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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic
Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act 2
2 Commencement 2
3 Objects of Act 2
4 Definitions 2
5 Act to bind Crown 3
6 Application of Commonwealth Acts Interpretation Act 3
7 Notes 3
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 1 Offences involving prescribed
concentrations of alcohol
8 Interpretation 4
[88]
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
9 Presence of prescribed concentration of alcohol in
person's blood 5
10 Alternative verdicts for lesser offences 7
11 Presence of higher concentration of alcohol not defence 8
Division 2 Offences involving driving under the
influence of alcohol or other drug
12 Use or attempted use of a vehicle under the influence of
alcohol or any other drug 9
Division 3 Random breath testing and breath analysis
13 Power to conduct random breath testing 10
14 Arrest following failed breath test 11
15 Breath analysis following arrest 11
16 Offence--wilfully altering blood concentration following
request for breath test or breath analysis 12
17 When breath test or breath analysis not permitted 13
18 Procedure to be followed for breath analysis 13
Division 4 Blood analysis following accidents
19 Hospitals to which this Division applies 14
20 Blood samples to be taken in hospitals from accident
patients 14
21 Offence--failure to take blood sample 15
22 Offence--hindering or obstructing health professional
taking blood sample 16
23 Analysis of samples of blood taken under this Division 17
24 Supervisee may perform functions of medical practitioner
under this Division 19
Division 5 Sobriety assessments and related drug
analysis
25 Police officer may require sobriety assessment 19
26 Arrest following failure to submit to (or pass) sobriety
assessment 20
27 Procedure for taking samples following arrest 20
28 When sobriety assessment and taking of samples not
permitted 21
29 Offences related to sobriety assessments and testing for
drugs 22
Contents page 2
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
Division 6 Prevention of vehicle use by drivers under
influence of alcohol or other drug
30 Power to prevent driving by persons who are under the
influence of alcohol or other drugs 24
31 Detention of vehicle in certain cases 26
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
32 Evidence of alcohol concentration revealed by breath or
blood analysis in proceedings for offence under
section 9 26
33 Certificate evidence about breath or blood analysis in
proceedings for offences under section 9 27
34 Evidence of drugs revealed by blood or urine analysis in
proceedings for offence under section 12 29
35 Certificate evidence about blood or urine analysis in
proceedings for offences under section 12 30
36 Certificate evidence may specify minimum
concentrations 32
37 Evidence of breath test, breath analysis or blood or urine
analysis and related facts not admissible in insurance
cases to prove intoxication or drug use 32
38 Double jeopardy in relation to alcohol and other drug
offences 33
Division 8 Personal liability of sample takers
39 Personal liability for good faith taking of samples 34
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 1 Speeding and other dangerous driving
offences
40 Races, attempts on speed records and other speed
trials 36
41 Conduct associated with road and drag racing and other
activities 37
42 Negligent, furious or reckless driving 38
43 Menacing driving 39
Division 2 Speed measurement
44 Approved speed measuring devices 40
45 Approved camera recording devices 40
Contents page 3
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
46 Certificates concerning use of approved speed measuring
devices 40
47 Photographic evidence of speeding offence 41
48 Sale, purchase or use of prohibited speed measuring
evasion articles 42
49 Surrender and forfeiture of prohibited speed measuring
evasion articles 43
Part 4 Traffic control devices
Division 1 Installation, display and removal of
prescribed traffic control devices
50 Interpretation 45
51 Appropriate authority for the purposes of this Division 45
52 Unauthorised prescribed traffic control devices 46
53 Removal of unauthorised prescribed traffic control
devices 46
54 Cost of removal of prescribed traffic control device 46
55 Prescribed traffic control devices presumed to be lawfully
installed or displayed except for purposes of section 52 47
Division 2 Monitoring of traffic light offences
56 Approved camera detection device 47
57 Photographic evidence of traffic light offences 47
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 1 Offences relating to unsafe loads
58 Unsafe loads 49
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles
carrying dangerous goods
59 Definitions 51
60 Application of this Division 52
61 Vehicles to be fitted with monitoring devices in working
order 53
62 Vehicle movement record to be preserved 53
63 Vehicle movement record to be carried by driver 53
64 Inspection of monitoring devices and records carried on
vehicles 54
65 Seizure of monitoring devices and records 55
Contents page 4
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
66 Production of records by responsible persons 56
67 Tampering with monitoring devices or vehicle movement
records 57
68 Exemptions 57
69 Evidence of vehicle movement record 57
Division 3 Duties of participants and others involved
in road accidents
70 Duty to stop and give assistance where person killed or
injured in road accident 58
Part 6 Miscellaneous
71 Regulations 59
72 Regulations may exclude vehicles, persons and animals
from this Act and the regulations 61
73 Use of samples for accident research 62
74 Road or road related area may be closed temporarily to
traffic 62
75 Removal of dangers and obstructions to traffic 63
76 Removal of unattended motor vehicles or trailers from
certain places 64
77 Unpaid fees or charges 66
78 Savings, transitional and other provisions 66
79 Review of Act 67
Schedules
1 Regulation-making powers 68
2 Savings, transitional and other provisions 74
Contents page 5
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Contents
Page
Dictionary
The dictionary defines the following words and expressions
approved camera detection device low range prescribed concentration of
approved camera recording device alcohol
approved speed measuring device major offence
Australian Transport Council middle range prescribed concentration
Authority of alcohol
breath analysing instrument motor vehicle
breath analysis National Road Transport Commission
breath test photograph
coach prohibited speed measuring evasion
council article
court provisional licence
drive radar detecting device
driver radar jamming device
driver licence registered
drug responsible person
exercise road
first offence road related area
function second or subsequent offence
GCM (gross combination mass) special range prescribed concentration
GVM (gross vehicle mass) of alcohol
heavy motor vehicle traffic
high range prescribed concentration of trailer
alcohol use
horse vehicle
hospital
learner licence
light rail vehicle
Contents page 6
New South Wales
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic
Management) Act 1999 No 20
Act No 20, 1999
An Act to facilitate the adoption of nationally consistent road rules in New
South Wales; to make provision with respect to other matters concerning safety
and traffic management on roads and road related areas; and for other purposes.
[Assented to 1 July 1999]
Section 1 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 1 Preliminary
The Legislature of New South Wales enacts:
Part 1 Preliminary
Note. This Act and the regulations made under it form part of the road
transport legislation identified by section 5 of the Road Transport (General)
Act 1999. Other road transport legislation includes the Road Transport
(General) Act 1999, the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998, the Road
Transport (Heavy Vehicles Registration Charges) Act 1995, the Road Transport
(Vehicle Registration) Act 1997 and the regulations made under those Acts. As
part of the road transport legislation, this Act is subject to various provisions in
the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 concerning the administration and
enforcement of the road transport legislation generally.
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management)
Act 1999.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by
proclamation.
3 Objects of Act (cf Cth Act, s 4)
The objects of this Act are as follows:
(a) to provide for a system of safety and traffic management that
is consistent with the uniform national approach envisaged
by the agreements scheduled to the National Road Transport
Commission Act 1991 of the Commonwealth,
(b) to re-enact with some modifications certain other provisions
of the Traffic Act 1909 (as in force immediately before its
repeal by the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act
1999) relating to safety and traffic management,
(c) to improve safety and efficiency of transport on roads and
road related areas,
(d) to reduce the costs of the administration of road transport.
