Substitute the following section:
“43.—(1) A person shall not drive or use a mechanically propelled vehicle capable of being licensed as, or licensed as, a small public service vehicle in a public place (within the meaning of the Act of 1961) for the carriage of persons for reward unless the person holds a licence to drive a small public service vehicle.
(2) A person shall not drive or use a mechanically propelled vehicle capable of being licensed as a small public service vehicle in a public place (within the meaning of the Act of 1961) for the carriage of persons for reward unless there is a small public service vehicle licence in force in respect of the vehicle.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply equally to a person who is renting or leasing a mechanically propelled vehicle capable of being licensed as, or licensed as a small public service vehicle, and who is using that vehicle in a public place for the carriage of persons for reward.
(4) The holder of a small public service vehicle licence shall not rent or lease his or her small public service vehicle to another person for the purpose of the carriage of persons for reward or otherwise agree to allow that other person to drive or use his or her small public service vehicle for that purpose unless he or she is satisfied that there continues to be a small public service vehicle licence in force in respect of the vehicle concerned for the duration of the term of the lease or agreement.
(5) A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) commits an offence.
(6) Where an authorised person has reasonable cause to suspect that an offence is being or has been committed under this Act or under regulations made under this Act or under section 82 of the Act of 1961, an authorised person, in the presence of a member of the Garda Síochána in uniform, may seize and detain any small public service vehicle or mechanically propelled vehicle purporting to be a small public service vehicle, or internal or external vehicle signage or identification for so long as is necessary.
(7) In this section—
“ small public service vehicle licence ” means a licence, in respect of a small public service vehicle, granted under regulations made under section 34 or section 82 of the Act of 1961;
“ use ” includes the stopping, parking of a mechanically propelled vehicle or the vehicle standing for hire at an appointed stand.”.
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