Statute Details
- Title: Parking Places (Exemption) Order 2012
- Act Code: PPA1974-S583-2012
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Parking Places Act (Chapter 214)
- Authorising Power: Section 21 of the Parking Places Act
- Enacting / Citation: “No. S 583” (SL 583/2012)
- Commencement: Deemed to have come into operation on 10 April 2012
- Date Made: 23 November 2012
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal extract)
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Primary Legal Effect: Temporarily disapplies a specific rule under the Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3) for a named individual, vehicle, and parking location
What Is This Legislation About?
The Parking Places (Exemption) Order 2012 is a short, targeted piece of subsidiary legislation made under the Parking Places Act (Chapter 214). In plain language, it grants a specific exemption from a parking-related rule for a defined period, tied to a particular person, vehicle registration number, and parking place.
Unlike broad regulatory instruments that set general rules for all motorists, this Order is essentially an administrative/legal mechanism to allow an exception in a particular case. It does so by temporarily disapplying Rule 4(1) of the Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3)—but only for the circumstances described in the Order.
The practical effect is that, for the specified dates, the exempted person is not required to comply with the disapplied rule in relation to the parking of the specified vehicle at the specified location. The Order therefore functions as a legal “override” for that case, ensuring that enforcement actions or compliance requirements under the general coupon parking regime do not apply.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) provides the formal identification of the instrument and its effective date. The Order may be cited as the “Parking Places (Exemption) Order 2012” and is deemed to have come into operation on 10 April 2012. This “deemed” commencement is legally significant: it means the exemption is treated as effective from that earlier date, even though the Order was made on 23 November 2012.
For practitioners, the deemed commencement matters for compliance and enforcement timelines. If any parking enforcement or coupon parking compliance issues arose between 10 April 2012 and the date the Order was made, the legal position is that the exemption already applied from 10 April 2012. In other words, the Order is not merely prospective; it regularises the earlier period by backdating its effect.
Section 2 (Exemption) is the operative provision. It states that Rule 4(1) of the Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3) shall not apply to a named individual—Vijayandran a/l Ramachandran—in respect of the parking of his vehicle bearing registration number WKU1848 at the parking place known as Keppel Road Off Street.
The exemption is limited in three critical ways:
- Person: only Vijayandran a/l Ramachandran is covered.
- Vehicle: only the vehicle with registration number WKU1848 is covered.
- Location: only parking at “Keppel Road Off Street” is covered.
In addition, the exemption is limited by time. It applies from 10 April 2012 to 11 May 2012 (both dates inclusive). This means the exemption covers the entire period including the start date and end date, leaving no gap at either end.
Interaction with Rule 4(1) of the Coupon Parking Rules: while the extract does not reproduce the content of Rule 4(1), the legal technique is clear. Rule 4(1) is part of the general coupon parking framework. By expressly disapplying it, the Order removes the legal requirement that would otherwise have applied to the exempted person/vehicle/location during the specified period.
For lawyers advising clients, the key question is what Rule 4(1) required in practice, because that requirement is what is being suspended for the exempted case. Typically, coupon parking rules regulate how motorists must pay or display payment instruments (such as coupons) for parking at coupon-controlled places. The exemption therefore likely relates to the method or obligation of coupon compliance. However, the safest legal approach is to consult the text of Rule 4(1) of the Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3) to identify precisely what is being disapplied.
Making authority and formality: the Order states it is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 21 of the Parking Places Act”. It is signed by PANG KIN KEONG, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Singapore. This indicates that the exemption is an official exercise of statutory power, not an informal administrative arrangement.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Parking Places (Exemption) Order 2012 is structured in a very simple way, reflecting its narrow scope. It contains:
- Enacting formula (the legal basis and authority): it identifies the enabling provision in the Parking Places Act (section 21) and the Minister’s power to make the Order.
- Section 1: Citation and commencement: provides the name of the Order and its effective date (deemed commencement on 10 April 2012).
- Section 2: Exemption: the operative clause that disapplies Rule 4(1) of the Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3) for a named person, vehicle, location, and time period.
There are no schedules or additional parts in the extract. The instrument is therefore best understood as a single-purpose legal instrument: it grants a discrete exemption and nothing more.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies only to the individual and circumstances expressly described in Section 2. It is not a general exemption for all motorists, nor is it a category-based exemption (for example, for disabled persons, residents, or commercial vehicles). Instead, it is person-specific and case-specific.
Accordingly, the exemption applies to Vijayandran a/l Ramachandran in relation to parking of vehicle WKU1848 at Keppel Road Off Street during 10 April 2012 to 11 May 2012 (inclusive). Outside those parameters—different dates, different vehicles, or different parking places—the exemption does not apply.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is brief, it can be highly consequential in practice. Parking enforcement regimes often involve strict compliance with payment and display requirements. If a motorist fails to comply with coupon parking rules, enforcement actions may follow. A properly drafted exemption order prevents the disapplied rule from being used against the exempted party for the specified period and circumstances.
From a legal risk perspective, the Order provides a clear defence or clarification for any dispute arising from parking compliance during the exemption window. For example, if enforcement notices or penalties were issued for the exempted vehicle at the exempted location during the relevant dates, the exemption order would be directly relevant to the legality of those enforcement outcomes.
The deemed commencement is particularly important. Because the Order is deemed to operate from 10 April 2012, it can affect how liability is assessed for the earlier period between the start of the exemption and the date the Order was made. This can be critical in administrative appeals, judicial review contexts, or any legal proceedings where the timing of compliance is contested.
Related Legislation
- Parking Places Act (Chapter 214) — in particular, section 21 (the enabling provision for exemptions)
- Parking Places (Coupon Parking) Rules (R 3) — in particular, Rule 4(1) (the rule disapplied by this Order)
- Legislation Timeline — to confirm the correct version and effective date (as referenced in the portal extract)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Parking Places (Exemption) Order 2012 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.