Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 (c. 23)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(2) If a traffic commissioner has determined that any of the requirements of subsection (5) or (6) of section 13 that he has taken into consideration in accordance with subsection (1) or (as the case may be) (2) of that section would not be satisfied unless he were to exercise any of his powers under subsection (3) below, he shall exercise those powers accordingly.

(3) A traffic commissioner may issue the licence in terms that differ from the terms applied for in any of the following respects--

(a) more or fewer motor vehicles are specified in the licence;

(b) different motor vehicles are specified in it;

(d) it includes a provision such as is mentioned in section 6(1)(b) or (2)(b);

(e) higher or lower maximum numbers are specified in it under section 6;

(f) fewer places are specified in it as operating centres of the licence-holder.

(4) Any undertakings taken into account by the traffic commissioner under section 13(8) that he considers to be material to the granting of the application shall be recorded in the licence issued.

(5) A statement shall appear on the face of every operator's licence indicating whether it is a standard licence or a restricted licence.

(6) A statement shall appear on the face of every standard licence indicating whether it covers both national and international transport operations or national transport operations only.

16 Duration of operators' licences

(1) The date on which an operator's licence is to come into force shall be specified in the licence.

(2) Subject to its revocation or other termination under any provision of this Act or any other statutory provision, an operator's licence (other than an interim licence issued under section 24) shall continue in force indefinitely.

(3) If the holder of an operator's licence requests the traffic commissioner by whom it was issued to terminate it at any time, the commissioner shall, subject to subsection (4), comply with the request.

(4) The traffic commissioner may refuse to comply with the request if he is considering giving a direction in respect of the licence under section 26 or 27.

(5) An operator's licence held by an individual terminates if he dies, if he becomes a patient within the meaning of Part VII of the [1983 c. 20.] Mental Health Act 1983, or if (in Scotland) a curator bonis is appointed in respect of him on the ground that he is incapable, by reason of mental disorder, of adequately managing and administering his property and affairs.

Variation of licences

17 Variation of operators' licences

(1) Subject to section 18, on the application of the holder of an operator's licence, the traffic commissioner by whom the licence was issued may vary the licence by directing--

(a) that additional motor vehicles be specified in the licence or that any maximum number specified in it under section 6 be increased;

(b) that any vehicle cease to be specified in the licence or that any maximum number specified in it under section 6 be reduced;

(d) that a provision such as is mentioned in section 5(2) be included in the licence;

(e) that any provision in the licence such as is mentioned in section 6(1)(b) or (2)(b) cease to have effect;

(f) that a provision such as is mentioned in section 6(1)(b) or (2)(b) be included in the licence;

(g) that a new place in the traffic commissioner's area be specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder, or that any place cease to be so specified;

(h) that any undertaking recorded in the licence be varied or removed;

(i) that any condition attached to the licence be varied or removed;

(j) in the case of a restricted licence, that it be converted into a standard licence or, in the case of a standard licence, that it be converted into a restricted licence;

(k) in the case of a standard licence, that it cover both international and national transport operations instead of national transport operations only, or vice versa.

(2) A person applying for the variation of an operator's licence under this section shall give to the traffic commissioner, in such form as he may require, such information as he may reasonably require for disposing of the application.

(3) Except in the cases mentioned in subsection (4), the traffic commissioner shall publish notice of any application for the variation under this section of an operator's licence, and shall do so in the manner prescribed for the publication of notices under section 10(1).

(4) The excepted cases are--

(a) where the application is for a direction under subsection (1)(a) that additional motor vehicles be specified in the licence;

(b) where the application is for a direction under subsection (1)(b), (d) or (f);

(c) where the application is for a direction under subsection (1)(g) that a place cease to be specified in a licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder;

(d) where the application is for a direction under subsection (1)(j) that a standard licence be converted into a restricted licence;

(e) where the application is for a direction under subsection (1)(k) that a licence cover national transport operations only, instead of both national and international transport operations;

(f) where the traffic commissioner is satisfied that the application is of so trivial a nature that it is not necessary that an opportunity should be given for objecting to it or making representations against it.

(5) Where notice of an application is published under subsection (3), the following provisions, namely--

(a) section 10(2),

(b) section 12(1)(a), (6), (8) and (9)(a),

(d) section 15,

shall, with any necessary modifications and subject to section 19, apply in relation to that application as they apply in relation to an application for an operator's licence of which notice is published under section 10(1).

