Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1999

This Act is the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1999.

Note 1 This Act is part of the road transport legislation. See the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 for various provisions about the administration and enforcement of the road transport legislation generally.

Note 2 Other road transport legislation includes the following:

 Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019

 Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977

 Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999

 Road Transport (General) Act 1999

 Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Act 2001

 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999.

Note 3 Other laws dealing with road transport include the Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Act 2009 and the Heavy Vehicle National Law (ACT).

Note 4 A reference to an Act includes a reference to the statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including any regulation (see Legislation Act, s 104).

The objects of this Act are—

to provide for a vehicle registration system in the ACT that is part of a uniform national approach to vehicle registration and vehicle standards; and

to improve road safety and transport efficiency, and reduce the costs of administering road transport.

The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.

Note 1 The dictionary defines certain words and expressions, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other words and expressions defined elsewhere in this Act or elsewhere in the road transport legislation.

For example, the signpost definition ‘driver licence—see the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999, dictionary’ means the expression ‘driver licence’ is defined in the dictionary to that Act and the definition applies to this Act.

Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act 2001, s 155 and s 156 (1)).

A note in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.

Note See Legislation Act 2001, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

Other legislation applies in relation to offences against this Act.

Note 1 Criminal Code

The Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to the following offence against this Act (see Code, pt 2.1):

 s 17B (5) (Power to inspect approved premises, records and equipment).

The chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility (including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used for offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct, intention, recklessness and strict liability).

Note 2 Penalty units

The Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties that are expressed in penalty units.

The functions of the road transport authority under this Act are—

to administer the registration system established under this Act; and

to keep a registrable vehicles register under this Act; and

to provide information about registrable vehicles and registered operators in accordance with this Act and other laws in force in the Territory; and

to administer the systems for regulating vehicle standards and inspections established under this Act; and

to exercise any other functions given to the authority under this Act.

In exercising functions under this Act, the road transport authority may, in accordance with this Act—

register or refuse to register a registrable vehicle; and

renew or refuse to renew the registration of a registrable vehicle; and

transfer or refuse to transfer the registration of a registrable vehicle from one person to another; and

issue a permit or refuse to issue a permit for the use of an unregistered registrable vehicle; and

Note If a person applies to the road transport authority for an unregistered vehicle permit, the person must, in addition to any fee for the permit, pay the UVP liability contribution for the period of the permit (see the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019, s 333).

impose conditions on the registration of a registrable vehicle or on a permission to use an unregistered registrable vehicle; and

cancel or suspend the registration of a registrable vehicle; and

collect fees, charges and other amounts determined for this Act under the Road Transport (General) Act 1999; and

certify the GCM for a motor vehicle or the GVM of a vehicle; and

collect amounts payable under, or require evidence of compliance with, any applicable provisions of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 and the Duties Act 1999; and

exercise other powers given to the authority under this Act.

The road transport authority may register or renew the registration of a registrable vehicle only if satisfied the vehicle’s garage address is in the ACT.

The registrable vehicles register does not provide evidence of title to any registrable vehicle.

The registrable vehicles register may include information given to the road transport authority under this Act and any other information the authority considers appropriate.

The register may be kept in the form of, or as part of, 1 or more computer databases or in any other form the road transport authority considers appropriate.

The road transport authority may correct any mistake, error or omission in the register subject to the requirements (if any) of the regulations.

This section does not limit the functions of the road transport authority in relation to the register.

The road transport authority must ensure that information in the registrable vehicles register is kept securely and disclosed only in accordance with this Act or another law in force in the ACT.

Note 1 The Territory privacy principles apply to the road transport authority (see Information Privacy Act 2014, sch 1).

Note 2 Access to the register may be sought under the Freedom of Information Act 2016.

Any devices, plates or documents issued by the road transport authority to authorise the use of a registrable vehicle remain the property of the Territory.