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Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Commencement
• 1.3     Principal Rule amended

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

• 2.1     Road mass limits
• 2.2     Permits for passenger service vehicles

Section 3     Amendments to Definitions

• 3.1     Definition revoked
• 3.2     New definition inserted

Section 4     Amendments to Schedules

• 4.1    Schedule 2, Part C, heading amended
• 4.2    Schedule 3, Part 3 amended
• 4.3    Schedule 10 amended
  

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Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2016 (the amendment Rule) amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 (the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Rule). The Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Rule sets in place a regulatory regime, so that heavy vehicles, in particular, truck and trailer combinations, can operate safely.

The objective of the amendment Rule is to:

• widen the scope of the current high capacity urban bus permit regime by replacing the defined term, ‘high capacity urban bus’, with ‘passenger service vehicle’;
• allow road controlling authorities to issue permits for passenger service vehicles to exceed the general access axle mass limits on specified routes;
• provide for the continuing validity of permits issued for high capacity urban buses.

Extent of consultation

The amendment Rule follows on from Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2015 which introduced the high capacity urban bus permit regime for buses with seating for 60 or more passengers operating scheduled public transport services in urban areas. Submitters to the 2015 amendment rule proposed that permits for buses should be made more general in nature, and not just confined to high capacity urban routes.

Formal consultation on the draft amendment Rule began with the release of the public consultation document (yellow draft) on 20 November 2015. The NZ Transport Agency sent details of the amendment Rule proposals by letter or email to approximately 1405 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Rule.

The yellow draft was made available through the NZ Transport Agency’s Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was also available on the NZ Transport Agency’s website. The availability of the yellow draft for comment was publicised in the daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and in the New Zealand Gazette.

The NZ Transport Agency received 19 submissions on the draft amendment Rule. The submissions received were taken into account in finalising the draft amendment Rule following which it was submitted to the Associate Minister of Transport for signing.

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Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2016.

1.2     Commencement

This Rule comes into force on 15 April 2016.

1.3     Principal rule amended

This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002.

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Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1     Road mass limits

In clause 4.5(1B), replace “A high capacity urban bus” with “A passenger service vehicle”.

2.2     Permits for passenger service vehicles

2.2(1)  In the heading to clause 5.2A, replace “high capacity urban buses” with “passenger service vehicles”.

2.2(2)  In clause 5.2A(1), replace “A high capacity urban bus” with “A passenger service vehicle”.

2.2(3)  Replace clause 5.2A(2) with:

5.2A(2) A road controlling authority may issue a permit under this clause for a passenger service vehicle to operate on the routes specified in the permit with axle set mass limits of not more than the mass limits prescribed in Part C of Schedule 2.

2.2(4)  In clause 5.2A(4), replace “A high capacity urban bus” with “A passenger service vehicle”.

2.2(5)  In clause 5.2A(5), replace “A high capacity urban bus” with “A passenger service vehicle”.

2.2(6)  In clause 5.2A(8), replace “high capacity urban bus” with “passenger service vehicle”.

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Section 3    Amendments to Definitions

3.1     Definition revoked

In Part 2, Definitions, delete the definition of “High capacity urban bus”.

3.2     New definition inserted

In Part 2, Definitions, insert in the appropriate place:

Passenger service vehicle has the same meaning as in the Land Transport Act 1998.

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Section 4    Amendments to Schedules

4.1     Schedule 2, Part C, heading amended

In the heading to Schedule 2, Part C, replace “HIGH CAPACITY URBAN BUSES” with “PASSENGER SERVICE VEHICLES”.

4.2     Schedule 3, Part 3 amended

In Schedule 3, Part 3, in the row relating to “Purpose of permit”, replace “high capacity urban bus” with “passenger service vehicle”.

4.3     Schedule 10 amended

In Schedule 10, after clause 1(f), insert:

Provisions relating to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2016 2.            Transitional provisions for high capacity urban bus permits (a)           This clause applies to a permit issued under clause 5.2A of the principal rule for a high capacity urban bus that was current immediately before 15 April 2016. (b)          A permit in (a) is deemed to be held in respect of a passenger service vehicle and continues to be valid until it expires unless it is replaced or revoked.