Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 3) Order 2011
- Act Code: RTA1961-S325-2011
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276), specifically section 142
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Transport
- Enacting Formula (key power): Made in exercise of powers under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act
- Commencement: 10 June 2011
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 325/2011
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Relevant Rules Exempted: Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5)
- Exempted Vehicle Identifiers: Engine number 2GR8613007; Chassis number GSE215019254
- Named Beneficiary: Lee Wai Pheng
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 3) Order 2011 is a narrow, vehicle-specific exemption order made under the Road Traffic Act. In plain terms, it temporarily sits within the broader regulatory framework governing how motor vehicles must be registered and licensed in Singapore, and it carves out an exception for a particular vehicle owned by a particular person.
Most road traffic compliance obligations in Singapore are implemented through the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules. One of those rules—Rule 5(1)—imposes requirements that apply generally to motor vehicles within the scope of the Rules. This Order does not rewrite the Rules; instead, it exempts a specific vehicle from the operation of Rule 5(1), meaning that the usual requirement in Rule 5(1) is not applicable to that vehicle.
Practically, exemption orders like this are used where strict application of a general rule would be inappropriate due to the circumstances of a particular vehicle or owner. The legal effect is targeted: it applies only to the named vehicle identified by its engine and chassis numbers, and only to the specific rule that is exempted.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) provides the formal identification and timing of the instrument. It states that the Order may be cited as the “Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 3) Order 2011” and that it “shall come into operation on 10th June 2011.” This is important for practitioners because it determines when the exemption becomes legally effective. Any compliance steps taken before commencement would not be covered by the exemption, while steps taken after commencement could rely on it.
Section 2 (Exemption) is the operative provision. It states that “Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) shall not apply” to the vehicle belonging to Lee Wai Pheng and bearing the specified engine number and chassis number. The legal consequence is straightforward: the general requirement in Rule 5(1) is suspended for that vehicle.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the text of Rule 5(1), the drafting style indicates that Rule 5(1) is a rule of general application. The exemption order does not specify what Rule 5(1) requires; instead, it identifies the rule by number and states that it “shall not apply” to the specified vehicle. For legal work, this means you must consult the underlying Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules to determine the exact compliance obligation being lifted. The exemption order is therefore best understood as a “permission not to comply with Rule 5(1)” for the identified vehicle.
From a compliance and evidentiary perspective, the exemption is anchored to vehicle identifiers—engine number 2GR8613007 and chassis number GSE215019254. This is significant because it reduces ambiguity. If a dispute arises as to whether a vehicle is covered, the identifiers provide the objective criteria. Practitioners advising owners, insurers, or enforcement agencies would typically focus on whether the vehicle’s recorded engine and chassis numbers match those in the Order.
Finally, the Order includes a making clause (“Made this 9th day of June 2011”) and is signed by CHOI SHING KWOK, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport. While this is procedural, it can matter in judicial review or validity challenges: it shows the instrument was made by the authorised signatory and on the stated date, consistent with the authorising power under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely short and consists of an enacting formula and two sections:
(a) Section 1: Citation and commencement. It tells you what the instrument is called and when it takes effect.
(b) Section 2: Exemption. It identifies the specific rule being exempted (Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules) and the specific vehicle and owner to whom the exemption applies.
There are no schedules, no additional conditions, and no procedural steps stated in the extract. That absence is itself meaningful: the exemption appears to operate automatically once the Order is in force, provided the vehicle is the one identified by the engine and chassis numbers.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to the vehicle belonging to Lee Wai Pheng with the specified engine number and chassis number. It is not a class-wide exemption (e.g., not “all electric vehicles” or “all vehicles used for official purposes”). Instead, it is person- and vehicle-specific.
Accordingly, the Order’s practical beneficiaries are limited. The owner of the identified vehicle can rely on the exemption to the extent that Rule 5(1) would otherwise require some action or compliance. Conversely, other vehicle owners cannot generally use this Order as a precedent to claim similar exemptions, because the legal text does not extend beyond the named vehicle identifiers.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this Order is brief, it is legally important because it demonstrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory system uses subsidiary legislation to manage exceptions to general rules. For practitioners, the key takeaway is that compliance obligations in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules may be altered by targeted exemption orders made under the Road Traffic Act.
In practice, exemption orders can affect multiple legal and operational issues: registration status, licensing requirements, enforcement outcomes, and administrative processes. If an enforcement officer or licensing authority would otherwise treat a vehicle as non-compliant with Rule 5(1), the existence of a valid exemption order can be decisive. It can also be relevant in disputes involving fines, refusal of licensing, or questions about whether a vehicle is lawfully within the regulatory framework.
From a risk management perspective, the vehicle identifiers in Section 2 are critical. Lawyers advising clients should ensure that the identifiers in the Order match the vehicle’s official records (for example, as reflected in registration documents). If there is a mismatch—whether due to clerical error, replacement parts, or record inconsistencies—the exemption may not be available, because the legal exemption is tied to the specific engine and chassis numbers.
Finally, the Order’s status as “current version as at 27 March 2026” indicates that the instrument remains on the statute record. However, whether the exemption is intended to be permanent or time-limited is not stated in the extract. Practitioners should therefore check the full text and any related amendments or subsequent exemption orders to confirm the duration and continuing effect, especially if the underlying regulatory regime has changed since 2011.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) — in particular, section 142 (power to make exemption orders)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules — in particular, Rule 5(1) (the provision exempted by this Order)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) Orders — other exemption instruments made under the same or similar powers (useful for comparative practice)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 3) Order 2011 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.