Order, order.

Electric Buses Bill 2015

A bill to regulate noise systems for electric buses.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's [King's] most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Repeals

(1) This bill will take precedence over all existing legislation passed by Parliament.

Section 2 : Definitions

(1) Electric Buses in this bill are defined as buses which are not connected to a stationary power supply, and employ the use of a self-contained electrically powered motor.

(2) Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) are defined as systems which simulate the sound and volume of a motor vehicle with the intent of alerting the surroundings to its presence.

(3) Artificial motor recording(s) are defined as recordings simulating a motor or engine, transmitted in a way to emulate a regular motor vehicle.

(4) Proprietor is defined as the legal holder of an object, or the entity responsible for an event or change.

Section 3 : Installation of AVAS Systems

(1) All Electric Buses in the United Kingdom shall be required to contain an AVAS.

(a) AVAS Systems shall be installed in designated areas in the front and rear of the vehicle.

(2) All installations of AVAS shall be carried out by a trained Ministry of Transport technician.

(2) All Electrical Buses which have been produced before this bills enactment will need to be installed within 6 months of the enactment of this bill.

(3) During MOT testing for any electric bus, the AVAS system must be tested and be compliant for the bus to pass its MOT.

Section 4: Sound Requirements for AVAS Devices

(1) All AVAS devices shall be required to contain an artificial motor recording that simulates the sound of a internal combustion powered motor.

(2) AVAS Devices must use an artificial motor recording falling within the following decibel (dB) category:

(a) Maximum noise requirement for AVAS Devices shall be set at 87 dB.

(b) Minimum noise requirement for AVAS Devices shall be set at 75 dB.

Section 5: Penalties

(1) Failure to comply with any regulation stated in Section (3) shall result in a £1500 pound penalty to the proprietor of the bus.

(a) Failure to comply with Section (3) 2 months after a penalty has been awarded the penalty shall be increased to £5000 pounds.

(2) Failure to comply with any regulations stated in Section (4) shall result in a £250 pound noise pollution penalty.

(a) Upon the issuing of the noise pollution fine, the proprietor of the bus shall have a period of 5 weeks to modify the AVAS device to comply with regulation.

(b) Upon failing to modify the AVAS Device to fit the requirements as set out in Section (4) within 5 weeks of the initial fine, the proprietor shall be further fined £500 pounds each month until the AVAS motor recording fits regulation.

(3) Penalties will be awarded by in regards to Section 5 (1) and (2):

(a) Local Authorities

(b) Metropolitan districts set out in the Local Government Act 1972.

(c) Unitary authorities.

(d) London boroughs set out in the London Government Act 1963.

(e) Non-metropolitan counties set out in the Local Government Act 1972.

(f) Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency

(4) Fines can be awarded by those stated in Section 5 (3):

(a) The Local Metropolitan Police

(b) Highways Agency

Section 6: Short title, Commencement and Extent

(1) This Bill may be cited as the Electric Buses Act 2015.

(2) This Bill will come into force on the 1st of January 2016.

(3) AVAS Systems shall be fully required in all Electric Buses 6 months after the enactment date of 1 January 2016.

(4) This Bill extends to the whole United Kingdom.

This bill has been submitted by The Rt. Hon. Lord /u/trident46 of Knightsbridge and by The Rt. Hon. Lord /u/Ghoulishbulld0g of Audenshaw on behalf of the Conservative Party.

The discussion period for this bill will end on 12 January 2016.