Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011
- Act Code: RTA1961-S388-2011
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276)
- Authorising Provision: Section 142 of the Road Traffic Act
- Enacting Formula / Maker: Minister for Transport (made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport)
- Citation: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011
- Commencement: 8 July 2011
- Key Provision(s): Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Regulatory Target: Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011 is a narrowly focused exemption instrument made under the Road Traffic Act. In plain terms, it allows a specific vehicle—belonging to a named individual—to be treated differently from the general rule set out in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules.
Unlike a typical “rules amendment” that changes the law for everyone, this Order does not rewrite the general regulatory framework. Instead, it grants a targeted dispensation from a particular requirement in Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules. The exemption is tied to the vehicle’s identifying details (engine number and chassis number), ensuring that the relief applies only to the specified vehicle.
Practically, such exemption orders are used where the authorities need to address exceptional circumstances—such as administrative or technical issues—without altering the baseline regulatory obligations for all road users and vehicle owners. For practitioners, the key is to understand that the legal effect is limited: it is an exemption for a particular vehicle, not a general relaxation of licensing and registration requirements.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) sets out how the Order is cited and when it comes into force. The Order may be cited as the “Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011” and it “shall come into operation on 8th July 2011.” This is important for determining the period during which the exemption is legally effective.
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 Kan Fook Sing and bearing the specified engine number and chassis number.
In other words, the general requirement in Rule 5(1) is suspended for that particular vehicle. The Order does not provide a broad rationale or conditions for the exemption; it simply identifies the vehicle by reference to its particulars. The engine number and chassis number given are:
- Engine number: A5371144N46B20BD
- Chassis number: WBAWA52000PG06312
Legal effect and interpretation: Because the exemption is drafted as “shall not apply,” it operates as a direct carve-out from the Rule 5(1) obligation. For practitioners, this means that if an enforcement action or administrative decision would otherwise rely on Rule 5(1), the exemption order should be treated as a controlling legal instrument for the specified vehicle. The exemption is also likely to be strictly construed: it is anchored to the named owner and the exact vehicle identifiers. If the vehicle is replaced, re-registered under different identifiers, or the identifiers are incorrect or altered, the exemption may not apply.
Absence of additional conditions: Notably, the Order does not state that the exemption is conditional upon continued ownership, continued use, or any reporting requirement. However, in practice, authorities may still require documentary proof of the vehicle’s identity and ownership. Even where the text does not impose conditions, administrative practice and evidentiary requirements can affect how the exemption is applied in real cases.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely short and consists of an enacting formula followed by two substantive provisions:
- Section 1: Citation and commencement.
- Section 2: The exemption from Rule 5(1) for a specified vehicle.
There are no schedules, no definitions section, and no additional procedural provisions. The structure reflects the purpose of an exemption order: to provide a clear, legally operative carve-out without expanding the regulatory framework.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to the vehicle belonging to Kan Fook Sing with the specified engine number and chassis number. Therefore, the “subject” of the Order is not a broad class of persons (such as all vehicle owners, all commercial vehicles, or all vehicles of a certain type). Instead, it is a specific vehicle identified by reference to both the owner and the vehicle particulars.
Accordingly, the Order is relevant to:
- The named owner (Kan Fook Sing) in relation to the specified vehicle; and
- Any authority or decision-maker who would otherwise apply Rule 5(1) to that vehicle (for example, in licensing/registration-related administrative processes or enforcement contexts).
For other owners or for vehicles with different engine/chassis numbers, the exemption does not apply. Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as a highly targeted instrument and verify the vehicle identifiers carefully.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it can be legally significant because exemptions can determine whether a regulatory requirement is enforceable in a particular case. If Rule 5(1) would otherwise impose an obligation (the content of Rule 5(1) is not reproduced in the extract provided), the exemption order effectively removes that obligation for the specified vehicle. This can affect outcomes in administrative licensing decisions, compliance assessments, and enforcement actions.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the importance lies in legal certainty. Exemption orders provide a formal basis to depart from the general rules. Where a client’s vehicle is identified in such an order, counsel should consider whether the exemption should be cited to resist or correct an administrative or enforcement decision premised on the general rule.
Second, the vehicle-identification approach underscores a practical compliance point: exemptions are typically not transferable by implication. If the vehicle is sold, re-registered, or its identifiers change, the exemption may cease to be relevant unless a new exemption order is issued or the identifiers remain the same and the authority accepts the continuity of the vehicle’s identity.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory system uses subsidiary legislation to manage exceptional cases without undermining the general regulatory scheme. For lawyers advising clients in vehicle registration and licensing matters, understanding how these exemption instruments operate is essential to providing accurate, case-specific advice.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) — in particular, section 142 (the enabling provision for making exemption orders)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules — in particular, Rule 5(1) (the provision from which the exemption is granted)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) Orders — other exemption orders (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”, etc.) may exist for different vehicles or circumstances
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.