Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Powers of Police
85. Additional powers of police
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
In addition to the powers conferred by this Act, any police officer in uniform may at any time —
require the driver of any vehicle to stop such vehicle;
require the driver of any vehicle to furnish his name and address and give any other particulars required as to his identification;
require any person in any motor vehicle to furnish his name and address and give any other particulars required as to his identification and to give such information as it is in his power to give and may lead to the identification of the driver or owner of such vehicle;
inspect the brakes or any part of any vehicle or the equipment thereof with a view to ascertaining whether the same complies with the provisions of any regulations made under this Act;
ascertain the dimensions of any motor vehicle or the laden weight or the net weight thereof, and for this purpose require any persons or goods to be removed from such vehicle;
drive any motor vehicle when necessary in the execution of his duties:
Provided that no police officer may drive any motor vehicle in the exercise of any powers and duties conferred and imposed on him under this
Act unless he is the holder of a driving licence.
Whenever the driver of any vehicle is alleged to be guilty of an offence under this Act —
driver
“driver”, in relation to a motor vehicle, means the person having control of the steering apparatus thereof, including, in relation to a motorcycle, the rider thereof, and in respect of trailer, means the person driving the motor vehicle by which the trailer is being drawn;
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road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
the owner of the vehicle shall give such information as he may be required by a police officer to give as to the identity of the driver and, if he fails to do so, is guilty of an offence, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained who the driver was; and
any other person shall, if required as aforesaid, give any information which it is in his power to give and which may lead to the identification of the driver, and, if he fails to do so he is guilty of an offence.
Any person who fails to comply with a requirement lawfully made under subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for 3 months.
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
Terms defined in s 2
driver
Defined · s 2“driver”, in relation to a motor vehicle, means the person having control of the steering apparatus thereof, including, in relation to a motorcycle, the rider thereof, and in respect of trailer, means the person driving the motor vehicle by which the trailer is being drawn;
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
net weight
Defined · s 2“net weight” means the actual weight of a motor vehicle when unladen, but inclusive of the weight of the body, the full amount of water, fuel and accumulators which can be normally carried and used for the purposes of propulsion, the normal full equipment of loose tools and accessories, and all water carried in the radiator;
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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