18 Publication of notice of applications for variation in any locality affected

(1) Subject to subsection (4), the traffic commissioner to whom an application for any of the directions mentioned in subsection (2) is made shall refuse the application without considering the merits unless he is satisfied that subsection (3) has been complied with in respect of each locality affected by the application.

(2) The directions referred to in subsection (1) are--

(a) any direction under section 17(1)(a) that a maximum number specified in a licence under section 6 be increased;

(b) any direction under section 17(1)(c) or (e);

(c) any direction under section 17(1)(g) that a new place be specified in a licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder; and

(d) any direction under section 17(1)(h) or (i) which might result in a material change in the use of any operating centre of the licence-holder in the traffic commissioner's area.

(3) This subsection has been complied with in respect of a locality affected by an application if, within the period beginning 21 days before the date on which the application is made and ending 21 days after that date, notice of the application in such form and containing such information as may be prescribed has been published in one or more local newspapers circulating in the locality.

(4) The traffic commissioner is not required by this section to refuse an application if--

(a) he is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1), save only that the form or contents of the notice of application as published in any newspaper did not comply with the prescribed requirements; and

(b) he is satisfied that no person's interests are likely to have been prejudiced by the failure to comply with those requirements.

(5) For the purposes of this section a locality is affected by an application for the variation of an operator's licence if--

(a) it contains any place in the area of the traffic commissioner that will be an operating centre of the licence-holder if the application is granted; or

(b) it contains an existing operating centre of the licence-holder in the area of the commissioner and--

(i) the granting of the application would or could result in an increase in the number of vehicles, or the number of vehicles above a certain weight, that have that centre as their operating centre; or

(ii) any undertaking recorded in, or condition attached to, the licence that the application seeks to have varied or removed relates to that centre.

19 Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary operators' licences on environmental grounds

(1) This section applies where notice of an application for the variation of an operator's licence has been published under section 17(3).

(2) Where the application relates to an existing operating centre of the licence-holder in the traffic commissioner's area--

(a) any of the persons mentioned in section 12(2) may object to the grant of the application on the ground that the use of that operating centre in any manner which would be permitted if the application were granted would cause adverse effects on environmental conditions in the vicinity of that centre;

(b) subject to subsection (5), any person who is the owner or occupier of any land in the vicinity of that operating centre may make representations against the grant of the application on the ground mentioned in paragraph (a); and

(c) whether or not anyone objects or makes representations under paragraph (a) or (b), the commissioner may refuse the application on the ground mentioned in paragraph (a).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), an application shall be taken to relate to an operating centre if--

(a) granting it would or could result in an increase in the number of vehicles, or the number of vehicles above a certain weight, that have that centre as their operating centre; or

(b) any undertaking recorded in, or condition attached to, the licence that the application seeks to have varied or removed relates to that centre.

(4) Where the application is for a place in the traffic commissioner's area to be specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder--

(a) any of the persons mentioned in section 12(2) may object to the grant of the application on the ground that that place will be unsuitable on environmental grounds for use as an operating centre of the licence-holder; and

(b) subject to subsection (5), any person who is the owner or occupier of any land in the vicinity of that place may make representations against the grant of the application on that ground.

(5) A person may not make representations under subsection (2)(b) or (4)(b) unless any adverse effects on environmental conditions arising from the use of the operating centre or place in question would be capable of prejudicially affecting the use or enjoyment of the land there mentioned.

(6) If any person duly objects or makes representations under subsection (4) against an application for a place in the traffic commissioner's area to be specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder, the commissioner may refuse the application--

(a) on the ground that the parking of vehicles used under the licence at or in the vicinity of that place would cause adverse effects on environmental conditions in the vicinity of that place; or

(b) subject to subsection (7), on the ground that that place would be unsuitable on environmental grounds other than the ground mentioned in paragraph (a) above for use as an operating centre of the licence-holder.

(7) The traffic commissioner may not refuse the application on the ground mentioned in subsection (6)(b) if--

(a) on the date the application was made, the place in question was already specified in an operator's licence issued by the commissioner as an operating centre of the holder of that licence, or

(b) the applicant has produced to the commissioner a certificate in force in respect of that place under--

(i) section 191 or 192 of the [1990 c. 8.] Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or

(ii) section 90 or 90A of the [1972 c. 52.] Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972,

stating that its use as an operating centre for vehicles used under any operator's licence is or would be lawful.

