The Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007

Forgery and false statementsU.K.

13.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to deceive he—

(a)forges, alters or uses any document referred to in regulation F1...11(2) [F2or (2A)] [F3or an NVT certificate];

(b)lends to, or allows to be used by, any other person such a document; or

(c)makes or has in his possession any document so closely resembling such a document as to be calculated to deceive.

(2) In the application of paragraph (1) to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, “forges” means makes a false document in order that it may be used as genuine.

(3) A person who knowingly makes a false statement for the purpose of obtaining [F4the issue of a driver qualification card under regulation 8(1), 8A(4) or 8B(3) or the issue of an NVT certificate] is guilty of an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or (3) shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both, or

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), summary proceedings for an offence to which this regulation relates may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge.

(6) No such proceedings shall be brought by virtue of this regulation more than three years after the commission of the offence.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in his opinion to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

(8) A certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.

(9) In relation to proceedings in Scotland, section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (date of commencement of proceedings) shall apply for the purposes of this regulation as it applies for the purposes of that section.