Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 569 | Classification | NPA-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | March 16, 1998 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Cabinet Office (Economic Planning Agency) |
| Responsible Ministries | National Police Agency | Related Laws | Road Traffic Law, Enforcement Order of the Road Traffic Law, Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Law |
| Complainant | United States Embassy in Japan (Proxy complaint) | Exporting Countries | |
| Subject | Relaxing regulations on obtainment of towing licenses | ||
| Description of Complaint |
1. Since the maximum weight of vehicles allowed to be towed by the holders of ordinary driver's license is 750 kg, drivers must obtain an additional towing license for towing travel trailers (which usually weigh approximately 2 t). 2. However, there exists only one type of towing license which places no restrictions on the weight of the vehicle to be towed, which requires learning advanced driving techniques that are not necessarily needed for towing travel trailers and the like. 3. Therefore, categories should be established according to the weight of the vehicle to be towed, for example, by separating licenses for light towing and for regular towing. |
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| Details of Measures |
1. In December 15, 1998, in the "Policy Actions on Market Access Issues Concerning Standards, Certifications and Others," the OMA decided "it would initiate research related to the establishment of categories for towing licenses as soon as possible and report the results to the Market Access Ombudsman Council within 1999." On December 14, 1999, the agency reported a "Study on establishing categories for towing licenses" to the Council. On March 21, 2000, in the "Policy Actions on Market Access Issues Concerning Standards, Certifications and Others", the OMA decided that "it would consider the necessity of establishing categories for towing licenses based on the weight of the towed vehicle and draw a conclusion within 2000." 2. Since it was later on recognized reasonable to establish a separate category of towing license for camping trailers that weigh 750kg to some 2 t, the agency has enforced enforcement regulations (Cabinet Order No. 34, 2002), which revises the part of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Law to establish a new towing license system that is confined to compact trailers weighing 750 kg to 2t, on June 1, 2002. |
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| Classification of Processing | A | Directions | IV |
| Remarks |
A written reply was made on March 25, 1998." An additional written reply was made on May 20, 1998." An additional written reply was made on September 29, 1998." Reference materials were sent on March 29, 2000. | ||