Three more new emergency regulations were this week created by the Governor in Council.

As well as extending the State of Emergency for a further month, the orders have created new regulations under the Emergency Powers Act.

One of the orders relates to the island’s buses and states that section 25 of the Road Transport Act 2001 ’does not apply to the Department of Infrastructure trading as Bus Vannin’.

Section 25 of the Act states: ’No person shall use a public passenger vehicle for the provision of a regular service unless he is the holder of a licence granted by the committee which authorises him to provide that service.’

Regular service is one provided on more than one occasion, for the carriage of passengers at separate fares on either a predetermined route or a variable route which falls within predetermined limits, whether passengers are taken up or set down at predetermined stopping places or on demand.

The second new regulation has amended the definition of the Events and Gatherings (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

A gathering is now defined as ’any meeting or assembly of two or more persons who are not members of the same household’.

The 2020 Act amends the Emergency Powers Act 1936 to provide that where regulations are made in a period when a proclamation of emergency under section (3) is in force and the regulations are still in force at the end that period.

If further proclamation under that section is made immediately after the end of that period, those regulations are treated as if they are remade at the beginning of the new period.

The 2020 Act also amends the 1936 Act to provide for offences to be triable by a court of summary jurisdiction, rather than merely before the High Bailiff.

These offences are punishable by a maximum of three months’ custody, a fine not exceeding £10,000, or both, together with the forfeiture of any goods or money in respect of which the offence has been committed.

Also by virtue of the 2020 Act, regulations made under section (4) of the 1936 Act may provide for an offence under or specified in them to be the subject of a fixed penalty of up to £250.

Are the powers too draconian or lenient? Email [email protected] with your views.