(8) Subsection (7) does not apply in relation to any place that, at the time the application is determined by the traffic commissioner, is specified in an operator's licence as an operating centre of the holder of that licence.

(9) A place is not to be regarded for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (7) as being specified in an operator's licence by reason only that it forms part of a place so specified; and a place that was, on the date mentioned in that paragraph, a place specified in an operator's licence as mentioned in that paragraph shall be disregarded for the purposes of that paragraph if, on that date--

(a) the operator's licence in which that place was specified was an interim licence issued under section 24; or

(b) that place was so specified by virtue of an interim direction such as is mentioned in section 25; or

(i) the exercise of the right of any person to appeal against a place being specified in an operator's licence, or

(ii) the review under section 36 of any decision so to specify a place,

as may be prescribed were not satisfied in relation to that place.

(10) Any objection or representations under this section--

(a) shall contain particulars of any matters alleged by the person making the objection or representations to be relevant to the issue to which the objection relates or the representations relate; and

(b) shall be made in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time after the making of the application to which the objection relates or the representations relate.

(11) Where the traffic commissioner considers there to be exceptional circumstances that justify his doing so, he may direct that an objection or representations be treated for the purposes of this Act as duly made under this section, notwithstanding that the objection was not, or the representations were not, made within the prescribed time or in the prescribed manner.

20 Variation of licences: further provisions

(1) Where the holder of a restricted licence makes an application under section 17 to the traffic commissioner by whom the licence was issued to vary it by directing that it be converted into a standard licence--

(a) section 9(2) and (3)(b) and (without prejudice to the generality of section 17(5)) section 13(1) shall apply in relation to that application as they apply in relation to an application for a standard licence; and

(b) if the application is granted, section 22(2) shall apply to the giving of the direction to vary the restricted licence as it applies to the issuing of a standard licence.

(2) Where the holder of a standard licence which covers only national transport operations makes an application under section 17 to the traffic commissioner by whom the licence was issued for a direction that the licence be varied to cover both national and international transport operations--

(a) the applicant shall include in his application particulars about the professional competence on which he intends to rely; and

(b) the traffic commissioner shall refuse to direct the variation applied for unless he is satisfied that the professional competence on which the applicant proposes to rely is sufficient for the purposes of international transport operations.

Conditions attached to licences

21 Conditions for securing road safety

(1) On issuing an operator's licence, or on varying such a licence under section 17, a traffic commissioner may attach to the licence such conditions as he thinks fit for preventing vehicles that are authorised to be used under it from causing danger to the public--

(a) at any point where vehicles first join a public road on their way from an operating centre of the licence-holder (or last leave a public road on their way to such an operating centre); and

(b) on any road (other than a public road) along which vehicles are driven between such a point and the operating centre.

(2) On varying an operator's licence under section 17 a traffic commissioner may vary or remove any condition attached to the licence under this section.

(3) The traffic commissioner shall not--

(a) attach to an operator's licence any condition such as is mentioned in this section, or

(b) vary in such manner as imposes new or further restrictions or requirements any condition attached to an operator's licence under this section,

without first giving the applicant for the licence or (as the case may be) the licence-holder an opportunity to make representations to the commissioner with respect to the effect on his business of the proposed condition or variation.

(4) The traffic commissioner shall give special consideration to any representations made under subsection (3) in determining whether to attach the proposed condition or make the proposed variation.

(5) In this section "public road"--

(a) in relation to England and Wales, means a highway maintainable at the public expense for the purposes of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980; and

(b) in relation to Scotland, has the same meaning as in the [1984 c. 54.] Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

(6) Any person who contravenes any condition attached under this section to a licence of which he is the holder is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

22 Conditions as to matters required to be notified to traffic commissioner

(1) On issuing an operator's licence, a traffic commissioner may attach to the licence such conditions as he thinks fit for requiring the holder to inform him--

(a) of any change of a kind specified in the conditions in the organisation, management or ownership of the trade or business in the course of which vehicles are used under the licence or, if the licence is at any time suspended under section 26 or 28, were used under the licence immediately before its suspension;

(b) where the licence-holder is a company, of any change, or of any change of a kind specified in the conditions, in the persons holding shares in the company; or

(c) of any other event of a kind specified in the conditions which affects the licence-holder and which is relevant to the exercise of any powers of the traffic commissioner in relation to the licence.

