Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) (Amendment) Rules 2002

No. S 562

Road Traffic Act

(Chapter 276)

Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) (Amendment) Rules 2002

In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 48 and 140 of the Road Traffic Act, the Minister for Home Affairs hereby makes the following Rules:

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) (Amendment) Rules 2002 and shall, with the exception of rules 2(a) and (b), 3 and 6 to 9, come into operation on 1st November 2002.

(2) Rules 2(a) and (b), 3 and 6 to 9 shall come into operation on 16th December 2002.

Amendment of rule 2

2. Rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately before the definition of “demerit points”, the following definition:

“ “authorised officer” means a person authorised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Deputy Commissioner of Police under these Rules, and includes an overseas representative;”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “overall height”, the following definition:

“ “overseas representative” means a diplomatic or consular officer of the government in any foreign country and includes a Trade Commissioner of Singapore in any foreign country;”; and

(c)

by inserting, immediately before the definition of “provisional licence”, the following definition:

“ “Proficiency Driving Test” means the test specified in Part III of the Second Schedule;”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 3

3. Rule 3 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:

“Application for grant or renewal of licence

3.—(1) Except with the approval of the Deputy Commissioner of Police or an authorised officer, a person who desires to obtain or renew a licence shall —

(a)	submit in person to the Deputy Commissioner of Police or authorised officer an application in such form as the Deputy Commissioner of Police may determine; and
(b)	furnish such particulars as the Deputy Commissioner of Police or authorised officer may require.

(2) An application for the grant or renewal of a driving licence shall be accompanied by one photograph of the applicant.

(3) The photograph referred to in paragraph (2) shall comply with the specifications set out in the Ninth Schedule.

(4) An application for the grant or renewal of a licence may be received and dealt with at any time within one month before the date on which the grant or renewal of the licence is to take effect.

(5) The Deputy Commissioner of Police or authorised officer may refuse to grant or renew a driving licence for any of the classes of vehicles in respect of which the application is made if —

(a)

the applicant fails to submit a photograph in accordance with paragraph (2); or

(b)

in the opinion of the Deputy Commissioner of Police or authorised officer, the photograph of the applicant accompanying his application for the driving licence —

(i)	does not comply with the specifications set out in the Ninth Schedule;
(ii)	is distorted or unclear; or
(iii)	has been tampered with.

(6) The fee payable for the grant or renewal of a driving licence shall be as follows:

(a)	where the applicant is a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, $50 for the duration of the applicant’s lifetime; or
(b)	where the applicant is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, $50 for any period not exceeding 5 years from the date of the grant or renewal of the licence.

(7) The fee payable for the grant or renewal of a provisional driving licence for each class of vehicle shall be $25 for 6 months or part thereof.”.

New rule 3A

4. The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after rule 3, the following rule:

“Validity of Class 1, 2, 2A, 2B and 3 driving licences

3A.—(1) A Class 1, 2, 2A, 2B or 3 driving licence shall cease to be valid and shall be of no effect upon the holder thereof attaining the age of 65, 68, 71, 74, 77, 80, 83, 86, 89, 92, 95, 98 or 101, unless the Deputy Commissioner of Police has, within 2 months before the holder attains any such age, received a copy of the holder’s medical report issued by a registered medical practitioner certifying that he is physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle.

(2) The Deputy Commissioner of Police may, within 2 months before the holder attains each of the ages specified in paragraph (1), require the holder, at his own expense, to be certified physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle by a registered medical practitioner of his own choice, or by such registered medical practitioner as the Deputy Commissioner of Police may determine.”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 5 and new rule 5A

5. Rule 5 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rules substituted therefor:

“Validity of Class 4, 4A and 5 driving licences

5.—(1) A Class 4, 4A or 5 driving licence shall cease to be valid and shall be of no effect upon the holder thereof attaining the age of 65, 66, 67, 68 or 69, unless —

(a)	the Deputy Commissioner of Police has, within 2 months before the holder attains any such age, received a copy of the holder’s medical report issued by a registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government certifying that he is physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle; and
(b)	where required by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the holder has passed the Proficiency Driving Test within 3 months of attaining any such age.

(2) The Deputy Commissioner of Police may, within 2 months before the holder attains each of the ages specified in paragraph (1), require the holder, at his own expense, to be certified physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle by such registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government as the Deputy Commissioner of Police may determine.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), the Deputy Commissioner of Police may, in special circumstances, waive all or any of the requirements specified in the Proficiency Driving Test.

