Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on 7^thDecember 2020.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations

2.—(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996( 4) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 36 (evidence of result of theory test), for paragraph (6A) substitute—

“(6A)  Notwithstanding paragraph (6)(a), the validity of a standard theory test pass certificate which, in accordance with paragraph (6), would otherwise have expired or would otherwise expire within the expiry date range specified in column (1) of the Table, shall be deemed to be, or to have been, extended from the date of expiry referred to in each such pass certificate for the period specified in column (2) of the Table.

(3) In regulation 36B (large vehicle theory test pass certificate) for paragraph (4A) substitute—

“(4A)  Notwithstanding paragraph (4)(a), the validity of a large vehicle theory test pass certificate which, in accordance with paragraph (4), would otherwise have expired or would otherwise expire within the expiry date range specified in column (1) of the Table, shall be deemed to be, or to have been, extended from the date of expiry referred to in each such pass certificate for the period specified in column (2) of the Table.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the 1996 Regulations”) in order to further extend the validity of driving theory test pass certificates given the current suspension of practical testing due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.

Accordingly, regulation 2 of these Regulations amends regulations 36 and 36B of the 1996 Regulations so that the validity of a theory test pass certificate that expires between 1st March 2020 and 31st October 2020, is extended for a period of twelve months from the date of expiry shown on the certificate; the extension that had been initially applied was for an eight month period. In addition, regulations 36 and 36B of the 1996 Regulations are now amended so that the validity of a theory test pass certificate that expires between 1st November 2020 and 30th June 2021, is extended for a period of eight months from the date of expiry shown on the certificate.

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.