324Immediate suspension of service authority

324 Immediate suspension of service authority (1) This section applies if the road transport authority— (a) has decided to give, or has given, a disciplinary notice to a person; and (b) believes on reasonable grounds that it is in the public interest that a service authority held by the person be suspended as soon as practicable before a decision is made to take action under section 323 (4) (Procedure for authority taking disciplinary action) in relation to the person. (2) In forming the belief, the road transport authority must consider— (a) the circumstances leading to the decision to issue the disciplinary notice; and (b) the grounds stated, or proposed to be stated, in the disciplinary notice. (3) If this section applies, the road transport authority may give the person a notice (an immediate suspension notice) suspending the service authority. (4) If an immediate suspension notice is given to the person, the service authority is suspended on the receipt of the notice by the person. (5) An immediate suspension notice given in relation to a service authority ends— (a) if the service authority is cancelled or suspended under section 323 (4)—when the cancellation or suspension takes effect; or (b) if a condition is imposed on the service authority, or a condition of the service authority is amended—when the condition or amended condition takes effect; or

(c) if the road transport authority decides to revoke the notice–– when the person is given written notice by the authority of the revocation; or (d) in any other case—when the person is told under section 323 (5) of the decision made on the disciplinary notice.