GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

APO 500
10 January 1947

AG 451.1 (10 Jan 47) CIS
(SCAPIN-1458)

MEMORANDUM FOR	IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo.
Subject	Registration of Motor Vehicles.

1. The Imperial Japanese Government will register all motor vehicles and motor vehicle trailers which are in operation or use in Japan, irrespective of the nationality of the owners thereof, except those motor vehicles and trailers which are:
a. Operated by the Allied Occupation Forces, or by organizations and personnel attached to or accompanying the Allied Occupation Forces,
b. Owned and operated by duly accredited diplomatic representatives and members of their official families, who are accorded special privileges, including vehicles privately owned by such persons.
c. Owned by any of the United Nations and operated by representatives or agencies thereof who are in Japan on official business associated with the occupation.
d. Privately owned and operated by personnel on duty with, attached to or affliated with the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, and by their dependents.
2. Registration under this memorandum will conform with the following requirements:
a. Owners of motor vehicles and trailers will be directed and required to register them before they are operated or in any way used on the public roadway.
b. A provision of registration will be that satisfactory proof of legal ownership must be shown. Upon completion of registration, an owner’s registration certificate will be issued.
c. All motor vehicles and trailers will be required to display license plates at all times when on the public roadway whether they are in operation or not.
d. A record of all registrations will be maintained in such a manner, that the owner of any registered vehicle or trailer may be readily and promptly determined by information obtained from the vehicle license plates.
e. The owner’s registration certificate, or other authorized evidence of registration and ownership, must accompany the motor vehicle or trailer at all times when it is moving upon the public roadway. Such owner's registration certificate, or authorized evidence thereof, will be required to be shown to any authorized person upon request.
f. All persons driving a motor vehicle will be issued, and must have in his possession at all times when driving, a license to drive. The license to drive will not be issued to any person who is not qualified because of physical defects, lack of skill, or other deficiencies which would disqualify him as a safe driver. The Imperial Japanese Government will be responsible that only qualified persons are permitted to drive motor vehicles which are subject to registration under this memorandum.
3. a. Violation of the provisions of this memorandum will be declared to be a penal offense under the Japanese law, and offenders hereof will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, if subject to the jurisdiction of Japanese courts.
b. Violators of the provision of this memorandum who are not subject to the jurisdiction of Japanese Courts will be reported by representatives of the Imperial Japanese Government to occupation authorities.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

JOHN B. COOLEY,
Colonel, AGD,
Adjutant General.