Regulation 16 of the Principal Regulations is amended by omitting subregulations (2) and (3) and substituting the following subregulations:

(2)  The Commission must not allow a vehicle to operate as a taxi for the first time unless the Commission determines that the vehicle is suitable for that use and the vehicle is –

(a) not more than 5 years of age if it is proposed to operate the vehicle under a licence that relates to a metropolitan taxi area; or

(b) not more than 7 years of age if it is proposed to operate the vehicle under a licence that relates to a taxi area other than a metropolitan taxi area.

(3)  Except as provided by subregulation (4) , the Commission must not allow a vehicle to operate as a taxi at any time if the Commission determines that the vehicle is not suitable for that use or the vehicle is –

(a) more than 8 years of age if it has been operating under a licence that relates to a metropolitan taxi area; or

(b) more than 10 years of age if it has been operating under a licence that relates to a taxi area other than a metropolitan taxi area.

(4)  The Commission may allow a vehicle that has previously operated as a taxi to continue operating as such notwithstanding that it exceeds the applicable maximum age specified in subregulation (3) if the Commission is satisfied that –

(a) the vehicle is still suitable for that use; and

(b) the vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum age by more than 6 months; and

(c) by reason of an emergency or other special circumstances, it is necessary to allow the continued operation of the vehicle as a taxi to ensure that the relevant taxi area has an adequate taxi service.