Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011
- Act Code: RTA1961-S388-2011
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276), section 142
- Enacting Formula / Power: Made by the Minister for Transport under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act
- Citation: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011
- Commencement: 8 July 2011
- Primary Provision: Exemption from Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules
- Key Exempted Vehicle Identifiers: Engine number A5371144N46B20BD; chassis number WBAWA52000PG06312
- Beneficiary (as stated): Vehicle belonging to Kan Fook Sing
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- SL Number: SL 388/2011 (dated 8 Jul 2011)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011 is a narrow, vehicle-specific exemption order made under the Road Traffic Act. In plain terms, it allows a particular motor vehicle—identified by its engine number and chassis number—to be treated differently from the general rule set out in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules.
Unlike broad regulatory reforms that change licensing regimes for entire categories of vehicles, this Order does not rewrite the licensing system. Instead, it creates a targeted exception for one vehicle belonging to a named individual, Kan Fook Sing. The exemption is from “Rule 5(1)” of the relevant Rules. The practical effect is that the vehicle is relieved from whatever requirement Rule 5(1) imposes, but only for that specific vehicle and only to the extent of the exemption stated.
Orders of this kind are common in Singapore’s legislative framework where the Minister is empowered to grant exemptions from subsidiary rules. They are typically used to address exceptional circumstances—such as administrative, technical, or operational reasons—without disturbing the general regulatory scheme that applies to all other vehicles.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement sets the formal identity and timing of the Order. The Order may be cited as “Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption) (No. 4) Order 2011” and comes into operation on 8 July 2011. For practitioners, the commencement date matters because it determines when the exemption becomes effective and whether any compliance obligations that arose before that date remain unaffected.
Section 2: Exemption is the operative provision. It states that Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules “shall not apply” to the specified vehicle. The vehicle is identified with precision using both an engine number and a chassis number, and the Order further specifies that the vehicle belongs to Kan Fook Sing.
From a legal drafting perspective, the use of both engine and chassis identifiers is significant. It reduces ambiguity and helps ensure that the exemption attaches to the correct vehicle, even if there are similar models or vehicles with partial overlap in identifiers. In practice, this means that the exemption is unlikely to be transferable or extendable to another vehicle unless it matches the exact identifiers stated in the Order.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the text of Rule 5(1) itself, the structure of the exemption indicates that Rule 5(1) contains a requirement that would otherwise apply to motor vehicles under the registration and licensing framework. The Order’s language—“shall not apply”—is a strong exemption formulation. It does not merely modify the requirement; it removes the rule’s applicability entirely for the exempted vehicle.
Practical compliance point: when advising a client, counsel should confirm the exact content of Rule 5(1) at the relevant time (and in the current version, if still relevant). The exemption’s scope is only as broad as the rule it excludes. If Rule 5(1) relates to a specific administrative step (for example, a registration, licensing, or documentation requirement), then the exemption relieves the vehicle from that step. However, other rules in the licensing and registration regime may still apply unless they are separately exempted.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely short and consists of two provisions:
(1) Enacting Formula / Power: The Minister for Transport makes the Order under the authority of section 142 of the Road Traffic Act.
(2) Citation and commencement (Section 1): Provides the name of the Order and the date it comes into force (8 July 2011).
(3) Exemption (Section 2): The substantive clause. It identifies the rule from which exemption is granted (Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules) and specifies the exempted vehicle by owner and by engine and chassis numbers.
There are no schedules, definitions, or additional conditions in the extract. That absence is itself meaningful: the exemption appears to be unconditional as drafted (at least within the text of the Order). However, practitioners should still check whether the underlying Rules or the Road Traffic Act impose general conditions for exemptions, revocation, or compliance with other regulatory requirements.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to a specific vehicle—the vehicle belonging to Kan Fook Sing—and only to the extent that Rule 5(1 would otherwise apply to that vehicle. The vehicle is identified by its engine number and chassis number, meaning the exemption is not framed as applying to a class of vehicles (e.g., vintage vehicles, commercial vehicles, or vehicles used for a particular purpose).
Accordingly, the Order’s personal scope is effectively limited: it is not a general benefit to all owners, nor does it create a category-based exemption. Instead, it is a targeted administrative relief. If the vehicle is sold or transferred, the question becomes whether the exemption follows the vehicle (by identifiers) or is tied to the owner. The Order’s wording refers to “the vehicle belonging to Kan Fook Sing,” which suggests a link to ownership at the time of exemption. Practitioners should therefore consider advising clients on whether any transfer would affect the continued applicability of the exemption, and whether an updated exemption order would be required.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is brief, it is legally important because it demonstrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory system can be adjusted through targeted exemptions. For lawyers, the key significance lies in understanding that subsidiary rules (such as those governing registration and licensing) can be overridden for specific circumstances by ministerial orders made under the Road Traffic Act.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the exemption can be decisive. If Rule 5(1) imposes a requirement that would otherwise be enforceable—through refusal of registration, licensing restrictions, or other administrative consequences—then the exemption provides a legal basis to treat the exempted vehicle differently. Without the exemption, the vehicle could be in breach of the applicable regulatory requirement, potentially triggering administrative action or regulatory scrutiny.
For practitioners advising on documentation, vehicle registration, or licensing disputes, this Order also illustrates the evidentiary approach used in exemptions: the vehicle is identified by technical identifiers (engine and chassis numbers). In any later dispute about whether a vehicle falls within the exemption, those identifiers would likely be central. Counsel should therefore ensure that the client’s records (e.g., vehicle particulars, inspection reports, and registration documents) align with the engine and chassis numbers stated in the Order.
Finally, the Order’s existence underscores the need to check the correct version and timeline of subsidiary legislation. The portal indicates that the Order is “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” but the exemption itself was made in 2011. Practitioners should still verify whether there have been amendments, revocations, or related orders affecting the same vehicle or the same rule. Where exemptions are involved, later legislative changes can affect how the exemption is interpreted or whether it remains operative.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) — in particular, section 142 (the authorising provision for exemptions)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules — in particular, Rule 5(1) (the rule from which the exemption is granted)
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.