A c t N o . 5, 1909.
A n A c t t o p r o v i d e for t h e r e g u l a t i o n of m o t o r
vehicles and their drivers; to amend the
G o v e r n m e n t M o t o r O m n i b u s A c t , 1905 ; a n d
for p u r p o s e s i n c i d e n t a l t h e r e t o or c o n s e q u e n t
thereon.
[12th October, 1909.]
B
E i t e n a c t e d b y t h e K i n g ' s M o s t E x c e l l e n t Majesty, b y a n d w i t h
t h e advice a n d consent of t h e Legislative Council a n d Legislative
A s s e m b l y of N e w S o u t h W a l e s in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, and by t h e
a u t h o r i t y of t h e same, as follows :—
PART
I.
PRELIMINARY.
1. T h i s A c t may be cited as t h e " M o t o r Traffic A c t . 1 9 0 9 . "
2.
2 . I n t h i s Act, unless t h e c o n t e x t or s u b j e c t - m a t t e r otherwise
indicates,—
" C o u r t " m e a n s court before which t h e h e a r i n g t a k e s place.
" D i s t r i c t registry " m e a n s any place a p p o i n t e d for t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n
of m o t o r vehicles a n d t h e licensing of drivers.
" D r i v e r " m e a n s a n y person d r i v i n g a m o t o r vehicle, a n d includes
a n y person riding a m o t o r cycle, a n d " d r i v e " includes ride.
" L i c e n s e d " m e a n s licensed u n d e r a n d in accordance w i t h t h e
regulations.
" M o t o r v e h i c l e " m e a n s a n y m o t o r car, m o t o r c a r r i a g e , m o t o r
cycle, or other vehicle u n d e r Jive tons u n l a d e n propelled u p o n
public streets wholly or p a r t l y b y a n y volatile spirit, s t e a m ,
oil, or electricity, or by a n y m e a n s o t h e r t h a n a n i m a l power,
e x c e p t vehicles used on railways or t r a m w a y s .
" Registered " m e a n s registered u n d e r a n d in accordance w i t h t h e
regulations.
" R e g u l a t i o n " means regulation made under this Act.
" P r e s c r i b e d " m e a n s prescribed by t h i s A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s .
" P u b l i c street " m e a n s a n y street, road, lane, t h o r o u g h f a r e ,
footpath, or place open to or used by t h e public.
" S u p e r i n t e n d e n t " m e a n s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t of police for traffic,
a p p o i n t e d u n d e r t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n Traffic Act, 1900.
PART
II.
REGULATIONS.
3 . T h e Governor m a y m a k e regulations, a n d m a y t h e r e b y —
(a) r e g u l a t e t h e use of m o t o r vehicles a n d t h e conditions u n d e r
w h i c h t h e y m a y be used ;
(b) r e g u l a t e t h e speed of m o t o r vehicles ;
(c) prescribe a n d r e g u l a t e tin; c a r r y i n g of lights on m o t o r
vehicles;
(d) prescribe a n d r e g u l a t e t h e affixing a n d use of bells or a l a r m s
on m o t o r v e h i c l e s ;
(e) prescribe a n d r e g u l a t e t h e affixing of efficient b r a k e s on m o t o r
vehicles;
(f) provide for m i n i m i s i n g t h e noise, a n d t h e issue of s m o k e or
fumes from t h e w o r k i n g of m o t o r vehicles ;
(g) prohibit t h e use of m o t o r vehicles t h a t , o w i n g to c o n s t r u c t i o n
or o t h e r cause, are u n s u i t a b l e for safe use ;
(h) prohibit or r e s t r i c t t h e use of m o t o r vehicles upon a n y specified
p u b l i c streets, or within t h e p u b l i c streets in a n y specified
area, e i t h e r generally or within c e r t a i n h o u r s ;
(i) provide for t h e regulation of t h e owners a n d drivers of motor
vehicles;
(j)
(j) provide t h a t m o t o r vehicles shall be registered, t h a t certificates
of r e g i s t r a t i o n be issued for t h e s a m e , a n d t h a t t h e drivers of
s u c h vehicles shall be licensed, a n d a p p o i n t d i s t r i c t registries
