What measures the Minister is considering implementing to strengthen the Motor Vehicle International Circulation (Jersey) Law 1953 to ensure that all persons working in Jersey and businesses operating in the Island have Jersey registered vehicles
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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER 2009
Question
"Given the number of foreign registered vehicles on our roads, what measures, if any, would the Minister consider implementing to strengthen the Motor Vehicle International Circulation (Jersey) Law 1953 to ensure that all persons working in Jersey and businesses operating in the Island have Jersey registered vehicles?"
Answer
The relevant legislation is in place to meet the requirements of International Conventions, in particular, the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic agreed in Geneva, in 1949. Article 1 of the Convention states:-
"1. While reserving its jurisdiction over the use of its own roads, each Contracting State agrees to the use of
its roads for international traffic under the conditions set out in this Convention.
2. No Contracting State shall be required to extend the benefit of the provisions of this Convention to any motor vehicle or trailer, or to any driver having remained within its territory for a continuous period exceeding one year."
Countries that are signatories to the Convention will have similar legislation in their jurisdiction.
Currently, all persons working in Jersey who have a permanent contract, a contract that extends beyond 12 months, have resided in Jersey for more than 12 months or expect to reside in Jersey for more than 12 months are required to obtain a Jersey driving licence and register any motor vehicle he/she has imported to Jersey. Similarly, companies operating in Jersey unless providing relatively short term services using vehicles operated by non-Jersey based staff who have brought these vehicles to the Island, should register company vehicles.
The Convention and supporting International Circulation legislation were promoted, among other things, to permit free movement of temporary visiting drivers and vehicles between jurisdictions. Latitude to restrict movement is therefore limited and would be likely to lead to reciprocal restrictions being imposed on Jersey drivers and vehicles circulating in other jurisdictions. This would create problems for Jersey businesses operating in the UK and Europe, students and other Jersey residents who travel abroad for limited periods of time.