(2) On issuing a standard licence, a traffic commissioner shall attach to it the following conditions, namely--

(a) a condition requiring the licence-holder to inform the commissioner of any event which could affect the fulfilment by the licence-holder of any of the requirements of section 13(3), and to do so within 28 days of the event; and

(b) a condition requiring the licence-holder to inform the commissioner of any event which could affect the fulfilment by a relevant transport manager of the requirements mentioned in section 13(3)(a) or (c), and to do so within 28 days of the event coming to the licence-holder's knowledge.

(3) In subsection (2)(b) the reference to a "relevant transport manager" is a reference to any transport manager employed by the licence-holder who is relied on by the licence-holder to fulfil the requirements of section 13(3)(c).

(4) In a case where the licence-holder is a company, no condition attached under subsection (2) shall be taken to require the company to inform the traffic commissioner of any change in the identity of the persons holding shares in the company unless the change is such as to cause a change in the control of the company.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), a change in the control of a company occurs when the beneficial ownership of more than half its equity share capital (as defined in section 744 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985) passes from one person to another person or from one group of persons to a wholly or substantially different group of persons.

23 Conditions as to use of operating centres

(1) On issuing an operator's licence, or on varying such a licence on an application of which notice has been published under section 17(3), a traffic commissioner may attach to the licence such conditions as he thinks fit for preventing or minimising any adverse effects on environmental conditions arising from the use of a place in his area as an operating centre of the licence-holder.

(2) The conditions which may be attached to a licence under this section shall be of such description as may be prescribed; and, without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision, the descriptions which may be prescribed include conditions regulating--

(a) the number, type and size of motor vehicles or trailers which may at any one time be at any operating centre of the licence-holder in the area of the traffic commissioner for any prescribed purpose;

(b) the parking arrangements to be provided at or in the vicinity of any such centre; and

(3) On varying an operator's licence on an application of which notice has been published under section 17(3), a traffic commissioner may vary or remove any condition attached to the licence under this section.

(4) The traffic commissioner shall not--

(a) attach any condition such as is mentioned in this section to an operator's licence, or

(b) vary in such manner as imposes new or further restrictions or requirements any condition attached to an operator's licence under this section,

(5) The traffic commissioner shall give special consideration to any representations made under subsection (4) in determining whether to attach the proposed condition or make the proposed variation.

Interim licences and interim variations

24 Interim operators' licences

(1) On an application for an operator's licence (a "full" licence), a traffic commissioner may, if the applicant so requests, issue to him an interim licence.

(2) An interim licence is an operator's licence that (subject to its revocation or other termination under any provision of this Act or any other statutory provision) will continue in force until it terminates under subsection (4), (5) or (6).

(3) The traffic commissioner may issue an interim licence in the same terms as those applied for in relation to the full licence or in terms that differ from those terms in any of the respects mentioned in section 15(3).

(4) If the traffic commissioner grants the application and issues to the applicant a full licence that--

(a) is in the terms applied for, or

(b) is in those terms subject only to the attachment under section 21, 22 or 23 of any conditions that are also attached to the interim licence,

the interim licence shall terminate on the date on which the full licence comes into force.

(5) If, on an appeal under section 37 arising out of the application, the Transport Tribunal orders the traffic commissioner to issue a full licence to the applicant, the interim licence shall terminate--

(a) on the date on which the full licence issued in pursuance of the order comes into force, or

(b) at the time at which the application is withdrawn or treated as withdrawn by virtue of section 45(3).

(6) If neither subsection (4) nor subsection (5) applies, the interim licence shall terminate on the date on which the application is finally disposed of or such earlier date as the applicant may specify in a written request to the traffic commissioner.

(7) Where, in a case within subsection (6), the application is granted, the full licence issued to the applicant shall be of no effect before the interim licence terminates (notwithstanding any statement in it to the contrary).

(8) A request for the issuing of an interim licence--

(a) shall not be treated as an application for an operator's licence for the purposes of section 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15(1) to (4), 36 or 37 or Schedule 4, but

(b) shall be treated as such an application for the purposes of any other provision of this Act.

(9) In this section and section 25 references to the date on which an application is finally disposed of are references--

(a) subject to paragraph (b), to the earliest date by which the application and any appeal to the Transport Tribunal arising out of the application have been determined and any time for bringing such an appeal has expired, or

(b) if the application is withdrawn or any such appeal is abandoned, to the date of the withdrawal or abandonment.

25 Interim variations

(1) On an application for the variation under section 17 of an operator's licence, if the applicant so requests the traffic commissioner may, before he has determined the application, vary the licence by giving an interim direction in respect of it.

