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THE MOTOR LAWS AS THEY EXIST
THE LIGHT LOCOMOTIVES' ACT OF 1896
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:—
Exemption of Light Locomotives from Certain Statutory Provisions.—1.—(1.) The enactments mentioned in the schedule to this Act, and any other enactment restricting the use of locomotives on highways and contained in any public general or local and personal Act in force at the passing of this Act, shall not apply to any vehicle propelled by mechanical power if it is under three tons in weight unladen, and is not used for the purpose of drawing more than one vehicle (such vehicle with its locomotive not to exceed in weight unladen four tons), and is so constructed that no smoke or visible vapour is emitted therefrom except from any temporary or accidental cause; and vehicles so exempted, whether locomotives or drawn by locomotives, are in this Act referred to as light locomotives.
Provided that—
- (a) the council of any county or county borough shall have power to make byelaws preventing or restricting the use of such locomotives upon any bridge within their area, where such council are satisfied that such use would be attended with damage to the bridge or danger to the public:
- (b) a light locomotive shall be deemed to be a carriage within the meaning of any Act of Parliament, whether public general or local, and of any rule, regulation, or byelaw, made under any Act of Parliament, and, if used as a carriage of any particular class, shall be deemed to be a carriage of that class, and the law relating to carriages of that class shall apply accordingly.
(2.) In calculating for the purposes of this Act the weight of a vehicle unladen, the weight of any water, fuel, or accumulators, used for the purpose of propulsion, shall not be included.
Regulation as to Lights.—2. During the period between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, the person in charge of a light locomotive shall carry attached thereto a lamp so constructed and placed as to exhibit a light in accordance with the regulations to be made by the Local Government Board.
Locomotives to Carry a Bell.—3. Every light locomotive shall carry a bell or other instrument capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the carriage.
Rate of Speed.—4. No light locomotive shall travel along a public highway at a greater speed than fourteen miles an hour, or than any less speed that may be prescribed by regulations of the Local Government Board.
