UK Offence Report

Forgery, false statements etc

regulation 14(4)(b) of The Motor Vehicles (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1998

This offence was read from the text as made, and no revised version was available, so a later revocation could not be ruled out. Check the current text at legislation.gov.uk.

What the provision says

b produces, provides, sends or otherwise makes use of

a document which he knows to be false in

a material particular or recklessly produces, provides, sends or otherwise makes use of

a document which is false in

a material particular, shall be liable on summary conviction to

a fine not exceeding level

4 on the standard scale.

Text as made, from legislation.gov.uk. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This is the text as originally made; later amendments are not shown here.

Who it binds, and what has to be proved

Binds
a person
Conduct
making a false or misleading statement
Fault element
Requires proof of a state of mind
Burden of proof
No statutory defence — prosecution proves everything

The prosecution must prove both that the conduct happened and that it was done with the state of mind the provision names (recklessly).

The provision states no defence, so the prosecution bears the burden on every element of the offence.

Classifier’s reasoning: mens rea word in the offence-creating words: recklessly.

What would breach regulation 14(4)(b)?

These are illustrations, not law. They are generated from the provision’s own words to show the shape of the offence. Whether any particular conduct is caught depends on the full text, on any amendment since, and on the facts.

  1. Entering a figure on a form or return that is known to be wrong under the Motor Vehicles (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1998.
  2. Leaving out something the form asks for, where the omission is what makes the answer misleading.
  3. Producing a document to an official that has been altered since it was issued.

Penalty

Mode of trial
Either way — magistrates’ court or Crown Court
Maximum fine
£2,500
Standard scale
Level 4
Maximum prison (summary)
Not determined
Maximum prison (on indictment)
2 years

Sentencing

Offences of this kind are usually sentenced under the guidelines below. This is a mapping by subject, not a finding about this provision, and the links go to a search of the Sentencing Council’s own site.

Prosecution figures

No published per-offence figure was found for this provision, and it could not be matched to a Ministry of Justice offence code. Offences created by statutory instrument very largely do not have one. Absence of a figure is not evidence that the offence is unused.

Status and lifecycle

Current status
Status not determined
Made
19 August 1998
In force from
23 September 1998
Extent
Not stated

How this was established: read from the text as made; no revised version available, so later revocation could not be ruled out.

What the instrument is for

(This note is not part of the Regulations) — the explanatory note published with the instrument, © Crown copyright.

These Regulations consolidate with amendments the Motor Vehicles (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1992. The Regulations implement Council Directives 70/156/EEC and 87/403/EEC and Commission Directive 98/14/EC which provide that Member States must set up a system for granting EC type approval for light passenger vehicles. The Directives contain provisions which prohibit Member States registering or permitting the sale or entry into service of such vehicles, unless they are accompanied by a valid EC certificate of conformity. They contain similar provisions for parts of motor vehicles (not limited to parts of light passenger vehicles). Schedule 1 to the Regulations lists separate Directives which lay down standards for components of vehicles. It is expanded in order to implement a number of Directives adopted in 1996 and 1997 which introduce new standards. The Directives concerned are as follows. Directive 97/39/EC amends Directive 75/443/EEC for speedometers and reverse gears on motor vehicles. Directive 97/28 further amends Directive 76/756/EEC for lighting installation on motor vehicles. Directive 97/29/EC amends Directive 76/757/EEC for reflex reflectors on motor vehicles. Directive 97/30/EC further amends Directive 76/758/EEC for side, rear and stop lamps on motor vehicles. Directive 97/31/EC amends Directive 76/760/EEC for number plate lamps on motor vehicles. Directive 97/32/EC amends 77/539/EEC for reversing lamps on motor vehicles. Directive 97/19/EC amends Directive 70/221/EEC for fuel tanks and rear protective devices for motor vehicles. Directive 97/20/EC amends Directive 72/306/EEC for emissions of smoke from diesel vehicles. Directive 97/21/EC further amends Directive 80/1269/EEC for the engine power of motor vehicles. Directive 97/27/EC sets out requirements for the masses and dimensions of vehicles other than those to which Directive 92/21/EC applies. Directive 96/79/EC sets out requirements for the protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact. Directive 98/12/EC sets out requirements for brakes on motor vehicles. Part I of the Regulations contains preliminary provisions. Part II of the Regulations contains provisions relating to— a applications to the Secretary of State for EC type approval, b the grant of EC type approval by the Secretary of State, c the duties of holders of type approval granted by the Secretary of State including a duty to supply an EC certificate of conformity with each vehicle and to affix an approval mark to each part that conforms with the approved type, and d the withdrawal or suspension of EC type approval granted by the Secretary of State. Subject to specified exceptions, Part III of the Regulations prevents the Secretary of State from issuing a first licence or registering a light passenger vehicle, unless it either has an EC certificate of conformity or has a Minister’s approval certificate issued under section 58(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Certain vehicles are excepted from the requirement to obtain EC type approval. These include— a certain prototype vehicles, b certain vehicles previously in the public service of the Crown, and c certain special purpose vehicles (ambulances, hearses and motor caravans). Article 8(2)(b) of Directive 70/156/EEC permits— a a limited number of vehicles for a limited period to be sold and registered in an EEA state if they conform to a type of vehicle whose EC type approval is no longer valid, and b a limited number of vehicles for a limited period to be sold and registered in the UK if they conform to a type of vehicle whose national type approval is no longer valid. Regulations 12 and 13 give effect to these “end of series” derogations. Part IV of the Regulations contains miscellaneous provisions. These include provisions creating offences relating to EC type approval such as forging an EC type approval certificate or an EC certificate of conformity and making false statements. Copies of the EEC and EC Directives referred to in these Regulations can be obtained from the Stationery Office.

Read the full note and every offence in this instrument

Other offences in the same instrument

How this was identified as an offence

Everything above rests on the judgement that this provision creates a criminal offence, rather than mentioning one. That judgement is made by rule, from the words of the provision, and this is the rule that made it — with a confidence of 0.72.

Basis
the provision states liability on summary conviction; the provision states a penalty in older drafting
Confidence
0.72 of 1.00

A provision that states a penalty for an offence created elsewhere can read very like one that creates an offence, and the rules can mistake the one for the other. If the text quoted above sets a penalty for something made an offence by another provision, treat the classification on this page with that in mind, and read the instrument.

Check the source