Commentary on Sections Section 2: Carrying of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other assistance dogs: Scotland.
8.Section 2 inserts three new subsections into section 20 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. New subsection (2AA) allows Scottish Ministers to make regulations in relation to the carriage of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of assistance dog (all as defined by section 20(2A) of the 1982 Act) accompanying disabled people in private hire vehicles. This will allow the provisions provided elsewhere in the Act for England and Wales to be introduced in Scotland. Section 20(2AA) enables Scottish Ministers to include in the regulations such requirements for the carriage of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of assistance dog as they consider necessary, the date and extent to which they apply and the circumstances in which the driver or vehicle may be exempt from the requirements.
9.New subsection (2AB) allows Scottish Ministers to include in any regulations offence provisions with a maximum penalty of level 3 on the standard scale (in line with the provisions for England and Wales) for failing to comply with the regulations.
10.New Subsection (2AC) provides that such regulations are subject to the negative resolution procedure of the Scottish Parliament.