CELEX: 51974PC1231
Language: en
Date: 1974-07-26
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE concerning the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to statutory plates and inscriptions for motor vehicles and their trailers, and their location end method of fixing (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (74) 1231
Vol. 1974/0197
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak---   COMMISSION" QF "THE EUaOEMNXOMMOMIÏES
                                                        COM(74)1231 final
                                                        Brussels, 26 July 1974
                      ^             Proposal for a
                                  COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
                   concerning the approximation of the laws of the
              Member States relating to statutory plates, -and. . inscriptions -for-»^
                   motor vehicles and their- trailers , and their
                           location end method of fixing
                   ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission )
I
     COïl(74 ) 1231 final
 ---pagebreak---                                EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
This proposal directive is to form part of the Community type-approval pro­
cedure referred to in Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 (l ).
It ooncerns, the technical requirements relative to statutory plates and
inscriptions , and to their location and method of fixing .
In particular , it concerns the arrangement of the manufacturer 's plate and
the identification number of the vehicle .    With regard to the manufacturer 's
plate it fixes the details of what must appear on this plate .    Regarding the
identification number of the vehicle , it has fixed precisely the number of
characters , both for the part by which the vehicle type and variety is iden­
tified , and for the part by which a particular vehicle is identified .
The directive is applicable to motor vehicles with at least four wheels , and
a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h. (article l)i
Article 2 incorporates the requirements for statutory plates and inscriptions !
their location and method of fixing, into the EECi type–approval procedure .
It similarly comes within the perspective of the optional harmonisation in
the sense that it is provided that the Community requirements set down in the
annex of the Directive have the same validity as National requirements .    Thus
it is not possible for a Member Sate to refuse national type–approval for a
vehicle on the grounds that its equipment and characteristics , laid down by
the particular directive , will not conform to the national requirements , when
they will conform to the Community requirements .
 Since certain Member States do not operate a type-approval system it is
necessary to insert some provisions in order to ensure that vehicles complying
with the requirements set out in the Directive can be used in these states
 ( article 3)»
 ( 1 ) O.J. N° 42 of 23 February 1970.
 ---pagebreak--- Article 4 contains the procedure for adapting directive to technical progress .
This procedure is set out in Article 13 of the Council Directive of 6 Februa­
ry 1970 relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and trailers .
Article 5 contains two deadlines : before expiry of the first deadline the
Member States shall adopt and publish the measures necessary in order to
comply with the Directive .  The second deadline sets the date on whioh all
of the Member States must simultaneously implement the common rules (article
5 , paragr. l ).
Finally , the Commission must b9 informed in good time of all draft provisions
drawn up by the Member States in the field referred to in the Directive in
order to enable it to comment thereon (article 5i par. 2).
                                                                    . 4
CONSULTATION OF THE EUROPEi\N PARLIAMENT AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the Rome Treaty , article 100, alin. 2 , the opinion of these two
institutions is required.
 ---pagebreak--- THE COUNCIL OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and
in particular article 100 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economio and Social Committee ,
;Tberoas tho technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant
to national laws relate inter alia , to their statutory plates and inscriptions ,
and their location and methods of fixing ;
Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another ;   whereas
it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same requirements
either in addition to or in place of their existing requirements , in order ,
in particular , to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was the subject
of the Council Directive (70/156/EBC ) of 6 February 1970 on the approximation
of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehi­
cles and their trailers ( l ) to be applied in respect of each type of vehicles ;
Whereas the national regulations relating to motor vehicles imply national
recognition of the inspections carried out by each of them on the basis of
common provisions ;   that such a system in order to function succesfully must
be applied by all Member States with effect from the same date ;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE s
                                                                               •/
U ) O.J. N° L 42 , 23 February 1970 , p. 1
 ---pagebreak--- for use cn "the road, with. or without "bodywork"^ ""having- at least four wheels
and a pari rrnim design speed exceeding 25 kilometres per hour and its trailers ,
with the exception of vehicles which run on rails , agricultural tractors and
machinery and public works vehicles .
                                     Article   2
No Member Stsite may* refuse "to grant EE?C tj ye–approval or national type–appro–
val of a vehicle on grounds relating to statutory plates and inscriptions and
their method of fixing, if they satisfy the reauireoents set out in the annex.
                                     Article   3
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration, entry into
service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to statutory plates and ins­
criptions and their method of fixing, if they satisfy the requirements set
out in the annex.