w h e r e such vehicles m a y be registered a n d s u c h drivers
licensed either provisionally or otherwise ;
(k) p r o v i d e t h a t m o t o r vehicles shall h a v e s e p a r a t e d i s t i n g u i s h i n g
n u m b e r s , r e g u l a t e t h e form of s u c h n u m b e r s , t h e m a n n e r of
p l a c i n g t h e m u p o n s u c h vehicles, a n d t h e issue a n d r e t u r n
of s u c h n u m b e r s ;
(1) p r o h i b i t t h e use, upon public streets, of m o t o r vehicles t h a t
a r e u n r e g i s t e r e d , or h a v e n o t t h e registered n u m b e r u p o n
t h e m , or h a v e a n u m b e r t h a t is in a n y way obscured or n o t
easily d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e ;
(m) r e g u l a t e t h e m a n n e r and d u r a t i o n of registration of m o t o r
vehicles a n d of t h e transfer a n d r e n e w a l of s u c h registration,
a n d t h e g r a n t i n g , d u r a t i o n , r e n e w i n g , suspension, cancellation,
a n d r e t u r n of drivers' licenses, t h e p a y m e n t of fees for t h e
same in accordance w i t h t h e S c h e d u l e to this A c t , a n d . subject
to t h e provisions of this Act, t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of such fees :
Provided t h a t t h e r e shall be a n a p p e a l to a c o u r t of
p e t t y sessions, whose order shall be final, in a n y case w h e r e —
(i) r e g i s t r a t i o n is refused or cancelled ; or
(ii) its r e n e w a l or t r a n s f e r is refused ; or
(iii) a license is refused, suspended, or cancelled ;
(n) prescribe t h e qualifications a n d ages of drivers of m o t o r
vehicles :
P r o v i d e d t h a t p a r a g r a p h s (j), (k), (1), ( m ) , a n d (n) shall n o t
a p p l y to m o t o r vehicles licenced as p u b l i c vehicles, or to persons
d r i v i n g s u c h vehicles, or to m o t o r vehicles owned by a person resident
in a n o t h e r S t a t e a n d t e m p o r a r i l y in this State, or to t h e drivers thereof,
a n d t h a t p a r a g r a p h s (a), (i), ( j ) , (k), (1), ( m ) , a n d (n) shall n o t a p p l y
to m o t o r o m n i b u s e s owned by t h e R a i l w a y Commissioners.
(o) provide t h a t a n y r e g u l a t i o n s u n d e r t h i s section m a y be of a
local n a t u r e a n d l i m i t e d in t h e i r application to a p a r t i c u l a r
area, a n d m a y be restricted in t h e i r operation to a n y specified
class of m o t o r vehicle ;
(p) provide for t h e erection of u n i f o r m signs a n d notices for t h e
g u i d a n c e of m o t o r drivers ;
(q) p r o v i d e for a n y o t h e r p u r p o s e t h e G o v e r n o r m a y consider
necessary for t h e safety of t h e p u b l i c a n d for protection of
p r o p e r t y , a n d generally for c a r r y i n g t h i s A c t into effect;
(r) i m p o s e a n y p e n a l t y n o t exceeding t e n p o u n d s for a n y b r e a c h
of a n y r e g u l a t i o n m a d e u n d e r t h i s section.
PART
PART
III.
OFFENCES.
4 . (1) A n y person w h o drives a m o t o r vehicle u p o n a public
street, n e g l i g e n t l y , furiously, or recklessly, or at a speed or in a
m a n n e r w h i c h is d a n g e r o u s to the public, shall be g u i l t y of a n offence
u n d e r this A c t .
( 2 ) I n considering w h e t h e r a n offence has been c o m m i t t e d
u n d e r this section, t h e c o u r t shall h a v e r e g a r d to all t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s
of t h e case, i n c l u d i n g t h e n a t u r e , condition, a n d u s e of t h e street u p o n
w h i c h s u c h offence is alleged to h a v e been c o m m i t t e d , a n d to t h e
a m o u n t of traffic w h i c h a c t u a l l y is a t t h e t i m e , or w h i c h m i g h t
r e a s o n a b l y be e x p e c t e d to be, u p o n s u c h street.
