S.L. 499.66 Art. 6Driving licence categories.

(1) A person shall not ride an animal under saddle or drive or otherwise operate an animal-drawn vehicle on a road unless he is the holder of a relevant animal or animal-drawn vehicle driving licence issued by the Authority.

(2) Driving licences shall be divided into the following categories:

(a) Licence X for the driving of an animal-drawn vehicle licensed under Licence A or Licence B established in regulation 3(2): Provided that the holder of a Licence X shall also be authorised to drive an animal-drawn vehicle licensed under Licence C or under Licence D established in regulation 3(2);

(b) Licence Y for the driving of animal-drawn vehicles other than those for which a driving licence X or a driving licence Z is required; and

(c) Licence Z for the riding of an animal under saddle licensed under Licence E established in regulation 3(2).

(3) To qualify for Licence X, an applicant must -

(a) be at least eighteen years of age;

(b) present a certificate from a licensed physician that certifies that he is in good physical condition and that he does not suffer from any medical condition which may substantially impair his or her ability to operate an animal-drawn vehicle or to control an animal;

(c) have attended a course approved by the Authority in:

(i) proper equine grooming, care, equipment, nutrition, welfare and first aid; and

(ii) the operation of an animal-drawn vehicle;

(d) have passed a test devised by the Authority which shall include, but shall not be limited to, knowledge of the Highway Code: Provided that a person in possession of a valid motor vehicle driving licence shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement;

(e) have completed a course and passed a test approved by the Authority consisting of general knowledge and customer care; and

(f) be of good repute and conduct. For the purpose of this paragraph, a person shall not be deemed to satisfy the requirement of good repute and conduct -

(i) if he has been found guilty of committing any crime contemplated in: i. Title I of Part II of Book First of the Criminal Code or articles 198, 199, 203, 203A, 204, 204A, 204B, 204C, 205, 211, 212, 217 (in the event that the arms proper used for the commission of the offence is a fire-arm), 220, 238(a), 248B, 248C, 248D of the Criminal Code; ii. articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the White Slave

Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance; iii. articles 4, 5, 6(a), 7, 8(b), 8(c), 8(e), 11, 13(2), 14(3), 15, 15A, 16, 17, 18, 22(1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), 22(1C), 22(1D)(a), 22(1E) and 22(3BA)(5) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance;

iv. articles 37, 38, 44, 50 and 61 of the Malta Armed Forces Act;

(ii) for such period during which he is serving a sentence of imprisonment of at least one month;

(iii) for such period immediately following time spent serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term or terms of at least one month imposed on such person for a crime or crimes connected with violence committed on a person, which period shall be: i. of three months for sentences of imprisonment for a term of at least six months and not more than two years; and ii. equal to one-fourth of the term of imprisonment for which such person was sentenced for sentences for terms of imprisonment of more than two years

(iv) if he has been found guilty of committing any corresponding offence under any law of a country or territory outside Malta: Provided that where the applicant was less than eighteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offence, the period referred to in sub-paragraph (iii) shall not be longer than two years. For the purposes of determining whether a person is of good repute and conduct in terms of this paragraph (f), the term "sentence" shall not include:

(i) a probation order issued in terms of article 7 of the Probation Act or article 5 of the Probation of Offenders Act and which has been complied with by the probationer or an absolute or conditional discharge issued under article 22 of the Probation Act or article 9 of the Probation of Offenders Act which has been complied with; or

(ii) a sentence for the commission of an offence for which the offender has been pardoned by the President of Malta in terms of article 93(1) of the Constitution of Malta; provided that this sub-paragraph shall only apply from the date on which the President of Malta has granted such pardon; or

(iii) a sentence which is at the moment of application under appeal;

(iv) a sentence for the commission of an offence which -i. was committed before the date of publication of these regulations; ii. was committed by a person who had a valid horse-drawn cab driver’s tag issued to him by the Authority before the date of publication of these regulations; and iii. was delivered at least five years before the date of application for the renewal of the horse-drawn cab driver’s tag.

(4) (a) A holder of a driver’s Licence X shall be obliged to satisfy the conditions of sub-regulation (3)(f) at all times during the validity of the licence.

(b) A holder of a Driver’s Licence X shall inform the Authority in writing of any conviction against him of any offence contemplated in paragraph (f)(i) of sub-regulation 3 within twenty-one days from that conviction or, when an appeal is entered, within twenty days from when such appeal is decided.

(c) A person who contravenes paragraph (b) shall be guilty of an offence.

(d) Within three (3) months preceding the date of expiry of Licence X, and thereafter, the holder thereof shall be obliged to submit an application for renewal with the Authority in such manner and against such payment as may be prescribed by the Authority together with:

(i) a police conduct certificate; and

(ii) a signed declaration by virtue of which he confirms that he still satisfies the condition of good conduct and repute and that since the issuance of the last licence he has not been found guilty of any criminal offence in violation of the provisions of regulation 6(3)(f).

(5) To qualify for Licence Y or Licence Z, an applicant must:

(a) be at least sixteen years of age;

(b) present a certificate from a licensed physician that certifies that he is in good physical condition and that he does not suffer from any medical disabilities which may substantially impair his or her ability to operate an animal-drawn vehicle or to control an animal;

(c) have passed a test devised by the Authority which shall include, but not be limited to, knowledge of the Highway Code: Provided that persons in possession of a valid motor vehicle driving licence shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement; and

(d) accept to attend any other course related to the care and welfare of animals and on the handling and operation of animals and animal-drawn vehicles, which the Authority may introduce from time to time during the validity of the licence.

(6) A Licence X issued under this regulation shall be renewed every five years. Licences Y and Z issued under this regulation shall be renewed every ten years: Provided that upon reaching the age of fifty years, the certificate mentioned in sub-regulations (3)(b) and (5)(b) shall be presented every five years:

Provided further that upon reaching the age of seventy years, the certificate mentioned in sub-regulations (3)(b) and (5)(b) shall be presented every two years.

(7) Drivers of karrozzini who, upon the publication of these regulations were already licensed by the Authority to drive such vehicles shall be deemed as holding a category X driving licence under these regulations.

Part IV OPERATOR’S LICENCE