Road Transport Act, 1933

Issue of vehicle plates.

30.—(1) The licensee under a merchandise licence may apply at the vehicle plate issuing station specified in his licence to the Chief Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána within whose functional area such station is situate for the issue of a vehicle plate in respect of any mechanically propelled vehicle intended to be used by him for the purpose of the business authorised by such licence to be carried on.

(2) Upon receipt of an application under the immediately preceding sub-section, the Chief Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána to whom such application is made shall, subject to the provisions of this and the next following section, issue a vehicle plate to the applicant in respect of such vehicle.

(3) Where a vehicle plate issued to the licensee under a merchandise licence in respect of a particular mechanically propelled vehicle has been lost, destroyed, or broken or has become so defaced by wear or injury that all or any of the marks required by this section to be borne thereon are obliterated or illegible, the licensee under such licence may apply at the vehicle plate issuing station, at which such vehicle plate was issued, to the Chief Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána within whose functional area such station is situate for the issue of a new vehicle plate in respect of such vehicle, and thereupon the said Chief Superintendent, if he is satisfied that such first mentioned vehicle plate has been lost, destroyed, broken or so defaced and upon delivery to him of such vehicle plate (if not lost or destroyed), shall, subject to the provisions of this section, issue to the applicant a new vehicle plate bearing marks similar to those borne by such first mentioned vehicle plate.

(4) Every application under this section for a vehicle plate in respect of a particular mechanically propelled vehicle shall be in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by the registration book which relates to such vehicle.

(5) A Chief Superintendent shall not issue a vehicle plate in respect of any mechanically propelled vehicle unless he is satisfied that such vehicle is duly licensed under section 13 of the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by subsequent enactments.

(6) There shall be paid on every application for a vehicle plate under this section to the Chief Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána to whom such application is made a fee of such amount as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance and after consultation with the Minister for Justice, and the payment of such fee (which shall be retained whether the application is or is not granted) shall be a condition precedent to the consideration of such application.

(7) Every vehicle plate issued under this section shall be made of metal and be of the prescribed pattern and bear the prescribed marks thereon.