4 Definitions (cf Cth Act, s 4; Traffic Act, s 2)
Expressions used in this Act (or in a particular provision of this Act)
that are defined in the Dictionary at the end of the Act have the
meanings set out in the Dictionary.
Page 2
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 5
Preliminary Part 1
5 Act to bind Crown (cf Cth Act, s 3)
This Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so
far as the legislative power of the Parliament of New South Wales
permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
6 Application of Commonwealth Acts Interpretation Act (cf Cth Act, s
14)
(1) The regulations may apply any or all of the provisions of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 of the Commonwealth to the interpretation
of:
(a) this Act or the regulations (or to specified provisions of this
Act or the regulations), or
(b) to any instrument made under this Act or the regulations (or
to specified provisions of any such instrument).
(2) This section does not prevent the Interpretation Act 1987 from
applying to any provision of this Act or the regulations (or of an
instrument made under this Act or the regulations) to the extent that
it can do so consistently with the application of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 of the Commonwealth to any such
provision by a regulation referred to in subsection (1).
7 Notes
Notes included in this Act are explanatory notes and do not form
part of this Act.
Note. For the purposes of comparison, a number of provisions of this Act
contain bracketed notes in headings drawing attention ("cf") to equivalent or
comparable (though not necessarily identical) provisions of other Acts.
Abbreviations in the notes include:
· Cth Act: Road Transport Reform (Vehicles and Traffic) Act 1993 of the
Commonwealth
· Traffic Act: Traffic Act 1909 (as in force immediately before its repeal
by the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act 1999)
Page 3
Section 8 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 1 Offences involving prescribed concentrations of alcohol
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 1 Offences involving prescribed concentrations of
alcohol
8 Interpretation (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (1)(1C))
(1) In this Division:
driver licence does not (except in subsection (3)) include a
provisional licence or learner licence.
first-year provisional licence means a provisional licence issued
under the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998 to a person
who has not previously held, for a period of 12 months or more, a
driver licence authorising the person to drive a motor vehicle.
(2) A person who is the holder of a provisional licence issued under the
Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998 is, for the purposes of
this Division, taken to be the holder of a first-year provisional
licence unless the person satisfies the court to the contrary.
(3) For the purposes of this Division, a person is a special category
driver in respect of a motor vehicle:
(a) if the person:
(i) is the holder of a learner licence, or
(ii) is the holder of a first-year provisional licence,
for motor vehicles of a class that includes that motor vehicle,
or
(b) if the person is not the holder of a licence that authorises the
person to drive that motor vehicle because:
(i) the person's driver licence is suspended or has been
cancelled, or
(ii) the person has been disqualified from holding or
obtaining a driver licence, or
(iii) the person's application for a driver licence has been
refused, or
(iv) the person (never having had authority to drive the
vehicle in New South Wales by virtue of being the
holder of a licence or permit issued in a place outside
Page 4
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 8
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Offences involving prescribed concentrations of alcohol Division 1
New South Wales) has never obtained a driver
licence, or
(c) if the person has no authority to drive that motor vehicle in
New South Wales because:
(i) the person is not the holder of a driver licence, and
(ii) an authority which the person had to drive the vehicle
in New South Wales by virtue of being the holder of
a licence or permit issued in a place outside New
South Wales is suspended or has been cancelled, or
(d) if the person is under 25 years of age, unless the person has
held a driver licence (apart from a learner licence) to drive a
motor vehicle for a period of 3 years or more, or
(e) if that motor vehicle is being driven for hire or reward, or in
the course of any trade or business, as a public passenger
vehicle within the meaning of the Passenger Transport Act
1990, or
(f) if that motor vehicle is a coach or heavy motor vehicle, or
(g) if that motor vehicle (or any trailer being towed by the motor
vehicle):
(i) is required, because it carries dangerous goods within
the meaning of the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 or the
Road and Rail Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act
1997, to have a sign exhibited on it by regulations
under either Act, or under any code prescribed for the
purposes of this paragraph by regulations under this
Act, or
(ii) carries any radioactive substance within the meaning
of the Radiation Control Act 1990.
(4) For the purposes of this Division, a person is a special category
supervisor in respect of a motor vehicle if, were the person driving
the motor vehicle, the person would be a special category driver in
respect of the motor vehicle.
9 Presence of prescribed concentration of alcohol in person's blood
(cf Traffic Act, s 4E (1D)(1G))
(1) Offence--special range prescribed concentration of alcohol
A person must not, while there is present in his or her blood the
special range prescribed concentration of alcohol:
Page 5
Section 9 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 1 Offences involving prescribed concentrations of alcohol
(a) if the person is a special category driver in respect of a motor
vehicle--drive the motor vehicle, or
(b) if the person is a special category driver in respect of a motor
vehicle--occupy the driving seat of a motor vehicle and
attempt to put the motor vehicle in motion, or
(c) if the person is a special category supervisor in respect of a
motor vehicle and the holder of a driver licence--occupy the
seat in a motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence
who is driving the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units (in the case of a first offence)
or 20 penalty units (in the case of a second or subsequent offence).
(2) Offence--low range prescribed concentration of alcohol
A person must not, while there is present in his or her blood the low
range prescribed concentration of alcohol:
(a) drive a motor vehicle, or
(b) occupy the driving seat of a motor vehicle and attempt to put
the motor vehicle in motion, or
(c) if the person is the holder of a driver licence--occupy the
seat in a motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence
who is driving the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units (in the case of a first offence)
or 20 penalty units (in the case of a second or subsequent offence).
(3) Offence--middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol
A person must not, while there is present in his or her blood the
middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol:
(a) drive a motor vehicle, or
(b) occupy the driving seat of a motor vehicle and attempt to put
the motor vehicle in motion, or
(c) if the person is the holder of a driver licence--occupy the
seat in a motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence
who is driving the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units or imprisonment for 9 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 30 penalty units or
imprisonment for 12 months or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
Page 6
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 9
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Offences involving prescribed concentrations of alcohol Division 1
(4) Offence--high range prescribed concentration of alcohol
A person must not, while there is present in his or her blood the
high range prescribed concentration of alcohol:
(a) drive a motor vehicle, or
(b) occupy the driving seat of a motor vehicle and attempt to put
the motor vehicle in motion, or
(c) if the person is the holder of a driver licence--occupy the
seat in a motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence
who is driving the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
Note. Division 3 of Part 3 of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 provides
for the disqualification of persons from holding driver licences for certain
offences (including offences under this section).
10 Alternative verdicts for lesser offences (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (1I)(1JA))
(1) Alternative verdict for lesser offence in prosecution for middle range
prescribed concentration of alcohol
If, on a prosecution of a person for an offence under section 9 (3),
the court is satisfied that, at the time the person did the act referred
to in section 9 (3) (a), (b) or (c), there was not present in the
person's blood the middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol
but there was present in the person's blood the low range prescribed
concentration of alcohol, the court may convict the person of an
offence under section 9 (2).
(2) Alternative verdict for lesser offence in prosecution for high range
prescribed concentration of alcohol
If, on a prosecution of a person for an offence under section 9 (4),
the court is satisfied that, at the time the person did the act referred
to in section 9 (4) (a), (b) or (c), there was not present in the
person's blood the high range prescribed concentration of alcohol:
(a) if the court is satisfied that the middle range prescribed
concentration of alcohol was present in the person's
blood--the court may convict the person of an offence under
section 9 (3), or
Page 7
Section 10 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 1 Offences involving prescribed concentrations of alcohol
(b) if the court is satisfied that the low range prescribed
concentration of alcohol was present in the person's
blood--the court may convict the person of an offence under
section 9 (2).
(3) Alternative verdict for lesser offence in prosecution of special
category drivers
If, on a prosecution of a person for an offence under section 9 (2),
(3) or (4), relating to driving a motor vehicle or to occupying the
driving seat of a motor vehicle and attempting to put the motor
vehicle in motion, the court is satisfied that, at the time the person
drove the motor vehicle or occupied the driving seat and attempted
to put the motor vehicle in motion:
(a) the person was a special category driver in respect of the
motor vehicle, and
(b) there was not present in the person's blood the high range
prescribed concentration of alcohol, the middle range
prescribed concentration of alcohol or the low range
prescribed concentration of alcohol,
but that there was present in the person's blood the special range
prescribed concentration of alcohol, the court may convict the
person of an offence under section 9 (1).
11 Presence of higher concentration of alcohol not defence (cf Traffic
Act, s 4E (1K))
(1) It is not a defence to a prosecution for an offence under section 9 (1)
if the defendant proves that, at the time he or she did the act referred
to in section 9 (1) (a), (b) or (c), there was present in the defendant's
blood a concentration of alcohol of 0.05 grammes or more in 100
millilitres of the defendant's blood.
(2) It is not a defence to a prosecution for an offence under section 9 (2)
if the defendant proves that, at the time he or she did the act referred
to in section 9 (2) (a), (b) or (c), there was present in the defendant's
blood a concentration of alcohol of 0.08 grammes or more in 100
millilitres of the defendant's blood.
(3) It is not a defence to a prosecution for an offence under section 9 (3)
if the defendant proves that, at the time he or she did the act referred
to in section 9 (3) (a), (b) or (c), there was present in the defendant's
blood a concentration of alcohol of 0.15 grammes or more in 100
millilitres of the defendant's blood.
Page 8
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 12
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Offences involving driving under the influence of alcohol or other drug Division 2
Division 2 Offences involving driving under the influence
of alcohol or other drug
12 Use or attempted use of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or
any other drug (cf Traffic Act, s 5 (2) and (2A))
(1) A person must not, while under the influence of alcohol or any other
drug:
(a) drive a vehicle, or
(b) occupy the driving seat of a vehicle and attempt to put the
vehicle in motion, or
(c) being the holder of a driver licence (other than a provisional
licence or a learner licence issued under the Road Transport
(Driver Licensing) Act 1998), occupy the seat in or on a
motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence who is
driving the motor vehicle.
Maximum penalty:
(a) in the case of a first offence to which paragraph (a) or (b)
relates--20 penalty units or imprisonment for 9 months, or
both, or
(b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence to which
paragraph (a) or (b) relates--30 penalty units or
imprisonment for 12 months, or both, or
(c) in the case of an offence to which paragraph (c) relates--20
penalty units.
(2) If a person is charged with an offence under subsection (1):
(a) the information may allege the person was under the
influence of more than one drug and is not liable to be
dismissed on the ground of uncertainty or duplicity if each of
those drugs is described in the information, and
(b) the offence is proved if the court is satisfied beyond
reasonable doubt that the defendant was under the influence
of:
Page 9
Section 12 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 2 Offences involving driving under the influence of alcohol or other drug
(i) a drug described in the information, or
(ii) a combination of drugs any one or more of which was
or were described in the information.
Note. Division 3 of Part 3 of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 provides
for the disqualification of persons from holding driver licences for certain
offences (including offences under this section).
Division 3 Random breath testing and breath analysis
13 Power to conduct random breath testing (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (2A), (2B),
(6) and (8))
(1) A police officer may require a person to undergo a breath test in
accordance with the officer's directions if the officer has reasonable
cause to believe that the person:
(a) is or was driving a motor vehicle on a road or road related
area, or
(b) is or was occupying the driving seat of a motor vehicle on a
road or road related area and attempting to put the motor
vehicle in motion, or
(c) being the holder of a driver licence, is or was occupying the
seat in a motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence
while the holder of the learner licence is or was driving the
vehicle on a road or road related area.
(2) A person must not, when required by a police officer to undergo a
breath test under subsection (1), refuse or fail to undergo the breath
test in accordance with the directions of the officer.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (2)
if the defendant satisfies the court that the defendant was unable on
medical grounds, at the time the defendant was required to do so, to
undergo a breath test.
(4) Without limiting any other power or authority, a police officer may,
for the purposes of this section, request or signal the driver of a
motor vehicle to stop the vehicle.
(5) A person must comply with any request or signal made or given to
the person by a police officer under subsection (4).
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
Page 10
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 14
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Random breath testing and breath analysis Division 3
14 Arrest following failed breath test (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (3))
(1) A police officer may exercise the powers referred to in subsection
(2) in respect of a person if:
(a) it appears to the officer from a breath test carried out under
section 13 (1) by the officer that the device by means of
which the test was carried out indicates that there may be
present in the person's blood a concentration of alcohol of
not less than 0.02 grammes in 100 millilitres of the blood and
the officer has reasonable cause to believe the person is a
special category driver (within the meaning of section 8) in
respect of the motor vehicle concerned, or
(b) it appears to the officer from a breath test carried out under
section 13 (1) by the officer that the device by means of
which the test was carried out indicates that there may be
present in the person's blood a concentration of alcohol of
not less than 0.05 grammes in 100 millilitres of the blood, or
(c) the person refused to undergo a breath test required by a
police officer under section 13 (1) or fails to undergo that test
in accordance with the directions of the officer.
(2) A police officer may:
(a) arrest a person referred to in subsection (1) without warrant,
and
(b) take the person, or cause the person to be taken, with such
force as may be necessary, to a police station or some other
place as the officer considers desirable, and
(c) detain the person, or cause the person to be detained, at that
police station or other place for the purposes of this Division.
15 Breath analysis following arrest (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (4), (7), (8) and (10))
(1) A police officer may require a person who has been arrested under
section 14 to submit to a breath analysis in accordance with the
directions of the officer.
(2) A breath analysis must be carried out by a police officer authorised
to do so by the Commissioner of Police at or near a police station or
such other place as that officer considers desirable.
Page 11
Section 15 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 3 Random breath testing and breath analysis
(3) As soon as practicable after a person has submitted to a breath
analysis, the police officer operating the breath analysing instrument
must deliver a written statement to that person signed by that officer
specifying the following:
(a) the concentration of alcohol determined by the analysis to be
present in that person's blood and expressed in grammes of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood,
(b) the day on and time of the day at which the breath analysis
was completed.
(4) A person who is required by a police officer under subsection (1) to
submit to a breath analysis must not refuse or fail to submit to that
analysis in accordance with the directions of the officer.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section if
the defendant satisfies the court that the defendant was unable on
medical grounds, at the time the defendant was required to do so, to
submit to a breath analysis.
