Div 5Numbers and number plates

Division 5—Numbers and number plates 31—Carriage of number plates (1) For the purposes of section 47(1) of the Act, the following provisions apply to the carriage of number plates: (a) a motor vehicle must have attached to it— (i) in the case of a motor bike, motor trike or trailer—1 number plate at the rear; (ii) in the case of a tractor or agricultural machine—1 number plate; (iii) in the case of a prescribed vehicle—1 number plate; (iv) in any other case—1 number plate at the front and 1 number plate at the rear, such that— (v) the bottom edge of the plate is not less than 30 centimetres above the level of the ground and in such a position that every figure and letter of the registered number is upright; and (vi) — (A) in the case of a plate placed on the front of the vehicle—the whole of the plate is visible from the front; and (B) in the case of a plate placed on the rear of a vehicle—the whole of the plate is visible from the rear; (b) every letter and figure on a number plate must be— (i) clearly visible in daylight to a person standing on the same plane as the vehicle at any point not less than 3 metres or more than 18 metres from the plate looking at the plate along an imaginary line approximately at right angles to the plate; and (ii) legible from left to right on a plane level with the ground; and (iii) clean and legible at all times; (c) a number plate must be rectangular. prescribed vehicle means a vehicle, or vehicle of a class, determined by the Registrar, of a kind prescribed by regulation 26. 32—Exemptions from duty to carry number plates (1) A person who drives a motor vehicle, the front and rear of which is marked with its registered number, is exempt from the operation of section 47(1) of the Act if— (a) the registered number was allotted before 1 July 1996; and (b) the registered number was marked on the vehicle before 1 July 1996; and (c) number plates bearing the registered number and the slogan "SA • The Festival State" have never been obtained for the vehicle; and (d) the vehicle is registered in the name of the person who was, immediately prior to 1 July 1996, recorded on the register of motor vehicles as the owner of the vehicle; and (e) there is no agreement in force under section 47A of the Act between the Registrar and the registered owner of the vehicle in relation to the registered number; and (f) every letter and figure of the registered number marked on the vehicle is— (i) clearly visible in daylight to a person standing on the same plane as the vehicle at any point not less than 3 metres or more than 18 metres from the portion of the vehicle on which the number is marked looking at the number along an imaginary line approximately at right angles to the number; and (ii) legible from left to right on a plane level with the ground; and (iii) clean and legible at all times. (2) An officer or employee of the South Australian Police Department or the Transport Department who drives a motor vehicle on a road, or causes a motor vehicle to stand on a road, is exempt from the operation of section 47(1) of the Act if— (a) the vehicle is being used for the purpose of testing the legibility of number plates; and (b) the vehicle displays a sign bearing the word "test". (3) A person who drives a motor vehicle, or causes a motor vehicle to stand, on a road is exempt from the operation of section 47(1) of the Act insofar as that section imposes requirements relating to the visibility and legibility of number plates, if the motor vehicle— (a) is approved by the Minister for Tourism as a motor vehicle that may be driven, or caused to stand, on a road in relation to an event specified in a notice under subregulation (4); and (b) is being so driven or caused to stand during the period, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in the notice. (4) The Minister for Tourism may, with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for the administration of the Act, publish a notice in the Gazette— (a) specifying an event; and (b) specifying a period during which motor vehicles approved by the Minister for Tourism may be driven, or caused to stand, on a road in relation to the event; and (c) specifying the conditions applicable to driving such a motor vehicle, or causing such a motor vehicle to stand, on a road in relation to the event. (5) In any proceedings, a document purporting to be a certificate signed by the Minister for Tourism and certifying that, on a specified day, a specified motor vehicle was or was not approved as a motor vehicle that may be driven, or caused to stand, on a road in relation to an event specified in a notice under subregulation (4), is proof of the matter so certified in the absence of proof to the contrary. 33—Surrender of number plates—exceptions For the purposes of section 47C(4) of the Act, the Registrar, a police officer or an authorised officer may only seize a number plate if— (a) the Registrar has given a direction under section 47C(2) of the Act requiring a person to surrender the number plates; and (b) the person has failed to comply with the direction; and (c) the person has no reasonable excuse for failing to comply. 34—Exemptions from section 47D of Act (1) A police officer who, in the course of official duties, drives on a road, or causes to stand on a road, a government‑registered motor bike at the front of which is attached a label or sticker that bears the number allotted to the motor bike under the Act is exempt from the operation of section 47D(1)(c) of the Act if— (a) the label or sticker is made of silver reflective decal material; and (b) the label or sticker is 220 millimetres wide and 93 millimetres high; and (c) every letter and figure on the label or sticker is printed in blue on a white background and in upper case; and (d) the label or sticker bears the slogan "SA Government". (2) An officer or employee of the South Australian Police Department or the Transport Department who drives a motor vehicle on a road, or causes a motor vehicle to stand on a road, is exempt from the operation of section 47D(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act if— (a) the vehicle is being used for the purpose of testing the legibility of number plates; and (b) the vehicle displays a sign bearing the word "test". (3) A person who drives a motor vehicle, or causes a motor vehicle to stand, on a road in circumstances referred to in regulation 32(3) is exempt from the operation of section 47D(1)(c) of the Act.