Search Legislation

Environmental Protection Act 1990

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As enacted)
 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 34B is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

[F134BPower to search and seize vehicles etcE+W

(1)This section applies where an authorised officer of an enforcement authority or a constable reasonably believes that the grounds in subsection (2) or (3) below exist.

(2)The grounds in this subsection are that—

(a)a relevant offence has been committed [F2, or an offence under [F3regulation 38(1) or (2) of the Environmental Permitting Regulations] has been committed in relation to a waste operation]

(b)a vehicle was used in the commission of the offence, and

(c)proceedings for the offence have not yet been brought against any person.

(3)The grounds in this subsection are that—

(a)a relevant offence is being or is about to be committed, [F4or an offence under [F3regulation 38(1) or (2) of the Environmental Permitting Regulations] is being or is about to be committed in relation to a waste operation,] and

(b)a vehicle is being or is about to be used in the commission of the offence.

(4)The authorised officer or constable may—

(a)search the vehicle;

(b)seize the vehicle and any of its contents.

(5)In acting under subsection (4) above the authorised officer or constable may—

(a)stop the vehicle (but only a constable in uniform may stop a vehicle on any road);

(b)enter any premises for the purpose of searching or seizing the vehicle.

(6)A vehicle or its contents seized under subsection (4) above—

(a)by an authorised officer of an enforcement authority, are seized on behalf of that authority;

(b)by a constable in the presence of [F5or at the request of] an authorised officer of an enforcement authority, are seized on behalf of that authority;

(c)by a constable [F6in any other case], are seized on behalf of the waste collection authority in whose area the seizure takes place.

(7)A person commits an offence if—

(a)he fails without reasonable excuse to give any assistance that an authorised officer or constable may reasonably request in the exercise of a power under subsection (4) or (5) above;

(b)he otherwise intentionally obstructs an authorised officer or constable in exercising that power.

(8)Where an authorised officer or constable has stopped a vehicle under subsection (5)(a) above, he may require any occupant of the vehicle to give him—

(a)the occupant's name and address;

(b)the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle;

(c)any other information he may reasonably request.

(9)A person commits an offence if—

(a)he fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement under subsection (8) above;

(b)he gives information required under that subsection that is—

(i)to his knowledge false or misleading in a material way, or

(ii)given recklessly and is false or misleading in a material way.

(10)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(11)In this section and section 34C below—

  • authorised officer” means an officer of an enforcement authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of this section;

  • enforcement authority” means—

    (a)

    the Environment Agency, F7...

    (aa)

    [F8the Natural Resources Body for Wales, or]

    (b)

    a waste collection authority;

  • relevant offence” means—

    (a)

    an offence under section 33 above, or

    (b)

    an offence under section 34 above consisting of a failure to comply with the duty imposed by subsection (1) of that section;

  • road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;

  • vehicle” means any motor vehicle or trailer within the meaning of that Act or any mobile plant.]

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 34B, 34C and preceding cross-heading inserted (E.W.) (16.3.2006 for W. for specified purposes, 3.3.2015 for E. for specified purposes, 6.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), ss. 46(1), 108 (as amended (21.11.2005) by The Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2900), reg. 3); S.I. 2006/768, art. 3; S.I. 2015/425, arts. 2(b), 4(1)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources