Wheel Clamp Zone

DEFINITION

An area where parking is not permitted. According to the law, the traffic police and authorised personnel are allowed to clamp the wheels of the offender’s vehicle.

ETYMOLOGY

• According to Singapore’s Vehicle Clamping Act, there are areas in which parking is not permitted. Offenders whose vehicles are found to be parked in such areas will have their vehicle wheels clamped by the traffic police or authorised personnel and be subjected to a fine.
• The Vehicle Clamping Act has been in effect since 1 April 1997. According to the regulation, vehicles that are parked illegally at six designated areas from Monday to Saturday between 7 am and 7 pm will have their wheels clamped.
• The wheel-clamping measure was implemented to prevent illegal parking. There are signs displayed in wheel-clamp zones, which serve to notify the public. They also serve as a warning as they contain information on the unlocking fee.
• If their vehicle has been clamped, owners have two options:

1. Within the first two hours of clamping, the owner has to approach the traffic police to pay the unlocking fee of $200. They then have to pay another fine of $70 to the traffic police at a later date.
2. After the first two hours, the vehicle will be towed away by the police. Owners who wish to recover their vehicles will have to pay towing charges ranging from $60 to $360 in addition to a daily storage fee between $20 and $80.

SAMPLE SENTENCE

From today onwards, the traffic police will launch a wheel-clamping operation in wheel-clamp zones. Any vehicle found to be parked illegally in these zones will have its wheels clamped by the traffic police. (Lianhe Zaobao, 01/04/1997)

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

锁轮地带 (Hong Kong)