OTO No.608

OTO No.	608	Classification	NPA-20
Date of Acceptance	July 11, 2000	Respective Office Receiving Complaint	Cabinet Office (Economic Planning Agency)
Responsible Ministries	National Police Agency	Related Laws	Road Traffic Law
Complainant	Domestic firm	Exporting Countries	Russia
Subject	Clarification of classification of Russian two-wheeled vehicles with two-wheel-drive sidecars
Description of Complaint	1. The "Uralmoto two-wheeled vehicle with the two-axis-drive sidecar" was classified as the "two-wheeled vehicle with a sidecar" on an automobile inspection certificate under the Ministry of Transport notice dated July 6, 1999. Concerned that the driver's license requirement for the vehicle could change, the complainant made an inquiry at a relevant police station, but no specific answer was given. Therefore, the complainant has been unable to give any specific answer to potential purchasers of the vehicle and has had no choice but to sell the vehicle only to drivers who have both ordinary and large-motorcycle licenses. 2. In some regions, police order drivers of the vehicles in question to stop for interrogation. The agency has apparently failed to thoroughly notify police throughout the nation of how to treat the vehicles in question. 3. The government should confirm and clarify that the ordinary license is applicable to the Uralmoto two-wheeled vehicle with a two-axis-drive sidecar and issue a relevant notice to ensure police awareness of the clarification.
Details of Measures	The agency replied as follows: (1) The "Uralmoto two-wheeled vehicle with the two-axis-drive sidecar" amounts to an ordinary vehicle in Article 3 of the Road Traffic Law and can be driven by a driver having an ordinary or large-vehicle license. (2) The agency will issue a written notice to improve prefectural police awareness of the above.
Status of Processing	Processed (August 8, 2001)	Classification of Action	A
Remarks	A written request for materials was made on July 19, 2000. A written question was made on July 31, 2000. A written reply was made on August 17, 2000.