determine if a vehicle has been used by a person who is not insured, contrary to Article 90 of the 1981 Order.

(2) The Chief Constable may arrange for the processed information received by him in accordance with paragraph (1) to be further processed into a form in which it may be used by constables to determine if a vehicle has been used by a person who is not insured, contrary to Article 90 of the 1981 Order.

(3) The further processing referred to in paragraph (2) may include comparing or combining the processed information with other information which may be available to the Chief Constable.

(4) A constable may use the processed information referred to in paragraph (1) or the further processed information referred to in paragraph (2) to determine whether to use his powers under Article 180 of the 1981 Order(8) to require a person to produce evidence that a motor vehicle is not or was not being driven in contravention of Part VIII of the 1981 Order.

(5) Information provided by the PSNI in accordance with paragraph (1) shall not be disclosed further than is permitted by this regulation except where the disclosure is made in respect of the contravention of the 1981 Order or of legislation made under it.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which are made under Article 81 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, make provision for the Motor Insurers´ Information Centre ("MIIC") to provide information relating to the uninsured use of motor vehicles to the Police Service of Northern Ireland ("PSNI").

Regulation 3 requires MIIC to provide to the PSNI a list of vehicles, the use of which was covered by a policy of insurance on the reference date but is not covered under such a policy when the list is generated. The information must be provided at intervals specified by the PSNI. Information which must be provided is the vehicle registration mark, the make and model of the vehicle (where this is available to MIIC) and the date on which the vehicle ceased to have a record of insurance on the database.

Regulation 4 permits the PSNI to process information provided by MIIC so that it is available in a form that may assist a constable to determine if a vehicle has been used by a person who is not insured, contrary to Article 90 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 ("the 1981 Order"). The Chief Constable may arrange for that information to be further processed into a form in which it may be used by a constable.

A constable may use the processed information to assist him in deciding whether to use his powers under Article 180 of the 1981 Order to require a person who is, or who may have been, driving a vehicle to produce evidence that use of the vehicle is insured.

The information provided to a constable should not be further disclosed by him except for the purposes of legal proceedings for contravening the 1981 Order or legislation made under it.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been completed as costs incurred by business are minimal.