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3.9 Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of the Chairman of the Comité des Connétable s regarding the cost of Heavy Goods Vehicle licences:
Are senior citizens required to pay higher fees in respect of Heavy Goods Vehicle Licences and if so, why?
Connétable K.P. Vibert of St. Ouen (Chairman, Comité des Connétable s):
The short answer is no. Under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 and the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003, a person who is over 66 years of age may only be granted a one-year licence to drive vehicles in categories (c) and (d). Therefore those who are over 66 years of age and who wish to continue to hold a licence to drive categories (c) or (d) must renew their licence each year and the law requires that they must satisfy the issuing authority each year of their fitness to drive.
There is therefore an annual cost for each of the medical certificates and for the grant of the driving licence. The restrictions on those over 66 years being granted only a one-year licence is applied by most countries throughout the European Union.
Applicants for a licence which includes categories (c) or (d) and who are between the ages of 45 years and 66 years must also submit a medical certificate when applying to renew their licence, as must an applicant for a first licence including categories (c) and (d). The fee for those over 66 years is therefore no higher than any other person; the cost just occurs more frequently. I would further point out [Laughter] that these annual licences, as all other licences, are produced by the Parish of St. Helier for the other Parishes of the Island at a cost recovery basis.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Would the Chairman of the Comité not acknowledge that he is somewhat embarrassed at the discrimination he is applying in his own Parish in this regard, and what steps will he take to eliminate it?
The Connétable of St. Ouen :
I accept that the matter was brought to the attention of the Deputy by a parishioner of St. Ouen , but this parishioner has in fact brought it before the Comité des Connétable s on a number of occasions, and through the use of other States Members. The Member has been advised exactly what his status is in law, and unless there is a move to change the law, the Connétable s are obliged to undertake this charge.
- The Deputy of St. John :
Not having the highway code or my driving licence with me, could the Minister please tell us what categories of vehicles (c) and (d) cover that we need an examination for?
The Connétable of St. Ouen :
Yes: (c) is a Motor vehicle use for the carriage of goods whose maximum authorised mass exceeds 7.5 tonnes; (d) is a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat, but excluding any vehicle included in category (d)(i), a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers but not for hire or reward, with more than 8 seats, but not more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat.
The Deputy of St. John : I would like to thank him.
The Deputy Bailiff :
Very well. We have now come to the halfway point in our question time for all questions. I thought Members would like to know that; and we are not quite halfway through questions.
The Deputy of St. John :
Does that mean I have extra time? The Deputy Bailiff :
I think probably not.