XN000022-1988-12-16 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1988

NCREASE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIGHT BUS SEATING CAPACITY

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) ORDINANCE 1988, WHICH ALLOWS FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM SEATING CAPACITY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES FROM 14 TO 16, WILL TAKE EFFECT TODAY (FRIDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT ELIGIBLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES MAY BE MODIFIED, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, TO INCREASE THE SEATING CAPACITY,

WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, A LIGHT BUS MODIFIED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH ONE OF THE APPROVED SEATING PLANS ISSUED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE ITS SEATING CAPACITY ACCEPTED AND REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT PRIOR VEHICLE INSPECTION BY

THE DEPARTMENT.

THE MODIFIED VEHICLE WILL BE INSPECTED DURING THE NEXT ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION,

"OWNERS OF LIGHT BUSES WHO WISH TO MODIFY THEIR VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED SEATING PLANS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLES ARE MODIFIED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED PLAN.

"IF THE SEATING ARRANGEMENT OF A LIGHT BUS IS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE APPROVED SEATING PLAN PRIOR TO ITS NEXT ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE LICENCE OF THE LIGHT BUS WILL BE SUSPENDED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION, BE INSPECTED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPROVED SEATING PLAN.

IT

WILL RELEVANT

"THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL THE ANNUAL INSPECTION IF IT IS FOUND NOT TO COMPLY WITH THE SEATING PLAN."

AN OWNER OF A LIGHT BUS WHO WISHES TO MODIFY HIS VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ONE OF THE APPROVED SEATING PLANS HAS TO COMPLETE AND SIGN THE DOCUMENTS: FORM TD 150 (APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF VEHICLE PARTICULARS); AND A DECLARATION THAT THE ALTERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ONE OF THE APPROVED SEATING PLANS.

WHEN RETURNING THE COMPLETED FORM AND THE DECLARATION TO THE DEPARTMENT'S LICENSING OFFICES, THE APPLICANTS MUST TAKE ALONG THE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT AND THE LICENCE DISC OF THE RELEVANT LIGHT BUS.

FOR A LIGHT BUS WHICH IS NOT MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED SEATING PLAN ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE LIGHT BUS WILL HAVE TO PASS THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION BEFORE THE CHANGE OF SEATING CAPACITY IS ACCEPTED FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

IN ORDER NOT TO AFFECT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PROVIDED TO TRAVELLING PUBLIC, THE SPOKESMAN URGED OWNERS OF LIGHT BUSES SPREAD OUT THE MODIFICATIONS OF THEIR VEHICLES.

THE

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