Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Public Service Vehicles and Franchises
56. Prohibition of use of unlicensed public service vehicles
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Subject to the provision of this Part, no person shall on any road in any regulated area, use a motor vehicle, or cause or permit a motor vehicle to be used, as a public service vehicle unless there is in force, in respect of such vehicle, a valid licence granted under this Part authorising such use, or otherwise than in accordance with such licence and any conditions attached thereto; and if he does so he is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 6 months:
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
Provided that a person shall not be convicted of an offence against this section if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that he used the motor vehicle, the subject of the charge, as a taxicab or hire car in an emergency for the purpose of conveying a sick or injured person to hospital or to bring medical aid to such person or for the purpose of making a police report to a police station and that he made all reasonable efforts to hire a taxicab or hire car for the purpose of the journey.
motor vehicle
“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
On a conviction under subsection (1), the court shall order —
particulars of such conviction to be endorsed on any licence to drive a motor vehicle held by the person convicted; and, either
that if the person convicted holds a driving licence, his driving licence shall be suspended for such period not being less than 12 months from the date of such conviction as the court may think proper unless the court for special reasons (which shall be set out in the order of the court) thinks fit to order otherwise; or
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that if the person convicted does not hold a driving licence, shall declare him disqualified from obtaining a licence for a period not being less than 12 months from the date of such conviction.
Terms defined in s 2
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
public service vehicle
Defined · s 2“public service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used, whether in part or in whole, for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods or both, for hire or reward, whether under contract to a person plying for hire or generally, and, in the case of a tractor, includes any trailer attached to it;
regulated area
Defined · s 2“regulated area” means any area declared to be a regulated area under section 48;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
taxicab
Defined · s 2“taxicab” means a motor vehicle licensed to carry not more than six passengers carrying passengers for hire or reward under a contract, express or implied, for the use of the vehicle as a whole at or for a fixed agreed rate or sum;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
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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