                                     Article   d
The amendments necessary for adjusting tne requirements of the annex so as to
take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in article 13 of the Connrvi 1 Jhjr~octx-r& oil tha "tyyia–appro–
val of motor vehicles - and -their ^trailers.
                                               5
1.  The Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary to in­
    sure compliance with the present directive before 1 January 1976 * and in­
    form the Commission immediately.
    The provisions of this Directive will apply with effect from 1 October 1976
2.  As soon as this Directive has been notified, the Member States shall take
    care to infom the Ccaraission , in sufficient tirae to enable it to submit
    its comments , of any draft laws , regulations or administrative provisions
    which they intend to adopt in the field covered by the Directive .
                                     Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the lieiiber States
 ---pagebreak---                                           - 1 -
                                       ANNEX
1.       GENERAL
1.1 *    All vehicles shall be provided with the plates and inscriptions
         described in the following items . These plates and inscriptions
         are affixed either by the manufacturer or by his authorised representative#
2.       MANUFACTURER ' S PLATE
2.1 .    A manufacturer 's plate the pattern for which is shown m the appendix
         hereto , must be firmly affixed in . a conspicuous and readily accessible
         position on a part not subject to service replacement . It must show
         clearly and indelibly the following information in the order listed :
         2.1.1 .     Name of manufacturer,
         2.1.2 .     EEC type-approval number (l ),
         2.1.3 »     Vehicle Identification Number ,
         2.1.4 «     Maximum authorised laden weight of the vehicle ,
         2.1.5 .     Maximum authorised laden weight for the combination , in the
                     case where a vehicle is used as a tractor vehicle ( if appli­
                     cable train weight ),
         2.1.6 .     Maximum authorised weight on each axle ( and on the' fifth
                     wheel king pin if it refers to a semi-trailer), listed in
                     the order from the front to the rear .
2.2.     The manufacturer may affix additional information below or to the side
         of the prescribed information , outside a clearly marked rectangle which
         shall enclose . only the information prescribed in items 2.1.2 . to 2.1.6 .
         above ( see appendix to this annex).
3.       VEHICLE    IPMTIFICATI ON NUMBER
         The vehicle identification number shall conform to the following requi­
         rement s :
3.1 .    It shall be marked on the manufacturer 's plate , conforming to item 2.1 . 3 ;
         and shall similarly be marked on the chassis , frame , or equivalent
         structure .
( l ) Until an EEC type-approval is granted , the number of the EEC typo-approval
      is replaced by the number of the National type-approval , or alternatively ,
      where no National type-approval exists , by the date of the vehicles 'first
      entry into service .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -
                                                                 Annex
        3.1.1 . It shall be composed of 14 characters , constituting two parts :
                the first , composed of not more than six characters (letters
                or figures) identifying the type and version of the vehicle ;
                the second, composed of eight characters , of which the first
                four may be letters or figures and the other four figures only ,
                identifying a particular vehicle .
        3.1.2.  It shall be marked in a single line without spaces or separa­
                tion , each unused position being filled by a zero in order to
                obtain the required number4 of characters .
3.2.    The identification number which is marked on the chassis , frame , or
        equivalent structure shall moreover;
        3.2.1 . Be placed in a readily visible and accessible position by a
                method such as hammering or stamping , in such a manner to
                avoid obliteration or deterioration#
        3.2.2.  Have its position marked on the type-approval certificate .
4.      CHARACTERS
4.1 .   Roman letters and Arabic numerals must be used for all the markings
        provided for in items 2 and 3.
4«2.    For the marking of the vehicle identification number :
        4.2.1 . The use of the letters 1.0 and Q as well as dashes , asterisks ,
                and other signs , is not acceptable .
        4*2.2.  The characters and figures shall have the following minimum
                heights :
      .         4.2.2.1 .   when they are marked on the chassis , frame or
                            equivalent structure of the vehicle - 7,0 mm.
                4.2.2.2.    when they are marked on the manufacturer' s plate
                            - 4,7 mm.
                                                                               /•
 ---pagebreak---                                   APPENDIX
                 TO ITEMS 2.1 and 2.2 . - MODEL OP THE fl/lNUFACTURER' S PLATE
                                STELLA MOTOR COMPANY
                                e 1485
                                EBA46GOOA4? 269
                                26 < 000 Kg
                                32.000 Kg
                                1-7.000 Kg
                                2 -10.500 Kg
                                3 -10.500 Kg
                                                     I_ vw.
The supplementary information ( item 2.2.) may be placed to the side of
or below the required marks ( see rectangles shown with non-continuous
lines in the above model ).