Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (Vehicles) Regulations
- Act Code: RRA1985-RG1
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273, Section 40)
- Citation: Requisition of Resources (Vehicles) Regulations (Rg 1); G.N. No. S 312/1985
- Revised Edition: 1990 RevEd (25th March 1992)
- Commencement (as indicated in extract): 1st November 1985
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Regulation 1 (Citation); Regulation 2 (Definitions); Regulation 3 (Particulars of vehicles)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (Vehicles) Regulations are subsidiary rules made under Singapore’s Requisition of Resources Act. In plain language, they set out a practical administrative mechanism: when the Government needs to manage or requisition “resources” during an emergency or other circumstances contemplated by the parent Act, it can require vehicle owners (or persons who have vehicles in their possession) to provide specific information about the vehicles and their operation.
Although the Regulations are short, they play an important enabling role. Requisition powers under the Act typically require accurate identification of assets and the parties connected to them (owners, drivers/operators, and locations). Regulation 3 therefore focuses on collecting “particulars of vehicles” in a prescribed manner and on a prescribed form issued by the competent authority or an authorised officer.
In effect, the Regulations help the competent authority build a reliable database of vehicle details so that, if orders or requisitions are later issued under the Act, they can be served correctly and acted upon efficiently. This reduces delays and uncertainty in high-pressure situations where time and administrative accuracy are critical.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Regulation 1 (Citation) provides the short title by which the Regulations may be cited. This is a standard provision, but it matters for legal referencing, drafting of notices, and citation in legal proceedings or administrative documents.
Regulation 2 (Definitions) clarifies two terms that are central to how Regulation 3 operates:
- “authorised officer” means an officer appointed by the Minister under regulation 3.
- “competent authority” means the competent authority appointed under section 4 of the Act for the purposes of section 12 or 40 of the Act.
These definitions ensure that the correct decision-makers and issuing officers are identified. For practitioners, this is important because the validity of an information request may depend on whether it was issued by the proper authority or an officer properly appointed in writing.
Regulation 3 (Particulars of vehicles) is the operative provision. It empowers the competent authority, or an officer appointed in writing by the Minister, to order a person who has a vehicle in his possession to furnish specified particulars. The order must be complied with by providing the information “on such form as may be issued” by the competent authority or authorised officer.
The Regulation is drafted broadly in terms of the person who must respond: it applies to “any person having in his possession any vehicle.” This is not limited to registered owners. As a result, in practice, the duty to furnish particulars may fall on persons who possess vehicles under hire, lease, employment arrangements, or other possession-based relationships—depending on how “possession” is understood in the factual context.
Regulation 3 then lists the particulars that must be furnished. These are designed to identify the vehicle, its operational control, and the logistics needed for service of future orders:
- (a) Name and address of the owner of the vehicle — ensures the authority can identify the legal owner for notices and potential requisition actions.
- (b) Make and year of manufacture — supports classification and technical identification of the vehicle.
- (c) Description of the vehicle — provides further identification beyond make/year (e.g., model or distinguishing features).
- (d) Name and home address of the driver or operator — links the vehicle to the person responsible for operation, which may be relevant for control, deployment, or compliance.
- (e) Insurance coverage for the vehicle — indicates whether the vehicle is insured and may assist in risk management and liability considerations when the vehicle is later used or requisitioned.
- (f) Usual place where the vehicle is parked during the day when not in use — supports operational planning and retrieval.
- (g) Usual place where the vehicle is parked during the night — similarly supports retrieval and deployment planning.
- (h) Address for the service of orders, notices and requisitions required to be served under the Act on the owner of the vehicle — provides an administrative “service address” to ensure that future legal instruments are served effectively.
Practical implications of the “form” requirement. Regulation 3 requires furnishing particulars “on such form” issued by the competent authority or authorised officer. For compliance, this means that answers should be provided in the prescribed format and with the requested fields completed. From a legal risk perspective, failure to use the correct form, or providing incomplete information, may undermine the purpose of the order and could expose the recipient to enforcement consequences under the parent Act (even though the extract does not set out penalties).
Authority and appointment. The Regulation contemplates two layers of authority: (i) the competent authority appointed under section 4 of the Act, and (ii) officers appointed in writing by the Minister (and the “authorised officer” appointed by the Minister under regulation 3). Practitioners should therefore pay close attention to the documentation accompanying any order—particularly whether it is signed by, or issued through, the competent authority or a properly appointed officer.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are structured as a short instrument with the following key components:
- Regulation 1 (Citation): establishes the short title.
- Regulation 2 (Definitions): defines “authorised officer” and “competent authority” by reference to appointments under the parent Act and the Regulations.
- Regulation 3 (Particulars of vehicles): sets out the core administrative power to order persons in possession of vehicles to furnish specified particulars on an official form.
Notably, the extract indicates only these provisions. In practice, the Regulations may be read together with the Requisition of Resources Act, which supplies the broader requisition framework, including the circumstances in which requisition powers may be exercised and the legal consequences of non-compliance.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to any person having in his possession any vehicle when the competent authority or an authorised officer makes an order under Regulation 3. This possession-based wording is significant: it can capture not only registered owners but also persons who control or hold vehicles in their possession, such as fleet operators, employers, contractors, or other parties who physically possess vehicles.
In addition, the Regulation requires information about the owner (name and address) and provides an address for service of future orders and requisitions on the owner. Therefore, while the immediate duty is imposed on the possessor who receives the order, the information furnished must enable the authority to direct subsequent legal instruments to the correct owner and service address.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Regulations are limited in length, they are operationally important. Requisition regimes depend on speed, accuracy, and enforceability. Regulation 3 ensures that the competent authority can identify vehicles and the relevant parties (owners, drivers/operators) and can locate vehicles (day/night parking places). This reduces administrative friction when time-sensitive decisions must be made.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Regulations also highlight compliance and procedural issues that often arise in administrative law contexts:
- Correct identification of the issuing authority: whether the order is issued by the competent authority or by an officer properly appointed in writing by the Minister.
- Compliance with the prescribed form: ensuring that the information is furnished in the manner required by the competent authority or authorised officer.
- Completeness and accuracy of particulars: particularly for service addresses and insurance coverage, which can affect downstream legal steps and liability considerations.
Finally, the Regulations support the parent Act’s broader policy objective: enabling the Government to manage resources effectively during emergencies or other situations contemplated by the Act. By requiring advance or contemporaneous disclosure of vehicle particulars, the Regulations help ensure that requisition actions can be implemented without unnecessary delay.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273), including section 4 (appointment of competent authority) and section 12 or section 40 (as referenced in the Regulations)
- Requisition of Resources (Vehicles) Regulations (Rg 1), G.N. No. S 312/1985; Revised Edition 1990 (25th March 1992)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (Vehicles) Regulations for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.