(2) An interim direction is a direction under section 17(1) that is expressed to continue in force until it ceases to have effect under subsection (3) or (4) below.

(3) If on determining the application the traffic commissioner varies the licence by giving a direction in the terms applied for and does not also under section 21(1) or (2) or 23(1) or (3) attach or vary any conditions, the interim direction shall cease to have effect on the date on which the direction given on the application comes into force.

(4) If subsection (3) does not apply, the interim direction shall cease to have effect on the date on which the application is finally disposed of or such earlier date as the applicant may specify in a written request to the traffic commissioner.

(5) Where, in a case within subsection (4), on determining the application the traffic commissioner gives a direction varying the licence, that direction shall be of no effect before the interim direction ceases to have effect.

(6) A request for an interim direction to be given--

(a) shall not be treated as an application for the variation of an operator's licence for the purposes of section 17(3) or 37 or Schedule 4, but

(b) shall be treated as such an application for the purposes of any other provision of this Act.

(7) The reference in subsection (4) to the date on which an application is finally disposed of is to be construed in accordance with section 24(9).

Revocation etc. of operators' licences

26 Revocation, suspension and curtailment of operators' licences

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section and the provisions of section 29, the traffic commissioner by whom an operator's licence was issued may direct that it be revoked, suspended or curtailed (within the meaning given in subsection (11)) on any of the following grounds--

(a) that a place in the commissioner's area has, at a time when it was not specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder, been used as an operating centre for vehicles authorised to be used under the licence;

(b) that the licence-holder has contravened any condition attached to the licence;

(i) a conviction of the licence-holder of an offence such as is mentioned in any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (i) of paragraph 5 of Schedule 2;

(ii) a conviction of a servant or agent of the licence-holder of any such offence, other than an offence such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (c), (e) or (h) of that paragraph; or

(iii) a prohibition under section 69 or 70 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 (power to prohibit driving of unfit or overloaded vehicles) of the driving of a vehicle of which the licence-holder was the owner when the prohibition was imposed;

(d) that during those five years, on occasions appearing to the commissioner to be sufficiently numerous to justify the giving of a direction under this subsection, there has been a conviction of the licence-holder or a servant or agent of his of an offence such as is mentioned in paragraph 5(j) of Schedule 2;

(e) that the licence-holder made, or procured to be made, for the purposes of--

(i) his application for the licence,

(ii) an application for the variation of the licence, or

(iii) a request for a direction under paragraph 1 or 3 of Schedule 4,

a statement of fact that, whether to his knowledge or not, was false, or a statement of expectation that has not been fulfilled;

(f) that any undertaking recorded in the licence has not been fulfilled;

(g) that the licence-holder, being an individual, has been adjudged bankrupt or, being a company, has gone into liquidation, other than voluntary liquidation for the purpose of reconstruction;

(h) that since the licence was issued or varied there has been a material change in any of the circumstances of the licence-holder that were relevant to the issue or variation of the licence;

(i) that the licence is liable to revocation, suspension or curtailment by virtue of a direction under section 28(4).

(2) Where the traffic commissioner has power to give a direction in respect of a licence under subsection (1), the commissioner also has power to direct that a condition, or additional condition, such as is mentioned in section 22(1) be attached to the licence.

(3) In this Act any reference, in relation to an operator's licence, to a condition attached to the licence under section 22(1) includes any condition attached to the licence under subsection (2) above.

(4) Where the existence of any of the grounds mentioned in subsection (1) is brought to the notice of the traffic commissioner in the case of the holder of any licence issued by him, the commissioner shall consider whether or not to give a direction under this section in respect of that licence.

(5) Where, in a case falling within subsection (1)(c)(i)--

(a) the conviction in question is a conviction of the licence-holder of an offence under section 3(6) or of the corresponding offence under regulation 33(2) of the [S.I. 1984/176.] Goods Vehicles (Operators' Licences, Qualifications and Fees) Regulations 1984, and

(b) there has been, within the 5 years preceding that conviction, a previous conviction of the licence-holder of an offence under either of those provisions,

the traffic commissioner shall give a direction under subsection (1) to revoke the licence.

(6) Where the traffic commissioner directs that an operator's licence be suspended or curtailed, the commissioner may order--

(a) in the case of a suspension, that any motor vehicle specified in the licence may not be used under any other operator's licence (notwithstanding anything in section 5(1)(a)), or

(b) in the case of a curtailment having the effect of removing any motor vehicle from the licence, that the motor vehicle may not be used as mentioned in paragraph (a) and shall not be capable of being effectively specified in any other operator's licence.

