VICTORIAN CLUB PERMIT SCHEME
The Victorian Department of Transport is in the process of making interim regulations for commencement in October 2020.
Background
Interim regulations are being made for 12 months from October 2020 due to Covid-19 and an inability to conduct a full and formal consultation process including the release of a regulatory impact statement. These regulations will be remade in 2021.
On this basis, an exemption has been received from the Premier to delay the remaking of the 2009 regulations for a further 12 months
It is re-iterated that these are proposed regulatory changes only and no decision has been made on their final form.
Changes are proposed that would increase accessibility and clarity of the regulations
Consistency of terminology
Consistency for references to time periods to provide certainty as to due dates
Clarification to be explicit about when a fee is Payable
Examples include:
Time period descriptions: All references to time periods have been aligned for consistency. Time periods have also been updated where appropriate to allow tangible date for requirements (e.g. 28 days from the date of the notice as opposed to 28 days from the date the person receives the notice).
Terminology: Introduction of new terminology to ensure that information required about registered operators and vehicles is consistent across all relevant regulations.
Club membership requirements
In order to be issued with a club permit, a person will only be required to be a member of an approved car club
Conditions for approved clubs
VicRoads now has the ability to apply individual requirements or conditions on an approved club.
VicRoads appointments for the issue of a club permit
Pre-booked paid appointments will be required for all new club permit applications
Club permit general conditions
A vehicle issued with a club permit can only be used for social, domestic or pleasure purposes (not commercial purposes)
• Membership requirements
Regulations currently state that persons must be a “financial” member of a club.
The proposed regulations stipulate persons only need to be a member of a club to be issued with a club permit (clubs can define what this means e.g. Financial or not).
• Conditions for approved clubs
The current regulations do not permit the application of specific conditions to individual clubs. The proposed regulations will permit conditions to be imposed on individual clubs.
Conditions may be imposed where clubs are found not to be operating in line with the certain club individuals to be scrutineers (i.e. those persons that perform vehicle inspections) because it is intention of the club permit scheme.
VicRoads may disallow certain club individuals to be scrutineers (i.e. those persons that perform vehicle inspections) because it is found that they are not performing the function adequately and unsafe vehicles are on the road.
• Appointments for the issue of a club permit
There is currently no option to make an appointment for this specific transaction. Persons are required to attend a customer service centre and wait in a queue. Under the proposed regulations persons are required to make an appointment, with a fee payable of ($19) as it is a specialised transaction. This provides efficiency for both the customer and VicRoads.
• Club permit general conditions
The current regulations do not specifically define use. The proposed regulations define their use as for social, domestic and pleasure purposes and will not permit the use of permitted vehicles for commercial purposes.
Club Permits
Permanent and temporary operating conditions
Club permits may be issued with permanent and temporary operating conditions when the vehicle does not comply with standards. Requirement to advise of change of details
Permit holders must advise of any change of details within 14 days
Offence for not completing logbook
A new offence has been introduced for when a permit holder has not completed a logbook entry for each journey
• Permanent and temporary operating conditions
Currently if a vehicle that does not meet the Standards the vehicle is not permitted on the club permit scheme.
It is proposed that vehicles that do not meet the standards can have operating conditions imposed on their permit. For example, a vehicle with non-compliant headlights may not be allowed to be driven at night. This proposed amendment increases the flexibility of the scheme and the number of vehicles that can participate
• Requirement to advise of change of details
Currently there is no requirement to advise VicRoads of changes. The proposed regulations require VicRoads to be advised of changes to understand and record vehicle details such as engine number.
• Offence for not completing logbook
It is not currently an offence to not complete the logbook however Victoria Police has the power to issue an unregistered vehicle infringement fine ($900). The proposed regulations introduce a specific offence for not completing the logbook (at the start of a journey) and offenders will be issued with a “Failed to complete logbook” fine (approx. $165).
Rationale for introduction is that club permit holders must use the permit within its conditions, but it is not as serious offence as driving an unregistered vehicle.
Suspension of Club Permit
A club permit can also be suspended if the permit holder fails to present the vehicle for a required inspection
Club permit number plates
The issue of a standard club permit number plate will now incur a fee.
Introduction of a slimline club permit number plate.
Reassignment of club permit for deceased estate
Reassignment of a club plate
A club permit can be reassigned to the spouse/ domestic partner when the permit holder is deceased
Rationale
• Suspension of club permits
Currently VicRoads cannot suspend a permit for the reason of not presenting their vehicle. The proposed regulations permit suspension for this reason.
In this instance, suspension occurs as the car may be illegally modified and it is now a safety risk e.g. Inserted an inappropriate engine (size), lights are not adequate, vehicle is outside standards
• Club permit plates
Introduction of a fee for supply of club plates.
Standard Permit Plates: Proposed change to the regulations aligns with the issue of standard number plates for registration and the principle of cost recovery. These plates have been free to date. Applies to new plates only ($38). This is based on cost recovery and aligns with the cost of standard number plates for registration.
The fees for permits are proposed to change to be aligned with a pro rata of standard registration fees for a light vehicle. A 45 day permit is proposed to be $38.70, and a 90 day permit proposed to be $77.40.
Slimline: Proposed change to the regulations provides for the introduction of a new product that has been requested by the club permit holders for some time. Cost for these plates aligns with the cost of a slimline black number plate. ($150)
• Reassignment of permit: This is not possible under the current regulations. The benefit of the proposed amendment is that a spouse/domestic partner can now be reassigned the permit but will need to meet criteria such as being a member of a club.
Note; These proposed changes remain subject of Ministerial approval.
The final Interim regulations will come into effect in October 2020.
In early 2021 a full and formal consultation process will be conducted including the release of a Regulatory impact Statement.