Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Powers of Police
84. Removal of vehicles from roads etc.
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
The competent authority may make rules to provide for the removal from roads and the safe custody of vehicles (including any loads carried thereby) which have broken down, or which have been permitted to remain at rest on a road in such a position or condition or in such circumstances as to be likely to cause danger to traffic using the road, or which appear to have been abandoned.
road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
The competent authority may detain any vehicle so removed until the expenses of removal and charges for detention have been paid, and any such vehicle shall remain at the risk of the owner thereof until such expenses and charges have been paid.
vehicle
“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.
If any vehicle so detained has not been claimed by the owner within 3 months from the date of detention, the competent authority may after due notice published in the Gazette and after giving not less than one month’s notice in writing to the owner (if the name and address of such person is known to the authority) sell by public auction or otherwise dispose of such vehicle.
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;
Any proceeds from the sale or disposal of any vehicle so detained shall be applied in payment of any charges incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section and any surplus shall be paid to the owner of the vehicle or, if such person cannot be traced or fails to claim such surplus within 12 months from the date of such sale or disposal, shall be forfeited to the Government.
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
In this section, “competent authority” has the same meaning as in section 78(2).
Terms defined in s 2
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;
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;
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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