Route 3 (CPS) Company Limited

Bylaw

TAI LAM TUNNEL AND YUEN LONG APPROACH ROAD BYLAW (Extract)

(Made by Route 3 (CPS) Company Limited under section 26 of the Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road Ordinance (Cap. 474))

The following is an extract of essential parts. For full version, please visit

https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/

Traffic Control

Section 4

Control of traffic

All persons in the toll area shall be subject to the control and direction of toll area control officers.

Section 6

Directions of toll area control officers to be obeyed

All persons in the toll area shall comply with the directions given by a toll area control officer in the course of his duty relating to the management of the toll area or the control, restriction and safety of traffic.

Section 8

Lane changing

The driver of a vehicle shall not, unless authorized to do so by a toll area control officer or by a traffic sign, cause or permit his vehicle or any part of it to be on or over or to cross the continuous double white lines dividing the tunnel area and the toll area into lanes.

Section 11

Use of vehicle lights in tunnel

Dipped headlights shall always be used inside the tunnel and no headlights illuminated on main beam shall be allowed.

Section 12

Control of use of lanes in tunnel

Subject to subsection (2), any medium goods vehicle or a heavy goods vehicle may, except when otherwise directed by a toll area control officer, be driven only in the nearside lane or middle lane inside the tunnel.
The following vehicles may, except when otherwise directed by a toll area control officer, be driven only in the nearside lane inside the tunnel -
1. a bus;
2. a vehicle requiring a permit under section 21;
3. a vehicle to which section 22 applies;
4. a vehicle towing another vehicle.

Section 15

Vehicles, etc., causing obstruction

A vehicle or thing causing obstruction may be towed away or removed by a toll area control officer at the risk and expense of its owner, and may be detained and stored by the Company.
The Company may recover from the owner of such vehicle or thing such charge in respect of its towage or removal and storage as may be fixed from time to time by the Company with the approval in writing of the Commissioner.
A list of the charges fixed by the Company under subsection (2) may be published by the Company in such manner as it thinks fit.

Tolls

Section 16

Liability for tolls

The owner or the driver of a vehicle in respect of which a toll is payable is liable to pay the toll in respect of the passage of the vehicle through the toll area.

Section 17

Payment of tolls

Subject to subsection (2), no person shall drive a vehicle past -
1. a toll booth which is not an autotoll booth unless he-
  1. stops and pays to the toll collector on duty at the booth the appropriate toll for the vehicle; or
  2. stops and tenders to the toll collector on duty at the booth such toll ticket as may be provided by the Company appropriate to the vehicle;
2. an autotoll booth unless the appropriate toll for the vehicle is paid by debiting the account of the holder of an electronic pass opened with the Company or its agent under section 18(3).
Subsection (1) shall not apply to a vehicle of the kind mentioned in section 3(2), but the toll payable in respect of such a vehicle may be paid in such a manner as may be agreed in writing between the Company and the Commissioner from time to time.

Section 18

Automatic toll collection facilities

The Company may cause or permit the installation of such automatic toll collection facilities as the Commissioner may approve at any toll booth for the purpose of collecting the toll payable for the passage of a vehicle through the toll area and may also cause or permit the installation of such ancillary facilities as the Commissioner may approve.
The Company may, with the written approval of the Commissioner, designate a toll booth at which an automatic toll collection facility is installed under subsection (1) as an autotoll booth –
1. by displaying above a lane that leads to the toll booth a prescribed traffic sign of the type shown in Figure No. 23 in the Schedule; or
2. by displaying at the side of the toll booth a prescribed traffic sign of the type shown in Figure No. 24 in the Schedule.
An electronic pass may be issued by the Company or its agent to a person who opens an account with the Company or its agent for the payment of the toll appropriate to the passage through the toll area of the description of vehicle in respect of which the electronic pass is to be issued.