(3) N o person shall be convicted of a n offence u n d e r this
section unless notice of t h e i n t e n d e d p r o s e c u t i o n is given or sent to
h i m or t o t h e o w n e r of t h e car, as entered on t h e r e g i s t e r b y t h e
prosecutor, w i t h i n such t i m e after t h e offence is c o m m i t t e d , n o t
e x c e e d i n g f o u r t e e n days, as t h e court t h i n k s reasonable.
5 . (1) A n y m e m b e r of t h e police force who h a s reasonable
g r o u n d s for s u s p e c t i n g t h a t a person is c o m m i t t i n g a breach of this
A c t or of t h e r e g u l a t i o n s m a y d e m a n d from s u c h person t h e p r o d u c t i o n
of his license, a n d to state his n a m e a n d place of abode.
( 2 ) A n y s u c h person who, u p o n d e m a n d as aforesaid, refuses
to p r o d u c e his license, or to si ate his n a m e a n d place of abode, shall
b e g u i l t y of a n offence; Tinder t h i s A c t , a n d if t h e breach aforesaid
consists of a breach of t h e last preceding section m a y , w i t h o u t a n y
o t h e r w a r r a n t than this A c t , be a p p r e h e n d e d a n d be t a k e n before a n y
c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction, there to be dealt w i t h according to law.
(3) A n y owner of a m o t o r vehicle shall, if r e q u i r e d by a
m e m b e r of t h e police force, give a n y information w h i c h it is in his
power to give, w h i c h m a y lead to t h e identification of a n y person who
was d r i v i n g such vehicle w h e n a n offence u n d e r t h i s Act, or a n y
r e g u l a t i o n is alleged to have been c o m m i t t e d , a n d if such owner fails
to do so he shall be guilty of an offence u n d e r t h i s A c t .
6. A n y person who, unless e x e m p t e d by t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , —
(a) drives a m o t o r vehicle upon a n y p u b l i c street w i t h o u t being
licensed for t h a t p u r p o s e ; or
(b) employs or p e r m i t s a n y person not so licensed to drive a
m o t o r vehicle u p o n a n y p u b l i c s t r e e t ; or
(e) drives, or causes or p e r m i t s to be driven, u p o n a n y p u b l i c
street a m o t o r vehicle not h a v i n g t h e prescribed n u m b e r p l a t e p r o p e r l y affixed t h e r e t o , or h a v i n g s u c h n u m b e r - p l a t e
obliterated or obscured,
shall be g u i l t y of an offence u n d e r this A c t :
Provided
P r o v i d e d t h a t no person shall be liable to a p e n a l t y for a n y
breach of t h i s section if he proves to t h e satisfaction of the c o u r t
h e a r i n g t h e case t h a t such breach was t h e result of an accident or t h a t
t h e m o t o r vehicle was being driven for t h e purpose of b e i n g registered.
7. A n y person who —
(a) b y a n y false s t a t e m e n t or m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n obtains or a t t e m p t s
to o b t a i n a license u n d e r this A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s ; or
(h) w i t h o u t lawful excuse has in his possession a license, or
n u m b e r - p l a t e issued u n d e r this A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , or a n y
article r e s e m b l i n g a license or n u m b e r - p l a t e , a n d c a l c u l a t e d
to d e c e i v e ; or
(e) forges or f r a u d u l e n t l y alters or uses, or f r a u d u l e n t l y lends or
allows to be used b y any o t h e r person, a n y license or a n y
n u m b e r - p l a t e or m a r k for identifying a m o t o r vehicle u n d e r
t h i s A c t , or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s ; or
(d) o w n s or drives u p o n a p u b l i c street a n y u n r e g i s t e r e d m o t o r
vehicle h a v i n g upon it a n y n u m b e r s or n u m b e r - p l a t e of a
description prescribed to be fixed to registered m o t o r vehicles,
a n d calculated to deceive,
shall be g u i l t y of an offence u n d e r this A c t .
8 . (1) A n y person d r i v i n g a m o t o r vehicle shall, in a n y case, if
a n a c c i d e n t occurs to any person, or to a n y a n i m a l or vehicle in c h a r g e of
a n y person, caused by such m o t o r vehicle, or o w i n g to t h e presence of
t h e m o t o r vehicle u p o n t h e road, stop, and, if required, produce his
license a n d give his n a m e a n d place of abode, a n d also t h e n a m e a n d
place of abode of t h e o w n e r a n d t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n n u m b e r of t h e car.
