Section 69 — Road Traffic Act 1988: Power to prohibit driving of unfit vehicles.

Power to prohibit driving of unfit vehicles. 69 1 If on any inspection of a vehicle under section 41, 45, 49, 61, 67, 68 or 77 of this Act it appears to a vehicle examiner or authorised inspector that owing to any defects in the vehicle it is, or is likely to become, unfit for service, he may prohibit the driving of the vehicle on a road—

a absolutely, or b for one or more specified purposes, or c except for one or more specified purposes.

2 If on any inspection of a vehicle under any of the enactments mentioned in subsection (1) above it appears to an authorised constable that owing to any defects in the vehicle driving it (or driving it for any particular purpose or purposes or for any except one or more particular purposes) would involve a danger of injury to any person, he may prohibit the driving of the vehicle on a road—

a absolutely, or b for one or more specified purposes, or c except for one or more specified purposes.

3 A prohibition under this section shall come into force as soon as the notice under subsection (6) below has been given if—

a it is imposed by an authorised constable, or b in the opinion of the vehicle examiner or authorised inspector imposing it the defects in the vehicle in question are such that driving it, or driving it for any purpose within the prohibition, would involve a danger of injury to any person.

4 Except where subsection (3) applies, a prohibition under this section shall (unless previously removed under section 72 of this Act) come into force at such time not later than ten days from the date of the inspection as seems appropriate to the vehicle examiner or authorised inspector imposing the prohibition, having regard to all the circumstances.

5 A prohibition under this section shall continue in force until it is removed under section 72 of this Act.

6 A person imposing a prohibition under this section shall forthwith give notice in writing of the prohibition to the person in charge of the vehicle at the time of the inspection—

a specifying the defects which occasioned the prohibition;

b stating whether the prohibition is on all driving of the vehicle or driving it for one or more specified purposes or driving it except for one or more specified purposes (and, where applicable, specifying the purpose or purposes in question);

and c stating whether the prohibition is to come into force immediately or at the end of a specified period.

7 Where a notice has been given under subsection (6) above, any vehicle examiner or authorised inspector or authorised constable may grant an exemption in writing for the use of the vehicle in such manner, subject to such conditions and for such purpose as may be specified in the exemption.

8 Where such a notice has been given, any vehicle examiner or authorised inspector or authorised constable may by endorsement on the notice vary its terms and, in particular, alter the time at which the prohibition is to come into force or suspend it if it has come into force.

9 In this section “ authorised constable ” means a constable authorised to act for the purposes of this section by or on behalf of a chief officer of police.