Reintroduction of a Fixed Penalty for an Offence Related to Goods Vehicle LicensingThe Department of the Environment’s is proposing to reintroduce a fixed penalty for the offence of ‘using a goods vehicle without an operator’s licence.’
The offence was previously included in The Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty) (Offences) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and associated Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and attracted a Financial Penalty of £200. The implementation of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010, operational since 1 July 2012, has meant that this Fixed Penalty is no longer in use.
Associated with the requirement to be a goods vehicle operator there are a number of offences for which an operator or someone without an operator licence could be taken to court. It is proposed that the Driver and Vehicle Agency and the Police Service for Northern Ireland will have the discretion to offer someone who has committed the offence a fixed penalty.