16 Offence--wilfully altering blood concentration following request for
breath test or breath analysis (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (7) and (8))
A person must not wilfully do anything to alter the concentration of
alcohol in the person's blood:
(a) between the time of the event referred to in section 13 (1) (a),
(b) or (c) in respect of which the person has been required by
a police officer to undergo a breath test and the time when
the person undergoes that test, or
(b) if the person is required by a police officer to submit to a
breath analysis--between the time of the event referred to in
section 13 (1) (a), (b) or (c) in respect of which the person
has been required by a police officer to undergo a breath test
and the time when the person submits to the breath analysis.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
Page 12
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 17
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Random breath testing and breath analysis Division 3
17 When breath test or breath analysis not permitted (cf Traffic Act, s 4E
(5))
A police officer cannot require a person to undergo a breath test or
to submit to a breath analysis:
(a) if that person has been admitted to hospital for medical
treatment, unless the medical practitioner in immediate
charge of his or her treatment has been notified of the
intention to make the requisition and the medical practitioner
does not object on the grounds that compliance with it would
be prejudicial to the proper care or treatment of that person,
or
(b) if it appears to the officer that it would, by reason of injuries
sustained by that person, be dangerous to that person's
medical condition to undergo a breath test or submit to a
breath analysis, or
(c) at any time after the expiration of 2 hours from the
occurrence of the event by reason of which the officer was
entitled under section 13 (1) to require that person to undergo
a breath test, or
(d) at that person's place of abode.
18 Procedure to be followed for breath analysis (cf Traffic Act, s 4E (9))
(1) A person who is required under section 15 (1) to submit to a breath
analysis may request the police officer making the requisition to
arrange for the taking, in the presence of a police officer, of a
sample of that person's blood, for analysis at that person's own
expense, by a legally qualified medical practitioner:
(a) nominated by the person, or
(b) nominated by the officer at the person's request.
(2) A request by a person under subsection (1), or the taking of a
sample of that person's blood, does not absolve that person from the
obligation imposed on the person to submit to a breath analysis in
accordance with section 15 (1).
(3) A medical practitioner by whom a sample of a person's blood is
taken under an arrangement referred to in subsection (1) must divide
the sample into 2 approximately equal portions.
Page 13
Section 18 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 3 Random breath testing and breath analysis
(4) One of the portions of blood must be handed to the person from
whom it was taken (or to some other person) for the use and benefit
of that person. The other portion of blood must be enclosed in a
suitable sealed container and handed to the police officer present at
the time the sample was taken.
Division 4 Blood analysis following accidents
19 Hospitals to which this Division applies (cf Traffic Act, s 4F (12))
In this Division, a reference to a hospital includes a reference to any
premises, institution or establishment prescribed by the regulations
as a hospital for the purposes of this Division.
20 Blood samples to be taken in hospitals from accident patients (cf
Traffic Act, s 4F (1)(3))
(1) In this section, accident patient means a person at least 15 years of
age who attends at or is admitted into a hospital for examination or
treatment in consequence of an accident on a road or road related
area (whether in New South Wales or elsewhere) involving a motor
vehicle or other vehicle or a horse.
(2) Any medical practitioner by whom an accident patient is attended
at a hospital is under a duty to take a sample of the patient's blood
for analysis as soon as practicable.
(3) The medical practitioner is under a duty to take the sample whether
or not the accident patient consents to the taking of the sample.
(4) If there is no medical practitioner present to attend the accident
patient at the hospital, the blood sample is to be taken by a
registered nurse who is attending the patient and who is accredited
by a hospital as competent to perform the sampling procedures.
(5) This section does not require the taking of a sample of blood from
an accident patient unless, at the time of the accident concerned, the
accident patient was:
(a) driving a motor vehicle involved in the accident, or
(b) occupying the driving seat of a motor vehicle involved in the
accident and attempting to put the motor vehicle in motion,
or
(c) a pedestrian involved in the accident, or
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 20
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Blood analysis following accidents Division 4
(d) driving or riding a vehicle (not being a motor vehicle)
involved in the accident, or
(e) driving or riding a horse involved in the accident, or
(f) the holder of a driver licence and occupying the seat in the
motor vehicle next to a holder of a learner licence who was
driving a motor vehicle involved in the accident.
(6) A medical practitioner or nurse is not required by this section to
take a sample of an accident patient's blood:
(a) if a sample of the accident patient's blood has already been
taken in accordance with this section by another medical
practitioner or nurse, or
(b) if the medical practitioner or nurse has been informed by a
police officer (or has reasonable grounds to believe) that the
sample is required to be taken for the purposes of Division 5.
21 Offence--failure to take blood sample (cf Traffic Act, s 4F (4) and (5))
(1) A medical practitioner or nurse must not fail to take a person's
blood sample as required under this Division.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (1)
if the medical practitioner or nurse satisfies the court that:
(a) he or she believed on reasonable grounds that the taking of
blood from the person from whom he or she was required by
section 20 to take a sample of blood would be prejudicial to
the proper care and treatment of the person, or
(b) he or she did not believe that the person was at least 15 years
of age and it was reasonable for him or her not to have so
believed, or
(c) he or she did not believe that the person had attended at or
been admitted into the hospital in consequence of an accident
on a road or road related area involving a vehicle or horse, or
(d) without limiting paragraph (c)--he or she did not believe that
the person was a person from whom he or she was required
by section 20 to take a sample of blood and it was reasonable
for him or her not to have so believed, or
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Section 21 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 4 Blood analysis following accidents
(e) the requirement that he or she take a sample of blood from
the person arose after the expiration of 12 hours after the
accident concerned occurred or he or she believed on
reasonable grounds that the requirement so arose, or
(f) he or she did not know, and could not with reasonable
diligence have ascertained, which of 2 or more persons
involved in an accident on a road or road related area
involving a vehicle or horse was or were a person or persons
from whom he or she was required by section 20 to take a
sample or samples of blood, or
(g) he or she was, by reason of the behaviour of the person,
unable to take a sample of blood from the person at the time
the person attended at or was admitted into the hospital or a
reasonable time after so attending or being admitted, or
(h) there was reasonable cause for him or her not to take a
sample of blood from the person in accordance with this
Division.
22 Offence--hindering or obstructing health professional taking blood
sample (cf Traffic Act, s 4F (6)(7B))
(1) A person must not hinder or obstruct a medical practitioner or nurse
in attempting to take a sample of the blood of any other person in
accordance with this Division.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person (other than a secondary participant) must not:
(a) by reason of the person's behaviour, prevent a medical
practitioner or nurse from taking a sample of the person's
blood in accordance with this Division, or
(b) between the time of the accident concerned and the taking of
a sample of the person's blood in accordance with this
Division, wilfully do anything to alter the concentration of
alcohol in the person's blood (except at the direction or
under the supervision of an appropriate health professional).
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 22
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Blood analysis following accidents Division 4
(3) A secondary participant must not:
(a) by reason of the person's behaviour, prevent a medical
practitioner or nurse from taking a sample of the person's
blood in accordance with this Division, or
(b) between the time of the accident concerned and the taking of
a sample of the person's blood in accordance with this
Division, wilfully do anything to alter the concentration of
alcohol in the person's blood (except at the direction or
under the supervision of an appropriate health professional).
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units.