Prohibited and Restricted Traffic

Section 20

Vehicles prohibited

A person shall not drive or cause or permit to be driven, or cause to remain -
1. in the tunnel area -
  1. a vehicle which is not carrying sufficient fuel in its fuel tank or water or the batteries of which are insufficiently charged to enable it to be driven through the tunnel unaided;
  2. a vehicle with a load, or the cover of a load, which is not properly secured so as to prevent any part of the load or that cover from falling off the vehicle or otherwise coming into contact with any part of the tunnel (including any fittings or fixtures); or
  3. a vehicle which will or is likely to come into contact with any part of the tunnel (including any fittings or fixtures);
2. within the toll area (including the tunnel area) -
  1. a vehicle other than a motor vehicle and an articulated vehicle;
  2. a motor assisted pedal-cycle;
  3. a vehicle with an engine the total cylinder capacity of which does not exceed 125 cubic centimetres;
  4. a vehicle with a tyre that is defective or not properly inflated;
  5. a tracked vehicle travelling on its tracks;
  6. a vehicle carrying a person standing on the outside of the vehicle or seated with any part of his body overhanging the sides or rear of the vehicle;
  7. a vehicle carrying animals or poultry not properly controlled or confined, or carrying a load which is not sufficiently covered;
  8. a vehicle that is emitting or is likely to emit excessive fumes or smoke;
  9. a tanker vehicle with a spigot or other part that is leaking;
  10. a vehicle in which the driver's view to the front or sides is or could readily be obscured;
  11. a vehicle being driven by a person who is under the influence of drink or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle;
  12. a vehicle that is likely to endanger persons or property or render the use of the toll area unsafe;
  13. a vehicle being driven by a person under a learner's driving licence as defined in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); (23 of 2008 s.71)
  14. a vehicle carrying any of the goods specified in Category 1 of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A);
  15. a vehicle carrying any of the goods specified in Category 2 of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A) unless there is a quantity specified in relation to such goods in the second column of the Table to regulation 74 of the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. B) and the goods carried do not exceed that quantity;
  16. without prejudice to subparagraph (xv), a vehicle carrying any cylinders as defined in regulation 61 of the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. B), used or to be used for the storage of any compressed gas specified in Category 2 of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A), whether or not such cylinders contain any quantity of such gas;
  17. a vehicle carrying any of the goods specified in Category 5 of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A), unless there is a quantity specified in relation to such goods in the seventh or, where no such quantity is there specified, in the eighth column of the Table to regulation 99 of the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. B) and the goods carried do not exceed that quantity;
  18. without prejudice to subparagraph (xvii), a vehicle constructed or adapted for the conveyance, or a vehicle carrying a container used or to be used for the storage, of goods specified in Category 5 of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A), whether or not such vehicle or container contains any quantity of such goods; or
  19. a vehicle that does not conform to the requirements of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. A).
This section shall not prohibit -
1. the conveyance in the tunnel of fuel which is being carried in the fuel tank of a vehicle for the purpose only of the propulsion of the vehicle; or
2. in the case of a vehicle carrying in its fuel tank petroleum spirit for the purpose only of its propulsion, the conveyance in the tunnel by the vehicle of petroleum spirit, up to a maximum of 20 litres in securely closed cans, which is being carried on the vehicle for such purpose.

Section 21

Vehicles requiring permits

No person shall drive any of the following vehicles into the toll area unless he is in possession of a permit issued in writing in respect of that vehicle by the General Manager and such entry is in accordance with that permit -
1. a vehicle the height of which (including load) exceeds 4.6 metres;
2. a rigid vehicle the length of which exceeds 12 metres;
3. an articulated vehicle the length of which exceeds 16 metres;
4. a vehicle, other than a trailer, the load of which extends forward more than 1.5 metres from the foremost part of the vehicle;
5. a vehicle the load of which extends backward more than 1.4 metres behind the rearmost part of the vehicle;
6. a vehicle with a wheel-load exceeding 4.5 tonnes or an axle load exceeding 11 tonnes;
7. a vehicle or trailer in respect of which a movement permit is issued under regulation 53(1) of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. E);
8. a vehicle the overall width of which (including load) exceeds 2.5 metres;
9. a vehicle for which no toll is specified in Schedule 1 to the Ordinance;
10. a vehicle of any class the gross vehicle weight of which exceeds the permitted maximum gross vehicle weight or if applicable, the permitted maximum gross combined weight assigned or determined in respect of that vehicle in accordance with the Second Schedule to the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. A).
Any person may apply to the General Manager for a permit referred to in subsection (1) giving details of the vehicle or trailer to which the application relates and its load, if any, and the time, date and direction of its proposed passage through the toll area.
Where an application for a permit is made under subsection (2) in respect of a vehicle or trailer referred to in subsection (1)(g) such application shall, if so required by the General Manager, be accompanied by such civil engineering advice or other information relating to the vehicle or trailer as may be specified by the General Manager.
An application for a permit under subsection (2) shall be made at least 48 hours before the proposed passage of the vehicle or trailer through the toll area, except where the General Manager waives this requirement.
The General Manager may specify in a permit issued under this section -
1. the date and time for the passage of the vehicle or trailer through the toll area; and
2. such other conditions as the General Manager thinks fit.
The following fee shall be payable to the Company for the issue of a permit under this section -
1. for a permit in respect of a vehicle referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i) or (j) ………………………………………………………$250；and
2. for a permit in respect of a vehicle or trailer referred to in subsection (1)(g)………$750.

Section 22

Vehicles conveying dangerous goods

Subject to this section, the Company may fix the hours during which all or any of the vehicles to which this section applies may enter the toll area by publishing such information in such manner as it thinks fit.
No person shall drive any vehicle to which this section applies into the toll area except with the permission of the General Manager in writing, which permission, if granted, shall be subject to the following conditions -
1. if hours have been fixed under subsection (1) in respect of the class of vehicle concerned, the permission shall relate only to those hours;
2. a declaration shall be made in writing to the General Manager by the person in charge of the vehicle, or by the person responsible for the conveyance of any goods in or on the vehicle, as to the nature of the vehicle and goods; and
3. the General Manager may provide toll area control officers for the purpose of escorting the vehicle through the toll area and may take any other precautionary measure which he considers expedient in the circumstances.
This section applies to -
1. a vehicle conveying any goods specified in Category 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 in the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. leg. A); and
2. a vehicle conveying matches in bulk, radioactive substances, or biological specimens dangerous to human or animal life.