( 2 ) A n y person k n o w i n g l y a c t i n g in c o n t r a v e n t i o n of t h i s
section shall be g u i l t y of a n offence u n d e r this A c t .
9. W h e n e v e r a licensed driver is c h a r g e d with a n y b r e a c h
of t h i s A c t , or t h e regulations, he shall p r o d u c e his license to t h e
c o u r t a t t h e t i m e of h e a r i n g , a n d if s u c h driver fails w i t h o u t reasonable
excuse to p r o d u c e his license as aforesaid, h e s h a l l be g u i l t y of a n
offence u n d e r this A c t .
10. (1) A n y c o u r t before w h o m a person is convicted of a n
offence u n d e r this Act m a y —
(a) impose a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding t w e n t y p o u n d s for every such
offence; a n d
(b) if t h e person convicted holds a n y license u n d e r this A c t ,
suspend t h a t license for such t i m e as t h e c o u r t t h i n k s fit, a n d
m a y also declare t h e person convicted disqualified for o b t a i n i n g
a license for such f u r t h e r time after t h e e x p i r a t i o n of t h e
license as the court t h i n k s fit; a n d
(c) if the person convicted d e e s not hold a n y license u n d e r
t h i s A c t . declare h i m disqualified for o b t a i n i n g a license for
such t i m e as t h e c o u r t t h i n k s fit.
(2)
(2) I f t h e p e r s o n convicted holds a n y license u n d e r this A c t ,
t h e c o u r t s h a l l cause p a r t i c u l a r s of t h e conviction, a n d of a n y order
m a d e u n d e r this section, to h e endorsed u p o n his license.
(3) A license so s u s p e n d e d shall, d u r i n g t h e t e r m of
suspension, be of n o effect, a n d a person whose license is suspended,
or w h o is declared by t h e court to be disqualified for o b t a i n i n g a
license, shall, d u r i n g t h e period of suspension or disqualification, be
disqualified for o b t a i n i n g a license.
(4) T h e c o u r t shall c a u s e p a r t i c u l a r s of each conviction
or order u n d e r t h i s A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s to be forwarded to t h e
superintendent.
PART
GENERAL
AND
IV.
SUPPLEMENTAL.
1 1 . W h e n a n y r e g u l a t i o n or b y - l a w or o r d i n a n c e m a d e b y a n y
m u n i c i p a l or shire council or o t h e r local a u t h o r i t y is inconsistent
w i t h a r e g u l a t i o n m a d e u n d e r t h i s A c t , t h e l a t t e r shall prevail, a n d
t h e former, to t h e e x t e n t of t h e inconsistency, be invalid.
1 2 . T h e p a r t i c u l a r s of t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n of m o t o r vehicles a n d
t h e licenses of drivers shall be recorded in books k e p t for t h e purpose
a t t h e office of t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t a n d of t h e district registry, if a n y ,
w h e r e s u c h registration w a s effected or such license was issued, a n d
a n e x t r a c t from, or copy of, a n y such e n t r y contained i n a n y such books,
certified u n d e r t h e h a n d of t h e officer in c h a r g e thereof, shall, in all
c o u r t s , a n d u p o n all occasions whatsoever, be received as evidence,
a n d d e e m e d sufficient proof of all p a r t i c u l a r s contained in such e n t r y
w i t h o u t r e q u i r i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n of such books, or a n y license,
requisition, notice, or o t h e r d o c u m e n t u p o n w h i c h a n y e n t r y m a y be
founded.
1 3 . (1) All r e g u l a t i o n s m a d e u n d e r t h i s A c t s h a l l be p u b l i s h e d
in t h e G a z e t t e , a n d shall from t h e d a t e of s u c h p u b l i c a t i o n (subject as
h e r e i n a f t e r m e n t i o n e d ) be of t h e s a m e effect as if t h e y were contained
in t h i s A c t , a n d shall be judicially noticed.
