The Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
Strict Time Limits on Vehicle Detention
Under the proposed section 107A(2), a police officer cannot detain a vehicle or motorcycle beyond these limits:
- 48 hours from the time of detention, where a photograph or assessment report is sufficient for evidence in a trial.
- 14 days from the date of detention, for active investigation of the committed offence.
Mandatory Preservation of Detained Vehicles
The bill introduces a statutory duty of care under section 107A(3). The police officer in charge of the police station where a vehicle or motorcycle is detained must take reasonable care to preserve the vehicle or motorcycle from damage or loss.
Protection of Owner Property Rights
The amendment directly targets section 107 of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403) to ensure vehicle and motorcycle owners are not subjected to indefinite deprivation of their property, while balancing the police's need to collect evidence under Article 40 of the Constitution.
Bill No.
No. 14 of 2026
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 65 of 2026
Sponsor
Robert Ngui Basil
Background
The principal object of the Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is to amend the Traffic Act (Cap. 403) to ensure that owners of vehicles and motor cycles are not unreasonably deprived of their property. Under current enforcement procedures, vehicles detained for traffic offences can face prolonged detention without clear statutory limits. This Bill seeks to insert clear safeguards to protect property rights under Article 40 of the Constitution while allowing police to enforce the law.
Key Amendments
The Bill proposes to insert a new section 107A immediately after section 107 of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403):
- Permitted Grounds for Detention: A vehicle or motorcycle may only be detained for use as evidence in a trial or for the investigation of an offence under the Traffic Act.
- Detention Limits:
- Detention is capped at forty-eight (48) hours from the time of detention if a photograph or assessment report is sufficient to serve as evidence.
- Detention is capped at fourteen (14) days from the date of detention if the vehicle is required for ongoing investigations.
- Court Powers Preserved: The amendment specifies that nothing in the new section 107A affects the power of a Court to make orders under section 121 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 75).
New Obligations
- Duty of Care for Station Commanders: The police officer in charge of the police station where a vehicle or motorcycle is detained is legally obligated to take reasonable care to ensure the preservation of the detained vehicle or motorcycle.
No updates tracked yet
Updates will be visible here once they are approved and applied to this bill.