Road Traffic Act, 1933

Occasional inspection of licensed public service vehicles.

98.—(1) Any member of the Gárda Síochána may, at any time and in any place, inspect and examine any public service vehicle (including the fittings and equipment thereof) which he reasonably suspects to be so defective as to be unfit for the carriage of passengers, and for that purpose may do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) enter into any place in which such vehicle is;

(b) if such vehicle is in motion, require such vehicle to stop;

(c) require the driver of such vehicle to drive such vehicle forthwith to a convenient place indicated by such member for such inspection and examination;

(d) require persons in such vehicle to leave it.

(2) A member of the Gárda Síochána who has inspected and examined a public service vehicle under this section may do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) prohibit the use of such vehicle for carrying passengers for reward until defects indicated by him have been cured or (if the driver or the owner of such vehicle so requests) until a more detailed inspection or examination of such vehicle is made;

(b) prohibit such vehicle from being moved under its own power until defects indicated by him have been cured;

(c) require the owner or the driver of such vehicle to submit such vehicle to a further and more detailed inspection and examination at a time and place indicated by such member and for that purpose require such owner or such driver to cause such vehicle to be brought to the place at the time so indicated.

(3) Every person who—

(a) obstructs or interferes with a member of the Gárda Síochána in the exercise of any power conferred by this section, or

(b) being the driver of a public service vehicle in motion, fails to stop such vehicle when required by a member of the Gárda Síochána under this section so to do, or

(c) being the owner or the driver of a public service vehicle fails to comply with any direction given or requirement made by a member of the Gárda Síochána under this section in relation to such vehicle, or

(d) does any act in contravention of a prohibition issued by a member of the Gárda Síochána under this section,

shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding five pounds.