Road Traffic Act, 1933

Periodical inspection of licensed public service vehicles.

97.—(1) The Commissioner may, at any time and as often as he thinks fit, cause any licensed public service vehicle (including the fittings and equipment thereof) to be inspected and examined by a member of the Gárda Síochána or other person who is, in the opinion of the Commissioner, properly qualified to make such inspection and examination, and the Commissioner shall cause every such vehicle to be so inspected and examined at least once in every year.

(2) Whenever the Commissioner proposes to have a licensed public service vehicle inspected and examined under this section he shall, by notice in writing served by post or otherwise on the owner of such vehicle, appoint a time (not less than fourteen days after the service of such notice) and place for such inspection and examination and require such owner to produce such vehicle for such inspection and examination at such time and place.

(3) Whenever a member of the Gárda Síochána or other person inspecting a public service vehicle under this section finds that such vehicle is for any reason unfit for the carriage or for the accommodation of passengers, any member of the Gárda Síochána may prohibit in writing the use of such vehicle for the carriage of passengers for reward until all defects indicated by him have been cured, and may if he thinks proper remove from such vehicle the vehicle plate issued under this Part of this Act in respect of such vehicle and may retain such vehicle plate until such defects have been cured.

(4) If any owner of a licensed public service vehicle on whom a notice under the foregoing sub-section of this section has been served in respect of such vehicle fails to produce such vehicle at the time and place appointed by such notice or, having so produced such vehicle, obstructs or prevents the inspection or the examination of such vehicle at such place under this section, or uses such vehicle for the carriage of passengers for reward in contravention of a prohibition in writing made under this section by a member of the Gárda Síochána such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding five pounds.