(2) A n y such r e g u l a t i o n s shall be laid before b o t h H o u s e s
of P a r l i a m e n t if P a r l i a m e n t be in session a t t h e t i m e of m a k i n g thereof,
or, if not, t h e n as soon as p r a c t i c a b l e after t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e t h e n
n e x t session of P a r l i a m e n t .
(3) If either H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t w i t h i n the n e x t forty
days after a n y r e g u l a t i o n s have been so laid before such H o u s e resolve
t h a t such r e g u l a t i o n s , or a n y of t h e m , o u g h t to be a n n u l l e d , t h e same
shall, after t h e date of s u c h resolution be of no effect, w i t h o u t
p r e j u d i c e to t h e validity of a n y t h i n g done in t h e m e a n t i m e u n d e r s u c h
regulations.
14.
14. I n a n y conviction u n d e r t h i s Act, or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , t h e
c o u r t m a y order s u c h p a y m e n t as c o m p e n s a t i o n for loss of t i m e or
e x p e n s e i n c u r r e d in c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e offence of w h i c h t h e d e f e n d a n t
was convicted, as it t h i n k s fit.
1 5 . I f a n i n f o r m a t i o n or c o m p l a i n t is laid or m a d e b y a n y
person o t h e r t h a n a m e m b e r of t h e police force for a n y offence p u n i s h ­
able i n p u r s u a n c e of this A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , a n d t h e proceedings
a r e dismissed or w i t h d r a w n , t h e c o u r t m a y , if it t h i n k s fit, order t h a t
t h e said person p a y to t h e d e f e n d a n t , i n a d d i t i o n to a n y costs, s u c h
c o m p e n s a t i o n for loss of t i m e or otherwise as seems r e a s o n a b l e ; a n d
t h e c o u r t of appeal shall h a v e like power in respect of a n y proceedings
t a k e n before s u c h c o u r t .
1 6 . I t is h e r e b y d e c l a r e d t h a t this A c t a n d t h e r e g u l a t i o n s
a p p l y t o p e r s o n s in t h e p u b l i c service of t h e C r o w n .
1 7 . N o t h i n g in t h i s A c t shall affect a n y liability of a n y person
b y v i r t u e of a n y s t a t u t e or a t c o m m o n law.
1 8 . I n a n y proceedings u n d e r t h i s A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s —
(a) proof t h a t a m o t o r vehicle has n o t u p o n it a d i s t i n g u i s h i n g
n u m b e r as prescribed b y t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , shall be p r i m a facie
evidence t h a t s u c h vehicle is n o t registered ;
(b) proof t h a t a person registered a m o t o r vehicle shall be p r i m a
facie evidence t h a t s u c h person is t h e o w n e r of s u c h vehicle ;
(c) t h e p r o d u c t i o n of a copy of a certificate of r e g i s t r a t i o n of a
m o t o r vehicle, signed b y t h e person to w h o m t h e certificate
p u r p o r t s to h a v e been issued, shall be p r i m a facie evidence
t h a t t h e vehicle is registered, a n d t h a t s u c h person applied
for a n d o b t a i n e d t h e certificate of r e g i s t r a t i o n for s u c h
vehicle.
(d) t h e p r o d u c t i o n of a copy of a license of a n y person, signed b y
s u c h p e r s o n , shall be p r i m a facie evidence t h a t such person
is licensed.
1 9 . A n y p e n a l t y imposed b y this A c t or t h e r e g u l a t i o n s m a y
b e recovered before a s t i p e n d i a r y or police m a g i s t r a t e or a n y t w o
justices in p e t t y sessions.
SCHEDULE.
M o t o r vehicles (other t h a n m o t o r cycles or t r i c y c l e s ) — R e g i s t r a t i o n , one p o u n d yearly.
M o t o r cycles or t r i c y c l e s — R e g i s t r a t i o n , t w o shillings a n d sixpence yearly.
M o t o r d r i v e r ( n o t b e i n g t h e r i d e r of a m o t o r c y c l e ) — L i c e n s e , five s h i l l i n g s y e a r l y .
M o t o r cycle r i d e r — L i c e n s e , in s u b s t i t u t i o n
for license lost
or
destroyed, two
shillings
and sixpence.
Act