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution of a person for an offence under
subsection (2) or (3) of wilfully doing anything to alter the
concentration of alcohol in the person's blood if he or she satisfies
the court that he or she did the thing after the expiration of 2 hours
after the accident concerned occurred.
(5) In this section:
appropriate health professional means a medical practitioner or
nurse, or a person of a class or description prescribed by the
regulations, for the proper care and treatment of the person.
secondary participant in relation to an accident, means a person
involved in the accident who was:
(a) a pedestrian, or
(b) driving or riding a vehicle (other than a motor vehicle or a
horse).
23 Analysis of samples of blood taken under this Division (cf Traffic Act,
s 4G (1)(6))
(1) The medical practitioner or nurse by whom a sample of a person's
blood is taken in accordance with this Division must:
(a) divide the sample into 2 approximately equal portions, and
(b) place each portion into a container, and
(c) fasten and seal each container, and
(d) mark or label each container for future identification.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
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Section 23 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 4 Blood analysis following accidents
(2) Of the 2 portions of a sample of blood:
(a) one is to be used for any analysis under this Division, and
(b) the other is to be made available to or for the use and benefit
of the person from whom the sample was taken.
(3) The medical practitioner or nurse by whom a sample of a person's
blood is taken in accordance with this Division must, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the sample is taken, arrange for a
portion of the sample to be submitted for analysis by an analyst to
determine the concentration of alcohol in the blood.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) A medical practitioner who, in another State or Territory, takes a
sample of blood:
(a) from a person attended by the medical practitioner in
consequence of an accident in New South Wales, and
(b) in accordance with provisions of a law of that State or
Territory that substantially correspond to the provisions of
section 20,
may arrange for a portion of the sample to be submitted for an
analysis by an analyst to determine the concentration of alcohol in
the blood.
(5) A police officer may arrange for a portion of a sample of a person's
blood taken in accordance with this Division to be submitted for
analysis by an analyst to determine the concentration of alcohol, or
of alcohol and other drugs, in the blood.
(6) A police officer may not make arrangements under subsection (5)
for analysis of a blood sample to determine the concentration in the
blood of a drug other than alcohol unless:
(a) the police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that, at
the time of the accident concerned, the person from whom
the sample was taken was under the influence of a drug other
than alcohol, and
(b) no police officer attended the scene of the accident that led
to the taking of the sample or, although a police officer or
police officers attended the scene of the accident, there was
no reasonable opportunity to require the person from whom
the sample was taken to submit, in accordance with Division
5, to an assessment of his or her sobriety.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 23
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Blood analysis following accidents Division 4
(7) An analyst to whom a portion of a sample of blood is submitted for
analysis under this section may carry out an analysis of the portion
to determine the concentration of alcohol (and, where required, of
other drugs) in the blood.
(8) An analysis referred to in subsection (7) may be carried out, and any
act, matter or thing in connection with the analysis (including the
receipt of the portion of the sample of blood to be analysed and the
breaking of any seal securing the portion) may be done, by a person
acting under the supervision of an analyst, and in that event is taken
to have been carried out or done by the analyst.
24 Supervisee may perform functions of medical practitioner under
this Division (cf Traffic Act, ss 4F (8) and 4G (7))
(1) Any duty of a medical practitioner under this Division and any
relevant provisions of the regulations may be performed by a person
acting under the supervision of the medical practitioner.
(2) A duty performed by any such person is taken to have been
performed by the medical practitioner.
Division 5 Sobriety assessments and related drug analysis
25 Police officer may require sobriety assessment (cf Traffic Act, s 5AA
(1) and (2))
(1) A police officer may require a person to submit to an assessment of
his or her sobriety in accordance with the directions of the officer if:
(a) the person has undergone a breath test in accordance with
Division 3, and
(b) the result of the test does not permit the person to be required
to submit to a breath analysis.
(2) A person cannot be required to submit to a sobriety assessment
unless:
(a) a police officer has a reasonable belief that, by the way in
which the person:
(i) is or was driving a motor vehicle on a road or road
related area, or
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Section 25 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 5 Sobriety assessments and related drug analysis
(ii) is or was occupying the driving seat of a motor
vehicle on a road or road related area and attempting
to put the vehicle in motion,
the person may be under the influence of a drug, and
(b) the assessment is carried out by a police officer at or near the
place where the person underwent the breath test.
26 Arrest following failure to submit to (or pass) sobriety assessment
(cf Traffic Act, s 5AA (3))
If the person refuses to submit to a sobriety assessment under this
Division or, after the assessment has been made, a police officer has
a reasonable belief that the person is under the influence of a drug,
the police officer may:
(a) arrest that person without warrant, and
(b) take the person (or cause the person to be taken) with such
force as may be necessary to a hospital or a place prescribed
by the regulations and there detain the person (or cause the
person to be detained) for the purposes of this Division.
27 Procedure for taking samples following arrest (cf Traffic Act, s 5AA (4)
and (6)(10))
(1) Except as provided by section 28, a police officer may require a
person who has been arrested under section 26 to provide samples
of the person's blood and urine (whether or not the person consents
to them being taken) in accordance with the directions of a medical
practitioner.
(2) The police officer must inform any such medical practitioner that
the samples are required to be taken for the purposes of this
Division.
(3) The medical practitioner by whom or under whose directions a
sample of blood or urine is taken in accordance with this Division
must:
(a) divide the sample into 2 approximately equal portions, and
(b) place each portion into a container, and
(c) fasten and seal each container, and
(d) mark or label each container for future identification.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 27
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Sobriety assessments and related drug analysis Division 5
(4) Of the 2 sealed containers:
(a) one must be handed by the medical practitioner to the person
from whom it was taken or to some other person on behalf of
that person, and
(b) the other must be handed by the practitioner to the police
officer present when the sample was taken and forwarded to
a laboratory prescribed by the regulations for analysis by an
analyst to determine whether the blood or urine contains a
drug.
(5) An analyst at a laboratory prescribed by the regulations to whom
any blood or urine is submitted for analysis under this section may
carry out an analysis of the blood or urine to determine whether it
contains a drug.
(6) Any duty of a medical practitioner under this Division and any
relevant provisions of the regulations may be performed by a person
acting under the supervision of the medical practitioner. A duty
performed by any such person is taken to have been performed by
the medical practitioner.
(7) An analysis under this section may be carried out, and anything in
connection with the analysis (including the receipt of the blood or
urine to be analysed and the breaking of any seal) may be done, by
a person acting under the supervision of an analyst and, in that
event, is taken to have been carried out or done by the analyst.
28 When sobriety assessment and taking of samples not permitted (cf
Traffic Act, s 5AA (5))
A police officer cannot require a person to submit to a sobriety
assessment or to provide a sample under this Division:
(a) if the person has been admitted to hospital for medical
treatment, unless the medical practitioner in immediate
charge of the person's treatment has been notified of the
intention to make the requirement and the medical
practitioner does not object on the grounds that compliance
would be prejudicial to the proper care and treatment of the
person, or
(b) if it appears to that officer that it would, because of the
person's injuries, be dangerous to the person's medical
condition to submit to the assessment or provide the sample,
or
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Section 28 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 5 Sobriety assessments and related drug analysis
(c) at any time after the expiration of 2 hours from the
occurrence of the event referred to in section 25 (2) (a) (i) or
(ii) because of which the officer was entitled to require the
person to submit to the assessment or provide the sample, or
(d) at the person's home.
