VEHICLES DISPLAYING NON-SINGAPORE LICENCE PLATES (Action for violation of traffic regulations)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs how action is taken against vehicles displaying non-Singapore licence plates which are found breaking traffic regulations; and what course of action is taken when a report from a member of the public is received against such vehicles.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, action by the Traffic Police against vehicles displaying non-Singapore licence plates which violate traffic regulations depends on the following circumstances:

(a) Whether the driver is stopped on the spot by a Police Officer;

(b) Whether the driver of the vehicle is a Singapore resident; or

(c) Whether the offence is compoundable.

If the driver's identity is established on the spot and he is not a Singapore resident, then he will:

(i) be brought to either the Traffic Police Station in Maxwell Road or the Bukit Panjang Police Station depending on where the offence is committed. He will be brought to the nearest of these two stations to have the offence or offences compounded provided they are compoundable offences;

(ii) if the offence or offences are non-compoundable, then he will be arrested and charged in Court at the earliest opportunity.

If the driver of the vehicle is a Singapore resident he will be reported and prosecuted in the usual way for the offence committed. However, under section 6(2) of the Road Traffic Act:

`No person who is a resident of Singapore shall possess or use a motor vehicle in respect of which a licence authorising its use is first issued outside Singapore after the 30th day of May, 1966, until such fees as are prescribed have been paid to the Registrar.'

A Singapore resident caught using a non-Singapore registered vehicle therefore will, in addition, be prosecuted under section 6(2) as aforementioned.

When a report is made by a member of the public of traffic infringements against vehicles displaying non-Singapore licence plates, such reports will be referred to the officer-in-charge of the Bukit Panjang Police Station. He will have the numbers of the vehicle put on a "Stop List" at the Woodlands Checkpoint. When the vehicle is stopped at this Checkpoint, the driver would be referred to the Bukit Panjang Police Station. The procedure would be the same as though the driver was stopped on the spot by a Police Officer. However, there are occasions when a warning would suffice for drivers who have committed minor traffic infringements. This is left solely to the discretion of the reporting or compounding officer.

The Member for Katong is assured that action is always taken against vehicles displaying non-Singapore licence plates which violate traffic regulations irrespective of whether the driver is a Singapore resident or a non-Singapore resident.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, in respect of the Minister's comment that action is always taken against those who commit infringements against traffic regulations, does he mean he is satisfied that the intensity of such infringements has been reduced to a tolerable point?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I do not know whether the supplementary question o the Member for Katong has arisen from the main question. The main question is on taking action against vehicles displaying non-Singapore licence plates and, in that respect, I said that he is assured that action is always taken.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, may I ask the Minister whether he is satisfied that the action taken against those vehicles, which violate traffic regulations and which have non-Singapore licence plates, has succeeded in reducing infringements to a tolerable extent?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I can say that I am satisfied with the action that has been taken. But I cannot assure the Member for Katong that as a result of such action there will be no further infringements.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, will the Minister be willing to come out with me and have a look at the condition on the roads? I shall then find out whether he is satisfied.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I am always willing to go out with the Member for Katong.

Mr Conceicao: Only to have a look at the traffic, Sir!