Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N20
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL notice)
- Enacting / Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), Section 17(5)
- Legislative Instrument: G.N. No. S 411/1999
- Commencement (as stated): 30 September 1999
- Revised Edition Mentioned: 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276)
- Status (platform extract): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Legal Effect: Appoints the date the 1999 Revised Edition of Road Traffic-related subsidiary legislation comes into force
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Gazette notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), specifically under section 17(5). In plain terms, it is not a “substantive” law that creates new traffic offences or regulatory duties. Instead, it performs an administrative but legally significant function: it sets the commencement date for a revised edition of subsidiary legislation made under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276).
The notice explains that the Law Revision Commissioners had published, in loose-leaf form, the 1999 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation under the Road Traffic Act, incorporating amendments up to a specified date (10 September 1999). The notice then “appoints” 30 September 1999 as the date when that revised edition comes into force.
For practitioners, the practical importance lies in how revised editions affect citations, consolidation, and the operative legal text. Even where the underlying regulatory content remains largely the same, the revised edition can change how provisions are referenced and can incorporate amendments that may not have been reflected in earlier versions. This can affect litigation strategy, compliance advice, and statutory interpretation.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory basis: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). The notice is expressly grounded on section 17(5). That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of laws (including subsidiary legislation) and provides a mechanism for determining when such revised editions take effect. The notice is therefore the formal step that converts the published loose-leaf compilation into an operative legal instrument.
2. Identification of the revised body of law: subsidiary legislation under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276). The notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Road Traffic Act. This is crucial: it limits the notice’s effect to the subsidiary legislation domain (e.g., regulations, rules, and other subsidiary instruments) rather than the Road Traffic Act itself.
3. Incorporation of amendments up to 10 September 1999. The notice indicates that the revised edition “incorporat[es] all amendments up to 10th September 1999.” This matters for legal accuracy. When advising clients or preparing submissions, counsel must ensure that the operative text reflects the amendments up to the relevant cut-off date. The notice signals that the revised edition is not merely a reprint; it is a consolidated and updated version.
4. Appointment of the commencement date: 30 September 1999. The operative clause is the appointment: it “is hereby notified for general information that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 30th September 1999 as the date the 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Road Traffic Act shall come into force.” In effect, from that date, the revised edition becomes the authoritative reference point for the subsidiary legislation covered by the compilation.
5. “Notice for general information” and legal effect. The language “for general information” is typical of Gazette notices. However, the legal effect is still meaningful: it determines when the revised edition is treated as in force. Practically, this can influence which version of subsidiary legislation a court or regulator expects to be cited and applied.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Gazette notice with an enacting formula and a schedule. The extract indicates the presence of a THE SCHEDULE heading, which is typical for notices that incorporate or reference the relevant revised materials.
From the content provided, the notice includes:
- Enacting formula / Whereas clauses explaining the background: publication in loose-leaf form and the incorporation of amendments up to a specified date;
- Operative clause appointing the commencement date (30 September 1999);
- Legislative history and timeline entries showing the instrument’s publication date and subsequent revised edition references (e.g., “2001 RevEd”).
Notably, the extract does not show substantive regulatory provisions (such as definitions, offences, or enforcement powers). Instead, the structure is designed to trigger and publicise the commencement of a revised compilation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the notice is directed at the legal system and the public generally (“for general information”), its functional scope is tied to the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) and the subsidiary legislation made under it. Therefore, it indirectly affects:
- Road users and members of the public who are subject to traffic-related subsidiary regulations;
- Practitioners (lawyers, compliance officers, and litigators) who must cite and apply the correct operative version of subsidiary legislation;
- Regulators and enforcement agencies applying the Road Traffic Act’s subsidiary framework.
Importantly, the notice does not itself impose new duties or penalties. Rather, it determines when a revised edition of the subsidiary legislative framework becomes the operative text. In that sense, its “application” is best understood as applying to the legal materials that govern road traffic matters, rather than to a particular class of persons with new obligations.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For legal practitioners, the value of this notice is primarily in version control and citation accuracy. In Singapore practice, counsel must ensure that the statutory text relied upon is the correct one for the relevant time period. Revised editions can incorporate amendments and can affect how provisions are numbered or presented. Even when the substantive content is unchanged, the authoritative compilation may differ from earlier printed versions.
Second, this notice illustrates how Singapore maintains legal coherence through the Law Revision Commissioners. The mechanism under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act ensures that the legal corpus is periodically consolidated and updated. The notice’s appointment of a commencement date provides certainty to the public and to enforcement bodies about when the revised compilation should be treated as operative.
Third, the notice can have real consequences in disputes. For example, in a prosecution or regulatory challenge, the defence may scrutinise whether the prosecution relied on the correct version of subsidiary legislation. Conversely, the prosecution or regulator may rely on the revised edition as the authoritative text as of the commencement date. Therefore, understanding the commencement mechanics under section 17(5) can be critical in evidencing the applicable legal framework.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — in particular section 17(5)
- Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276)
- Road Traffic Act subsidiary legislation included in the 1999 Revised Edition (as referenced by this notice)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Section 17 (5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.