29 Offences related to sobriety assessments and testing for drugs (cf
Traffic Act, s 5AC (1)(4) and (6)(8))
(1) A person must not, when required by a police officer to submit to
an assessment under section 25, refuse or fail to submit to the
assessment in accordance with the directions of the police officer.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) A person must not:
(a) on being required under this Division by a police officer to
provide samples of blood or urine:
(i) refuse or fail to submit to the taking of the sample of
blood, or
(ii) refuse or fail to provide the sample of urine,
in accordance with the directions of a medical practitioner,
or
(b) wilfully do anything to introduce, or alter the amount of, a
drug in the person's blood or urine between the time of the
event referred to in section 25 (2) (a) (i) or (ii) in respect of
which the person has been required by a police officer to
submit to an assessment and the time when the person
undergoes that assessment, or
(c) wilfully do anything to introduce, or alter the amount of, a
drug in the person's blood or urine between the time of the
event referred to in section 25 (2) (a) (i) or (ii) in respect of
which the person has been required by a police officer to
submit to an assessment and the time when the person
provides a sample that the person is required to provide
under this Division.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 29
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Sobriety assessments and related drug analysis Division 5
(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (1)
or (2) (a) if the defendant satisfies the court that the defendant was
unable on medical grounds, when the defendant was required to do
so, to submit to an assessment or to provide a sample.
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution of a person for an offence under
subsection (2) (b) of wilfully doing anything to introduce, or alter
the amount of, a drug in the person's blood or urine if the person
satisfies the court that the thing was done more than 2 hours after
the time of the event referred to in section 25 (2) (a) (i) or (ii).
(5) If a medical practitioner is informed by a police officer in
accordance with this Division that a sample is required to be taken
for the purposes of this Division, the medical practitioner must not:
(a) fail to take the sample, or
(b) fail to comply with any requirement made by section 27 (3)
or (4) in relation to the sample.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(6) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (5)
if the medical practitioner satisfies the court that:
(a) the practitioner believed on reasonable grounds that the
taking of the sample from the person would be prejudicial to
the proper care and treatment of the person, or
(b) the practitioner did not believe that the person was of or
above the age of 15 years and it was reasonable for the
practitioner not to have so believed, or
(c) the practitioner was, because of the behaviour of the person,
unable to take the sample, or
(d) there was other reasonable cause for the practitioner not to
take the sample.
(7) A person must not hinder or obstruct a medical practitioner in
attempting to take a sample of the blood or urine of any other person
in accordance with this Division.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
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Section 30 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Prevention of vehicle use by drivers under influence of alcohol or other drug
Division 6
Division 6 Prevention of vehicle use by drivers under
influence of alcohol or other drug
30 Power to prevent driving by persons who are under the influence
of alcohol or other drugs (cf Traffic Act, s 26A)
(1) If a police officer is of the opinion that a person who is driving (or
about to drive) a motor vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or
any other drug, the police officer may:
(a) prohibit the person from driving the vehicle while the person
is under the influence of alcohol or that other drug, and
(b) require the person to immediately hand over all ignition or
other keys of the motor vehicle in the person's actual
possession:
(i) to the police officer, or
(ii) to another person in the company of the person whom
the police officer is satisfied is responsible and
capable of exercising proper control of the motor
vehicle, and
(c) take such other steps as, in the opinion of the police officer,
are necessary in order:
(i) to immobilise the motor vehicle, or
(ii) to remove the motor vehicle to a place of safety and
detain it at that place.
(2) If the police officer is of the opinion that the person concerned is
under the influence of alcohol, the person is entitled to request that
the person undergo a breath test in order to determine whether or
not the person is under the influence of alcohol. If such a request is
made, the police officer may not take any action under subsection
(1) until the person undergoes the breath test.
(3) Subsection (1) does not authorise the confiscation of any keys, or
the immobilisation, removal or detention of any motor vehicle, for
any period that is longer than necessary in the circumstances and in
the interest of the person driving (or about to drive) or of any other
person or of the public.
(4) It is lawful for a police officer to retain any keys that are confiscated
under subsection (1), or for any motor vehicle to be immobilised or
detained under that subsection, until such time as:
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 30
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Prevention of vehicle use by drivers under influence of alcohol or other drug Division 6
(a) the return of the keys or the motor vehicle is requested by a
person, and
(b) the police officer to whom the request is made:
(i) is satisfied that the person making the request is
capable of exercising proper control of the motor
vehicle, or
(ii) is informed by a registered medical practitioner (not
being the person making the request) that the person
making the request is not under the influence of
alcohol or any other drug.
However, the person making the request is entitled to possession of
the keys or motor vehicle concerned only if the police officer is
satisfied that the person is entitled to lawful possession of the motor
vehicle.
(5) If the keys or the motor vehicle are not returned within 24 hours
after such a request is made, the person may apply to a Local Court
for an order for the keys or motor vehicle to be returned to the
person.
(6) A person must not:
(a) contravene any prohibition or requirement made by a police
officer under subsection (1), or
(b) attempt in any manner to obstruct a police officer in the
exercise of any power conferred on the police officer under
subsection (1).
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(7) A court may only find a person guilty of an offence under
subsection (6) if the court is satisfied that the police officer had
reasonable grounds for believing that, in the circumstances, the
action taken by the police officer was necessary in the interest of the
person or of any other person or of the public.
(8) The Commissioner of Police has (in the Commissioner's official
capacity) a duty to take all reasonable steps to secure a motor
vehicle that is detained under subsection (1).
(9) Any expenses incurred in connection with the immobilisation,
removal or detention of a motor vehicle under subsection (1) may
be recovered from the person who was driving (or about to drive)
the vehicle, or from the responsible person for the vehicle, as a debt
in a court of competent jurisdiction.
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Section 31 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Prevention of vehicle use by drivers under influence of alcohol or other drug
Division 6
31 Detention of vehicle in certain cases (cf Traffic Act, s 5A)
(1) A police officer may take charge of and remove any vehicle in
respect of which an offence under Division 1 or 2 has been
committed to any convenient place for safe keeping.
(2) The court adjudicating may, if it is of the opinion that there was
reasonable cause for any such taking charge, removal and safe
keeping, order the costs, charges and expenses of it to be paid by the
offender.
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
32 Evidence of alcohol concentration revealed by breath or blood
analysis in proceedings for offence under section 9 (cf Traffic Act, ss
4E (11) and 4G (8))
(1) In proceedings for an offence under section 9, evidence may be
given of the concentration of alcohol present in the blood of the
person charged as determined by:
(a) a breath analysing instrument operated by a police officer
authorised to do so by the Commissioner of Police, or
(b) an analysis of the person's blood under Division 4.
(2) In proceedings for an offence under section 9, the concentration of
alcohol so determined is taken to be the concentration of alcohol in
the person's blood at the time of the occurrence of the relevant
event referred to in section 13 (1) (a), (b) or (c) if the breath analysis
was made, or blood sample taken, within 2 hours after the event
unless the defendant proves that the concentration of alcohol in the
defendant's blood at the time concerned was:
(a) in the case of an offence under section 9 (1)--less than 0.02
grammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of the defendant's
blood, or
(b) in the case of an offence under section 9 (2)--less than 0.05
grammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of the defendant's
blood, or
(c) in the case of an offence under section 9 (3)--less than 0.08
grammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of the defendant's
blood, or
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 32
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Evidentiary and other procedural matters Division 7
(d) in the case of an offence under section 9 (4)--less than 0.15
grammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of the defendant's
blood.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) affects the operation of section 10.
