Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “beast” includes any horse, mare, gelding, colt, filly, pony, mule, ass, bull, ox, cow, heifer, steer, ram, sheep, lamb, goat, pig or any beast of draught or burden; “boat” includes any vessel, bateau, punt, scow, dorey, pitpan, barge, sloop or any other craft; “derelict vehicle” means a vehicle that appears to the competent authority (as defined in section 6 of this Act), by reason of its condition, to have been abandoned, 8 Provided that for the purposes of this definition the opinion of the competent authority shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of the matters therein contained, and in forming an opinion, the competent authority may, if it thinks fit, take into account, (a) the fact that the wheels or any of them, the engine or other parts have been removed; (b) any other factors taken together with the fact that the vehicle was unlicensed during the immediately preceding period of six months; “goods” means any goods, chattels or effects, or any animal or bird, or other living thing which may by this Act be the subject “local authority” means the Belize City Council established under the Belize City Council Act, Cap. 85, a Town Council established under the Town Councils Act, Cap. 87, and in the case of Belmopan, the Belmopan City Council established under the Belmopan City Council Act, Cap. 86; “owner” includes any tenant or occupier and the attorney, agent or servant of an owner; “person”, “owner” and other words and expressions of the same kind include Her Majesty and all governments, public bodies, bodies corporate, societies and companies, in relation to the acts and things they are capable of doing and owning respectively; “possession” includes constructive as well as actual possession, and the right to possession; “premises” includes land, whether covered with water or not, canal, trench, pond, yard, garden, stalling, wharf, house or other property; “public place” means any public place, road, church, chapel, court, courtyard, public office or room in 9 which any public duty is carried on or performed, or to which the public have access; “public way” means any highway, market-place, square, street, bridge or other way lawfully used by the public; “street” includes any highway, public road, square, market- place, alley, thoroughfare, public passage or court in which several families may reside, and having one common entrance, whether with or without any door or gate; “the competent authority” means a local authority or a transport officer appointed under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Cap 230; “vehicle” includes any cart, sledge, caravan, carriage, wagon, wain, truck, barrow or other vehicle on wheels, however drawn or propelled, used to carry persons, loads or burdens. (2) Subject to this Act, expressions defined in the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act, Cap. 99, which are also used in this Act shall have the meanings given to them in that Act. (3) Crimes created by the Criminal Code, Cap. 101, which are, (a) constituted summary conviction offences under section 50 of this Act; and (b) triable summarily under section 51 of this Act, shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the definitions and explanations contained in that Code and, accordingly, all the words and expressions defined in the Code shall have application for that purpose. 10 Miscellaneous Summary Jurisdiction Offences Petty Misdemeanours, Offences and Vagrants Division 1