S.L. 499.56 Art. 28Specifications of passengertransport vehicles.

(1) No passenger transport vehicle licence may be issued with respect to a motor vehicle unless:

(a) it is registered and licensed in terms of the

Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles

Regulations;

(b) it complies with Directive 2007/46/EC of the

European Parliament and of the Council of 5

September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles;

(c) it complies with the relevant requirements of the EC Type-Approval of Motor Vehicles and their Trailers Regulations;

(d) it fulfils all the specifications and constructional requirements laid down in the Motor Vehicles (Weights, Dimensions and Equipment) Regulations;

(e) it is a right-hand-drive passenger transport vehicle with passenger doors on the left hand side;

(f) it has a fully functioning air conditioning system;

(g) it’s external bodywork colour is not identical or similar to the colour assigned by the Authority to motor route buses: Provided further that paragraphs (b) and (c) shall not apply to Malta heritage buses.

(i) which were imported into Malta or ordered for importation into Malta prior to the 19th May, 2009; and

(ii) which are registered for use on the road in Malta before the 15th November, 2010, but only if the Authority is notified of the importation of such passenger transport vehicles into Malta by not later than the 15th November, 2009 and proof of compliance with paragraph (i) is submitted to the Authority together with such notification:

Provided further that paragraphs (b), (c) and (f) shall not apply to Malta heritage buses.

(2) A passenger transport vehicle which is not new may be issued with a passenger transport vehicle license only if it:

(a) complies with sub-regulation (1) with the exception of paragraph (b) and (c) thereof;

(b) has emissions levels that are classified as Euro VI according to Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 and not more than ten (10) years shall have passed from the year in which it would have been manufactured;

(c) is already registered for use on the road for hire or reward in any other country and has been issued a type-approval certificate or has been granted national type-approval by a competent authority of a Member State, or by any body approved by the Authority, and furthermore no modification was effected thereto after the issue of the said certificate or approval;

(d) has passed a vehicle roadworthiness test, within the previous three months, in accordance with the Motor

Vehicles Roadworthiness Test Regulations: Provided, except in such cases which are specified in regulation 116(4), that no tail-lift van may be issued with a passenger transport vehicle licence in terms of these regulations unless it is a new motor vehicle:

Provided further that an open top bus brought into Malta prior to the 19th May, 2009 and in respect of which an application had been made prior to that date for the registration thereof with the Authority may, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b), be registered not later than the 31st July 2014 on condition that the applicant (or where the person applying for such registration is not the same person who had submitted the original application, the present applicant as well as the original applicant) signs a written declaration in virtue of which he irrevocably renounces to any right of action against the Authority and declares that he has no claim or contention against the Authority or against the Government of Malta or against any officials thereof relating to the loss of use of the said open top bus prior to the date of registration and in which he will further declare that he holds the Authority, the Government of Malta and its officials harmless and fully indemnified against any such claims which may be made by third parties: Provided further that, with regard to Malta heritage buses, paragraphs (b) and (c) of sub-regulation (1) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this sub-regulation shall not apply:

Provided further that the new motor vehicle that has been registered in any other country and satisfies the requirements of these regulations, shall not be considered as a passenger transport vehicle which is not new in accordance with this sub-regulation.

(3) Vintage buses may be licensed to be used exclusively on sightseeing passenger transport routes in terms of Part XI and, or for special vintage bus services in terms of Part X even though they do not comply with the requirements of sub-regulation (1)(d) and (f) and sub-regulation (2)(b).

(4) Passenger transport vehicles included in the declaration given under regulation 7(1)(d), which were licensed for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward in Malta before the entry into force of these regulations shall be automatically issued with a passenger transport vehicle licence under these regulations without the need for the submission of an application or the payment of an application fee or entry fee.

(5) This regulation shall not apply to trackless trains and electric trolley vehicles.