(7) An order made under subsection (6) shall cease to have effect--

(a) on such date, not being more than 6 months after the order is made, as may be specified in the order, or

(b) if, before that date, the licence which is directed to be suspended or curtailed ceases to be in force, on the date on which it ceases to be in force.

(8) The traffic commissioner by whom any direction suspending or curtailing a licence under subsection (1) was given may at any time--

(a) cancel the direction together with any order under subsection (6) that was made when the direction was given;

(b) cancel any such order; or

(c) with the consent of the licence-holder, vary the direction or any such order (or both the direction and any such order).

(9) Where an operator's licence is suspended under this section, the licence remains in force during the time of its suspension subject to the limitation that no vehicles are authorised to be used under it.

(10) In subsection (1)(g) the reference to an individual having been adjudged bankrupt shall, as respects Scotland, be construed as a reference to an award of sequestration having been made of his estate.

(11) In this Act references to directing that an operator's licence be curtailed are references to directing (with effect for the remainder of the duration of the licence or for any shorter period) all or any of the following, that is to say--

(a) that one or more of the vehicles specified in the licence be removed from it;

(b) that a provision such as is mentioned in section 5(2) or 6(1)(b) or (2)(b) be included in the licence;

(d) that any one or more of the places specified in the licence as operating centres be removed from it.

27 Revocation of standard licences

(1) The traffic commissioner by whom a standard licence was issued shall direct that it be revoked if at any time it appears to him that the licence-holder is no longer--

(a) of good repute,

(b) of the appropriate financial standing, or

and the traffic commissioner shall determine whether or not that is the case in accordance with Schedule 3.

(2) Before giving a direction under subsection (1) in respect of a licence, the traffic commissioner shall give to its holder notice in writing that he is considering giving such a direction.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) shall state the grounds on which the traffic commissioner is considering giving a direction under subsection (1) and shall also state--

(a) that written representations with respect to those grounds may be made to the commissioner by the licence-holder, and

(b) that any such representations must be received by the commissioner within 21 days of the date of the notice;

and the traffic commissioner shall consider any representations duly made under this subsection.

(4) This section has effect subject to section 29 (and, in particular, nothing in subsection (3) above shall be taken to affect a person's right under section 29(1) to require the holding of an inquiry).

28 Disqualification

(1) Where, under section 26(1) or 27(1), a traffic commissioner directs that an operator's licence be revoked, the commissioner may order the person who was the holder of the licence to be disqualified (either indefinitely or for such period as the commissioner thinks fit) from holding or obtaining an operator's licence; and so long as the disqualification is in force--

(a) any operator's licence held by him at the date of the making of the order (other than the licence revoked) shall be suspended, and

(b) notwithstanding anything in section 13 or 24, no operator's licence may be issued to him.

(2) If a person applies for or obtains an operator's licence while he is disqualified under subsection (1)--

(a) he is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, and

(b) any operator's licence issued to him on the application, or (as the case may be) the operator's licence obtained by him, shall be void.

(3) An order under subsection (1) may be limited so as to apply only to the holding or obtaining of an operator's licence in respect of one or more specified traffic areas and, if the order is so limited--

(a) paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection and subsection (2) shall apply only to any operator's licence to which the order applies, but

(b) notwithstanding section 5(4)(b), no other operator's licence held by the person in question shall authorise the use by him of any vehicle at a time when its operating centre is in a traffic area in respect of which he is disqualified by virtue of the order.

(4) Where the traffic commissioner makes an order under subsection (1) in respect of any person, the commissioner may direct that if that person, at any time or during such period as the commissioner may specify--

(a) is a director of, or holds a controlling interest in--

(i) a company which holds a licence of the kind to which the order in question applies, or

(ii) a company of which such a company is a subsidiary, or

(b) operates any goods vehicles in partnership with a person who holds such a licence,

that licence of that company or, as the case may be, of that person, shall be liable to revocation, suspension or curtailment under section 26.

(5) The powers conferred by subsections (1) and (4) in relation to the person who was the holder of a licence shall be exercisable also--

(a) where that person was a company, in relation to any director of that company, and

(b) where that person operated vehicles under the licence in partnership with other persons, in relation to any of those other persons;

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