33 Certificate evidence about breath or blood analysis in proceedings
for offences under section 9 (cf Traffic Act, ss 4E (12) and 4G (9)(11A))
(1) In proceedings for an offence under section 9 a certificate
purporting to be signed by a police officer certifying that:
(a) the officer is authorised by the Commissioner of Police to
operate breath analysing instruments, and
(b) a person named in the certificate submitted to a breath
analysis, and
(c) the apparatus used by the officer to make the breath analysis
was a breath analysing instrument within the meaning of this
Act, and
(d) the analysis was made on the day and completed at the time
stated in the certificate, and
(e) a concentration of alcohol determined by that breath
analysing instrument and expressed in grammes of alcohol in
100 millilitres of blood was present in the blood of that
person on the day and at the time stated in the certificate, and
(f) a statement in writing required by section 15 (3) was
delivered in accordance with that subsection,
is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the
particulars certified in and by the certificate.
(2) In proceedings for an offence under section 9 or Division 3 a
certificate purporting to be signed by the Commissioner of Police
that the police officer named in the certificate is authorised by the
Commissioner of Police to operate breath analysing instruments is
evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the
particulars certified in and by the certificate.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under section 9 or Division 3,
evidence of the condition of a breath analysing instrument or the
manner in which it was operated is not required unless evidence that
the instrument was not in proper condition or was not properly
operated has been adduced.
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Section 33 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
(4) In proceedings for an offence under section 9 a certificate
purporting to be signed by a medical practitioner or nurse certifying
any one or more of the following matters is evidence (unless
evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the particulars certified in
and by the certificate:
(a) that he or she was a medical practitioner or nurse who
attended a specified person who attended at or was admitted
into a hospital as referred to in section 20,
(b) that he or she took a sample of the person's blood in
accordance with Division 4, and any relevant provisions of
the regulations, on the day and at the time stated in the
certificate,
(c) that he or she dealt with the sample in accordance with
section 23 (1) and any relevant provisions of the regulations,
(d) that he or she used equipment of a specified description in so
taking and dealing with the sample,
(e) that the container was sealed, and marked or labelled, in a
specified manner.
(5) In proceedings for an offence under section 9, a certificate
purporting to be signed by a police officer certifying any one or
more of the following matters is evidence (unless evidence to the
contrary is adduced) of the particulars certified in and by the
certificate:
(a) that the officer received a portion of a sample of a specified
person's blood taken in accordance with Division 4,
(b) that the officer arranged for the portion to be submitted for
analysis by an analyst to determine the concentration of
alcohol in the blood,
(c) that the container was sealed, and marked or labelled, in a
specified manner.
(6) In proceedings for an offence under section 9, a certificate
purporting to be signed by an analyst certifying any one or more of
the following matters:
(a) that the analyst received, on a specified day, a portion of a
sample of a specified person's blood in a container submitted
for analysis under this section,
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 33
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Evidentiary and other procedural matters Division 7
(b) that the container, as received by the analyst, was sealed, and
marked or labelled, in a specified manner,
(c) that on receipt by the analyst of the container, the seal was
unbroken,
(d) that the analyst carried out an analysis of the portion to
determine the concentration of alcohol in the sample,
(e) that the concentration of alcohol determined pursuant to the
analysis and expressed in grammes of alcohol in 100
millilitres of blood was present in that sample,
(f) that the analyst was, at the time of the analysis, an analyst
within the meaning of this Act,
is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced):
(g) of the particulars certified in and by the certificate, and
(h) that the sample was a portion of the sample of the blood of
that specified person, and
(i) that the portion had not been tampered with before it was
received by the analyst.
(7) In proceedings for an offence under section 9, a certificate
purporting to be signed by a person who, in another State or
Territory:
(a) took a blood sample, or
(b) analysed a blood sample,
in accordance with provisions of a law of that State or Territory that
substantially correspond to the provisions of Division 4 is evidence
(unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the particulars
certified in and by the certificate, and an analysis to which any such
certificate relates is be taken to be an analysis under Division 4.
34 Evidence of drugs revealed by blood or urine analysis in
proceedings for offence under section 12 (cf Traffic Act s 5AB (1))
In proceedings for an offence under section 12 (1):
(a) evidence may be given of:
(i) the presence of a drug, or
(ii) the presence of a particular concentration of a drug,
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Section 34 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
in the blood or urine of the person charged, as determined
pursuant to an analysis under Division 4 or 5 of a portion of
a sample of the person's blood or urine, and
(b) the drug the presence of which is so determined or the
particular concentration of the drug the presence of which is
so determined, as the case may be, is to be taken to have
been present in the blood or urine of that person when the
event referred to in section 12 (1) (a) or (b) (as the case may
be) occurred,
if the sample was taken within 2 hours after the event, unless the
defendant proves the absence of the drug, or the presence of the
drug in a different concentration, when the event occurred.
35 Certificate evidence about blood or urine analysis in proceedings
for offences under section 12 (cf Traffic Act, s 5AB (2)(4A))
(1) In proceedings for an offence under section 12 (1), a certificate
purporting to be signed by a medical practitioner or nurse certifying
any one or more of the following matters is evidence (unless
evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the particulars certified in
and by the certificate:
(a) that the practitioner or nurse was a medical practitioner or
nurse who attended a specified person who attended at or
was admitted into a hospital or a place prescribed by the
regulations as referred to in Division 4 or 5,
(b) that the practitioner or nurse took a sample of the person's
blood or urine in accordance with Division 4 or 5 and any
relevant provisions of the regulations, on the day and at the
time stated in the certificate,
(c) that the practitioner or nurse dealt with the sample in
accordance with Division 4 or 5 and any relevant provisions
of the regulations,
(d) that the container was sealed, and marked or labelled, in a
specified manner.
(2) In proceedings for an offence under section 12 (1), a certificate
purporting to be signed by a police officer certifying any one or
more of the following matters is evidence (unless evidence to the
contrary is adduced) of the particulars certified in and by the
certificate:
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 35
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Evidentiary and other procedural matters Division 7
(a) that the officer received a portion of a sample of a specified
person's blood or urine taken in accordance with Division 4
or 5,
(b) that the officer arranged for the portion to be submitted for
analysis by an analyst to determine whether any drug was
present in the sample,
(c) that the container was sealed, and marked or labelled, in a
specified manner.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under section 12 (1), a certificate
purporting to be signed by an analyst certifying any one or more of
the following matters:
(a) that the analyst received, on a specified day, a portion of a
sample of a specified person's blood or urine in a container
submitted for analysis under Division 4 or 5,
(b) that the container, as received by the analyst, was sealed, and
marked or labelled, in a specified manner,
(c) that on receipt by the analyst of the container, the seal was
unbroken,
(d) that the analyst carried out an analysis of the portion to
determine whether any drug was present in the sample,
(e) that a specified drug ascertained pursuant to the analysis was
present in that portion and, if so certified, was present in that
portion in a specified concentration,
(f) that the analyst was, at the time of the analysis, an analyst
within the meaning of this Act,
is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced):
(g) of the particulars certified in and by the certificate, and
(h) that the portion was a portion of the sample of the blood or
urine of that specified person, and
(i) that the portion had not been tampered with before it was
received by the analyst.