Power of Deputy Commissioner of Police to renew licence which has ceased to be valid

5A. The Deputy Commissioner of Police may renew a driving licence which has ceased to be valid under rule 3A(1) or 5(1) if the holder has, at any time after attaining each of the ages specified in rule 3A(1) or 5(1), as the case may be, submitted a copy of the medical report issued by a registered medical practitioner certifying that he is physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle.”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 6

6. Rule 6 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:

“Proficiency Driving Test for holder of Class 4, 4A and 5 driving licences

6.—(1) The holder of a Class 4, 4A or 5 driving licence who is required by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to pass the Proficiency Driving Test shall make an application to the Deputy Commissioner of Police who shall arrange a time and place for the test to be conducted.

(2) Where the holder of a driving licence referred to in paragraph (1) has failed the Proficiency Driving Test —

(a)	he may apply to the Deputy Commissioner of Police for a retest; and
(b)	until he has passed the retest, his driving licence shall cease to be valid and shall have no effect notwithstanding that he has been certified physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle by a registered medical practitioner in accordance with rule 5(1)(a).

(3) Subject to rule 22(2), the holder of a Class 4, 4A or 5 driving licence that has expired or lapsed before the date of his Proficiency Driving Test or retest may apply to the Deputy Commissioner of Police for a provisional driving licence, the validity of which shall not exceed 6 months and which shall not be renewable.”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 21 and new rule 21A

7. Rule 21 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rules substituted therefor:

“Endorsement on licence to drive additional classes of vehicles

21. When the holder of a driving licence satisfies the Deputy Commissioner of Police that he is competent to drive a motor vehicle of a class which he is not permitted to drive, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may, on the application of the holder and subject to the holder passing all tests as may be required by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, make an endorsement on the driving licence to allow him to drive a motor vehicle of that class.

Endorsement to invalidate class of vehicles from driving licence

21A.—(1) Where a driving licence which has been revoked by the Deputy Commissioner of Police under section 35A(1) of the Act has been surrendered to the Deputy Commissioner of Police under section 35C of the Act and where the revocation does not apply to all the classes of vehicles which the holder is permitted to drive, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may return the driving licence to the holder after having made the necessary endorsement thereon.

(2) Where a driving licence which has been revoked by the Deputy Commissioner of Police under section 37(6) of the Act has been delivered to the Deputy Commissioner of Police under section 37(7) of the Act and where the revocation does not apply to all the classes of vehicles which the holder is permitted to drive, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may return the driving licence to the holder after having made the necessary endorsement thereon.

(3) Where the holder of a driving licence is prohibited under section 62A(1) of the Act from driving any class of motor vehicles specified in that section and where the prohibition does not apply to all the classes of vehicles which the holder is permitted to drive, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may return the driving licence to him after having made the necessary endorsement thereon.”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 25

8. Rule 25 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:

“Replacement of licence

25.—(1) The holder of a driving licence may apply for a replacement licence if the Deputy Commissioner of Police is satisfied that —

(a)

the original licence —

(i)	is lost;
(ii)	has been destroyed;
(iii)	is so defaced that any particulars thereon are no longer decipherable; or
(iv)	is in any way unsatisfactory for the purpose of the identification of the holder; or

(b)

the holder of the licence is a person to whom section 44(3)(b) of the Act or rule 21A applies.

(2) The Deputy Commissioner of Police may, on the receipt of an application under paragraph (1) and on payment of a fee of $25, issue a replacement licence.

(3) The replacement licence issued under paragraph (1) shall have the same effect as the original.

(4) Where any person issued a replacement licence under paragraph (1)(a)(i) subsequently recovers possession of the original licence, he shall, within 7 days of its recovery, surrender the original licence to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

(5) Any person who finds or comes into possession of a licence which does not belong to him shall immediately deliver the licence to a police station.

(6) Any person issued a replacement licence under paragraph (1)(a)(iii) or (iv) or (b) shall, within 7 days of receiving the replacement licence, surrender the original licence to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.”.

New Ninth Schedule

9. The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after the Eighth Schedule, the following Schedule:

“NINTH SCHEDULE

Rule 3(3)

SPECIFICATIONs OF PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The photograph must be taken within a period of 3 months immediately before the date of the application for the driving licence.

(2) The size of the photograph shall be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high.

(3) The full face of the applicant shall appear in the photograph with the image of the applicant’s face measuring between 25mm and 35mm from his chin to the crown of his head, and with his shoulders being just visible.

(4) The background screen of the photograph shall be white, except where the applicant’s hair is white, the background shall be light gray.

(5) The photograph shall be in colour with a matt or semi-matt finish.

(6) The photograph shall be of the applicant without any headgear, unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with his religious or racial custom and the headgear does not hide the applicant’s features.”.

Made this 30th day of October 2002.

TAN GUONG CHING

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Singapore.

[MHA 112/2/033; AG/LEG/SL/276/2002/3 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 141(1) of the Road Traffic Act).

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