Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 2) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S539-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (sl)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), section 17(8)
- Primary Instrument Affected: 2014 Revised Edition of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) (S 262/72)
- Gazette/Notification Identifier: SL 539/2014
- Date Made: 6 August 2014
- Commencement/Effect Date: 22 August 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 2) Notification 2014 is not a substantive “traffic” law. Instead, it is a procedural and legal-clarification instrument that determines which version of a particular set of subsidiary legislation is to be treated as the authoritative “Statute Book” for legal purposes.
In plain language, the notification addresses a common problem in legal practice: when laws are revised and republished, courts and lawyers need to know which text should be relied upon. Under Singapore’s law revision framework, the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation in a consolidated format. This notification then “locks in” the revised edition as the sole and proper reference for all courts and for all purposes.
Specifically, the notification states that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules—made under the Road Traffic Act—becomes the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore for that subsidiary legislation. The effect is that, from the specified date, practitioners should cite and apply the revised rules as the authoritative text, rather than older loose-leaf or earlier consolidated versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Although the extract provided is short, it contains the essential operative rule. The notification is made pursuant to section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The legal effect of section 17(8) is to allow the Law Revision Commissioners, by Gazette notification, to designate a revised edition as the sole and proper Statute Book for a specified piece of subsidiary legislation.
1. Identification of the subsidiary legislation being “revised”
The notification expressly refers to the 2014 Revised Edition of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) (S 262/72). These rules are subsidiary legislation made under the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276). The notification’s purpose is therefore to confirm the authoritative status of that revised rules text.
2. The “sole and only proper Statute Book” designation
The operative statement is that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of that piece of subsidiary legislation. This language is significant: it is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which version is legally effective for citation, interpretation, and application.
3. Effective date
The notification provides that the revised edition becomes authoritative with effect from 22 August 2014. For practitioners, this matters when dealing with events that occurred before and after that date. While the substantive obligations in the Road Traffic Rules may have been carried forward, the authoritative text for legal proceedings after the effective date is the revised edition.
4. Formalities and making authority
The notification records that it was “made” on 6 August 2014 by the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission (V K Rajah SC). It also includes a reference code in the format [AG/LLRD/RSL/275/2014/1 Vol. 1], which is useful for archival and administrative cross-referencing. While these details are not typically the focus of legal argument, they support the document’s provenance and the formal compliance with the enabling statute.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured as a short Gazette-style instrument rather than a multi-part statute. It follows the standard format for section 17(8) notifications under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
In practical terms, the “structure” consists of: (1) a preamble (“Whereas” clauses) explaining the background—namely, that the Law Revision Commissioners published the 2014 Revised Edition of the relevant Road Traffic Rules in loose-leaf form as at 1 August 2014; (2) the statutory basis—section 17(8)—authorising the Commissioners to designate the revised edition as the sole proper Statute Book; and (3) the operative clause specifying the effective date and the scope (“in all courts and for all purposes”).
There are no substantive regulatory provisions within this notification itself. Instead, it functions as a legal reference and citation authority for the underlying Road Traffic Rules.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because the notification is about the authoritative status of a Statute Book, it applies broadly to all courts and all purposes within Singapore’s legal system. That includes judicial proceedings, administrative enforcement contexts where the rules must be cited or applied, and legal practice generally.
In terms of persons, the notification does not directly impose duties on drivers, vehicle owners, or license holders. Those duties arise from the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules themselves. However, the notification determines that, when those duties are interpreted or enforced, the controlling text is the 2014 Revised Edition as the sole proper Statute Book from the effective date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the importance of this notification lies in its effect on legal certainty and citation discipline. Courts and lawyers must rely on an authoritative text. If multiple versions exist in circulation—particularly where earlier loose-leaf publications or prior editions were used—there is a risk of inconsistency in interpretation, drafting errors, or reliance on superseded numbering or formatting.
This notification removes that risk by declaring that the revised edition is the sole and only proper Statute Book for the specified subsidiary legislation. In litigation, that can matter in several ways: (1) ensuring that pleadings and submissions cite the correct rule numbers and wording; (2) avoiding arguments that a different version should be applied; and (3) supporting the court’s reliance on a single consolidated text for interpretation.
It is also important for compliance and enforcement. Agencies and enforcement officers often need to refer to the correct rules when issuing notices, processing registrations, or determining licensing requirements. By designating the revised edition as authoritative, the notification supports consistent application of the Road Traffic Rules across time and across institutional users.
Finally, the effective date (22 August 2014) is a practical litigation point. Where a case involves conduct spanning the revision date, counsel may need to consider whether the revised edition changed the substantive content or whether it was primarily a consolidation/revision exercise. Even where substantive changes are not at issue, the authoritative text for the relevant period and for court purposes is clarified by this notification.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(8) (enabling provision for this notification)
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) — enabling act under which the Road Traffic Rules are made
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules — specifically the 2014 Revised Edition (R 5) (S 262/72)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 2) Notification 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.