Dangerous Fireworks Bill

Bill No. 20/1972

Read the first time on 21st March 1972.

An Act to prohibit the possession or discharge of firecrackers and other dangerous fireworks, and to amend the Minor Offences Act (Chapter 102 of the Revised Edition).

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows: —

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Dangerous Fireworks Act, 1972, and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“dangerous fireworks” means firecrackers, rocket fireworks, sandcrackers and such other fireworks as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, declare to be dangerous fireworks for the purposes of this Act;

“explosive” includes any substance used or manufactured with a view to producing a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect;

“in transit” means taken or sent from any country and brought into Singapore by land, sea or air (whether or not landed or transhipped in Singapore) for the sole purpose of being carried to another country either by the same or by another conveyance;

“rocket firework” includes any firework which will travel over a distance, when activated, before it produces a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect;

“sandcracker” means a pellet containing an explosive which will be activated when set on fire or rubbed on any abrasive surface or by any other means.

Prohibition on possession and discharge of fireworks

3.—(1) No person shall —

(a)	keep or have in his possession or under his control; or
(b)	discharge or let off,

any dangerous firework.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any dangerous firework —

(a)	while in the course of transit as cargo in any vessel, aircraft or vehicle; and
(b)	while being loaded onto or discharged from any vessel, aircraft or vehicle by any person or his servants or his agents.

Dangerous fireworks in transit

4. Where any dangerous firework brought into Singapore in transit is landed or transhipped in Singapore it shall be stored and dealt with as the Minister may direct.

Penalty

5. Every omission or neglect to comply with, and every act done or attempted to be done contrary to, the provisions of this Act, shall be an offence and the offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Arrest

6.—(1) Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person reasonably suspected by him of having committed an offence under this Act, and take him before a Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law.

(2) Any dangerous firework by or in respect of which an offence under this Act has been committed may be seized by a police officer and may, notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 113) relating to the disposal of property the subject of an offence, be disposed of as the Minister may direct.

Regulations

7. The Minister may make regulations to provide for —

(a)	the control of and the safety precautions which are to be taken in relation to transhipment, storage and movement of dangerous fireworks; and
(b)	the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.

Exemption

8. The Minister may, by notification published in the Gazette, exempt any person or classes of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, whether absolutely or subject to such conditions as the Minister may see fit to impose.

Saving

9. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other written law.

Repeal

10. Section 6 of the Minor Offences Act (Cap. 102) is hereby repealed.

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