Breach of Road Traffic Act IT HAS been observed that members of the public who import motor vehicles into the country after paying the necessary Customs duties and taken possession of these vehicles, are driving the vehicles on public roads without the vehicle being registered with the Licensing Authority and without any registration plates. When stopped the explanation given is that they were told that all is required is coverage by way of insurance for a day to move the vehicle from one point to another. We are advising motor vehicle owners that this practise should cease immediately. It is against the law. Section 12 of the Motor vehicle and Road Traffic Act 48:50 Section 12. (1) states: No person shall, in any place, use or keep for use or, being the owner, permit any other person to use or keep for use any motor vehicle-- (a) not being a vehicle exempted from registration under this Act, unless it is registered under this Act according to the procedures required by the Licensing Authority or; (b) Being an agricultural tractor, agricultural trailer or industrial tractor, for any purpose unless the Licensing Authority has granted its approval, in the prescribed manner, of the use of the vehicles for that purpose. (2) No person shall be liable to a penalty for a breach of this section if he proves that he has taken all reasonable steps to comply with its requirements, and, when the vehicle is in use on a road, that it is on its way for the purpose of being registered. (3) The Transport Officer to whom application is made shall, upon being satisfied that the provisions of this Act and the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-party Risks) Act and Regulations respectively made thereunder, have been complied with, forthwith enter particulars of the vehicle in the register, and shall assign to the vehicle a registered letter or letters and number, which shall become the identification mark of such vehicle. Section (4) states that a certified copy of the entry in the register shall be given to the owner of the vehicle, and such certificate of registration shall be regarded as prima facie evidence that the vehicle to which it refers has been registered. (5) If a motor vehicle does not bear on it an identification mark as required by the Licensing Authority, this fact shall be regarded as prima facie evidence that the vehicle has not been registered, and any constable may detain such a vehicle until enquiries have been made. (6) The onus of proving that a vehicle has been registered rests upon the owner of the vehicle. Motor vehicle and Road Traffic Regulations Part II 7. (1) The identification mark to be carried by a registered motor vehicle or trailer in pursuance of section 12 of the Act, shall consist of two plates which must conform as to size, lettering, numbering and otherwise with the following provisions: (a) (i) each plate must be rectangular and bear upon it the index mark of “P” for private motor vehicles, “T” for goods vehicles, “R” for rented cars, “H” for public service vehicles, “X” for any other vehicle and the separate number assigned to the motor vehicle by the Licensing Authority. According to Section 91. (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act 48:50, Any person who contravenes this Act is, unless otherwise specifically provided, is liable to a fine of three thousand dollars or to imprisonment for six months.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:34:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015