Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Driving and Other Offences and General Conditions Relating to Use of Motor Vehicles on Road
36. Interfering with or taking motor vehicle without consent
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Any person who otherwise than with lawful authority or reasonable cause interferes with any motor vehicle or its accessories, or tampers with the brakes or any other part of its mechanism is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $8,000 and imprisonment for 18 months.
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
Any person, whether employed by the owner of such vehicle or not, who takes and drives away any motor vehicle without the consent of the owner thereof or other lawful authority is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 3 years:
owner
“owner” means the person in whose name a motor vehicle is registered by a licensing officer: Provided that in the case of a vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, the term means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;
Provided that if in proceedings under this subsection, the court is satisfied that the accused acted in the reasonable belief that he had lawful authority, or in the reasonable belief that the owner would have, in the circumstances of the case, given his consent, if he had been asked therefor, the accused shall not be liable to be convicted of the offence.
Terms defined in s 2
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
owner
Defined · s 2“owner” means the person in whose name a motor vehicle is registered by a licensing officer: Provided that in the case of a vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, the term means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
vehicle
Defined · s 2“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.
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Suspension, Cancellation and Endorsement of Driving Licences
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Public Service Vehicles and Franchises
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Certificates of Fitness
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Traffic on Roads
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Powers of Police
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