Road Traffic Act, 1961

Maximum weights.

12.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

(a) specifying the maximum weight unladen of mechanically propelled vehicles, of vehicles drawn thereby and of combinations of vehicles;

(b) specifying the maximum weight laden of mechanically propelled vehicles, of vehicles drawn thereby and of combinations of vehicles;

(c) specifying the maximum weight to be transmitted to the ground or any specified area of the ground by any part of a mechanically propelled vehicle or of a vehicle drawn thereby;

(d) specifying the manner in which and the conditions under which any particular weights (other than weights unladen) prescribed by the regulations are to be ascertained.

(2) Different regulations may be made under this section—

(a) in respect of different classes of vehicles or of combinations of vehicles,

(b) for different circumstances.

(3) A person shall not use on a public road—

(a) a vehicle or combination of vehicles of which the weight unladen exceeds the maximum weight specified by a regulation under this section applying in relation to the vehicle or combination,

(b) a laden vehicle or combination of vehicles of which the weight as then laden exceeds the maximum weight laden specified by a regulation under this section applying in relation to the vehicle or combination, or

(c) a vehicle any part of which transmits to the ground a greater weight than the maximum weight specified in respect of such transmission by a regulation under this section applying in relation to the vehicle.

(4) Where a person contravenes subsection (3) of this section, he and, if he is not the owner of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, such owner shall each be guilty of an offence.

(5) Where a person charged with an offence under this section is the owner of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, it shall be a good defence to the charge for him to show that the vehicle or combination was being used on the occasion in question by another person and that such use was unauthorised.