Tonga.

Traffic (Amendment) Act 2008
No. 13 of 2008.

I assent, 
GEORGE TUPOU V, 
13th February, 2009 
 
AN ACT

TO AMEND THE TRAFFIC ACT TO TRANSFER MINISTERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS TO THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

BE IT ENACTED by the King and the Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the Legislature of the Kingdom as follows:

 1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Traffic (Amendment) Act 2008. 

(2) The Traffic Act (Cap 156), as amended, is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

 2. Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended by – 

(a) inserting after the definition of "mentally defective" the following definition -" "Ministry" means the Ministry of Transport;" 

(b) deleting the definition of "Police Officer" and replacing with the following -" "Police Officer" means any member of the Police Force;" 

(c) deleting the definition of "Principal Licensing Authority" and replacing with the following; 

" 'Principal Licensing Authority' means the Minister for Transport."

 3. The Principal Act is amended by deleting section 3 and replacing with the following –

"3. Principal Licensing Authority 

(1) The Principal Licensing Authority shall be charged with the administration of this Act. 

(2) The Principal Licensing Authority may designate such licensing officers and examining officers and other officers as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of exercising or discharging the powers, authority or duties conferred or imposed on the Principal Licensing Authority or the Ministry to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

(3) The Principal Licensing Authority may delegate in writing such powers under this Act to such persons as may be necessary for the due carrying out of the provisions of this Act or any Regulations made hereunder."

 4. Section 6(2) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting "police offices" and inserting the following -"Ministry's offices".

 5. The Principal Act is amended by deleting section 7(1) and replacing with the following -"7. (1) The owner of every motor vehicle shall apply to the Principal Licensing Authority at the Ministry's office at the District in which he resides for a motor vehicle licence."

6. The Principal Act is amended by deleting section 10(1) and replacing with the following -

"10. (1) Within 7 days after the sale or other disposal of any registered motor vehicle the person selling or otherwise disposing of the same shall in writing notify the Principal Licensing Authority at the Ministry's office at the district where the motor vehicle is for the time being registered of the fact of the disposal and of the name and address of the new owner." 

Passed by the Legislative Assembly this 9 day of October, 2008.