(4) Subsections (1)(3):
(a) do not apply to proceedings brought on a charge that, by the
operation of section 38 (4), cannot be laid, and
(b) do not enable evidence to be given of or in relation to:
(i) the presence of a drug other than alcohol, or
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Section 35 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
(ii) the presence of a particular concentration of a drug
other than alcohol,
in the blood of a person charged with an offence under
section 12 (1), as determined by an analysis under Division
4, unless the court is satisfied that the analysis was not
arranged in contravention of section 23 (6).
36 Certificate evidence may specify minimum concentrations (cf Traffic
Act, s 17C)
If, in any proceedings in which evidence is permitted to be given of
the results of an analysis, undertaken for the purposes of this Act,
of a sample of a person's blood or urine, evidence is given by a
certificate under this Act to the effect that alcohol or another
specified drug was found by the analysis to be present in the sample
in a concentration not less than a specified concentration:
(a) the certificate is to be treated as though it stated that the
concentration of alcohol or of the other drug concerned was
determined by the analysis to be present in the specified
minimum concentration, and
(b) the evidence given by the certificate is not open to challenge
on the basis that the analysis, merely because it purports to
determine a concentration in terms of a minimum, does not
meet the requirements of this Act.
37 Evidence of breath test, breath analysis or blood or urine analysis
and related facts not admissible in insurance cases to prove
intoxication or drug use (cf Traffic Act, ss 4E (13), 4G (12) and (13) and
5AB (5) and (6))
(1) For the purposes of any contract of insurance, any of the following
facts are not admissible as evidence of the fact that a person was at
any time under the influence of or in any way affected by
intoxicating liquor or incapable of driving or of exercising effective
control over a motor vehicle:
(a) the fact that a person has undergone a breath test or
submitted to a breath analysis under Division 3,
(b) the result of a breath test or breath analysis,
(c) the fact that a person has been convicted of an offence under
section 9, 13 (2), 15 (4) or 16.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 37
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Evidentiary and other procedural matters Division 7
(2) For the purposes of any contract of insurance, the results of any
analysis of blood or urine under Division 4 or 5 are not admissible
as evidence of the fact that a person was at any time under the
influence of or in any way affected by intoxicating liquor or other
drug or incapable of driving or of exercising effective control over
a vehicle or horse.
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) precludes the admission of any
other evidence to show a fact referred in the subsection.
(4) The provisions of this section have effect despite anything
contained in any contract of insurance.
(5) Any covenant, term, condition or provision in any contract of
insurance is void:
(a) to the extent that the operation of this section is excluded,
limited, modified or restricted, or
(b) to the extent that it purports to exclude or limit the liability
of the insurer in the event of any person being convicted of
an offence under section 9 or Division 3.
(6) However, nothing in subsection (5) precludes the inclusion in a
contract of insurance of any other covenant, term, condition or
provision under which the liability of the insurer is excluded or
limited.
38 Double jeopardy in relation to alcohol and other drug offences (cf
Traffic Act, ss 4E (14) and (15), 4F (9) and (10) and 5AC (5))
(1) If a person has been convicted of an offence under section 15 (4),
16, 22 (2) or 29 (2), the person is not liable to be convicted of an
offence under section 12 (1) if the offence for which the person has
been convicted and the other offence arose directly or indirectly out
of the same circumstances.
(2) If a person has been convicted of an offence under section 12 (1),
the person is not liable to be convicted of an offence under section
15 (4), 16, 22 (2) or 29 (2) if the offence for which the person has
been convicted and the other offence arose directly or indirectly out
of the same circumstances.
(3) If, by reason of the occurrence of an event referred to in section 13
(1) (a), (b) or (c), a person is required by a police officer to undergo
a breath test and as a consequence of that test to submit to a breath
analysis and the person submits to the breath analysis in accordance
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Section 38 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 2 Alcohol and other drug use
Division 7 Evidentiary and other procedural matters
with the directions of a police officer, the person cannot be charged
with an offence under section 12 (1) of:
(a) driving a motor vehicle, at the time of that event, while the
person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or
(b) occupying the driving seat of a motor vehicle and attempting
to put such motor vehicle in motion, at the time of that event,
while the person was under the influence of intoxicating
liquor.
(4) A person who has had a sample of blood taken in accordance with
Division 4 because of an accident is not to be charged with an
offence under section 12 (1) if it is alleged as a component of the
offence that the person was under the influence of alcohol and the
offence relates to the same accident.
Division 8 Personal liability of sample takers
39 Personal liability for good faith taking of samples (cf Traffic Act, ss 4F
(11) and 5AC (9))
(1) A medical practitioner or nurse does not incur any civil or criminal
liability in respect of anything properly and necessarily done by the
practitioner or nurse in the course of taking a sample of blood or
urine from a person for the purpose of its being used by an analyst
to detect the presence of any drug if the practitioner or nurse:
(a) believed on reasonable grounds that he or she was required
under this Act to take the sample of blood or urine from the
person, or
(b) believed on reasonable grounds that the person was involved
in an accident on a road or road related area (whether in New
South Wales or elsewhere) involving a vehicle or horse and
he or she did not know, and could not with reasonable
diligence have ascertained, whether or not he or she was
required to take the sample from the person under Division
4, or
(c) was informed by a police officer that the person was a person
from whom the practitioner or nurse was required under this
Act to take the sample of blood or urine.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 39
Alcohol and other drug use Part 2
Personal liability of sample takers Division 8
(2) Subsection (1) extends to any person acting under the supervision
of the medical practitioner as referred to in section 24 or 27 (6).
(3) This section applies despite section 49 of the Road Transport
(General) Act 1999.
Page 35
Section 40 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 1 Speeding and other dangerous driving offences
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 1 Speeding and other dangerous driving offences
40 Races, attempts on speed records and other speed trials (cf Traffic
Act, s 4B)
(1) A person must not organise, promote or take part in:
(a) any race between vehicles on a road or road related area, or
(b) any attempt to break any vehicle speed record on a road or
road related area, or
(c) any trial of the speed of a vehicle on a road or road related
area, or
(d) any competitive trial designed to test the skill of any vehicle
driver or the reliability or mechanical condition of any
vehicle on a road or road related area,
unless the written approval of the Commissioner of Police to the
holding or making of the race, attempt or trial has been obtained.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) The Commissioner of Police may:
(a) grant or refuse approval to the holding or making of a race,
attempt or trial referred to in subsection (1), and
(b) impose any condition (whether of general or limited
application) on the approval that the Commissioner considers
necessary in the interests of public safety and convenience.
Note. Section 48 (1) of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 provides that
a person aggrieved by a decision of the Commissioner of Police under this
subsection may apply to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal for a review of
the decision.
(3) A person taking part in (or the organiser or promoter) of any race,
attempt or trial referred to in subsection (1) must comply with any
condition imposed on an approval granted under subsection (2) in
respect of the race, attempt or trial.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) If a person is convicted by a court of an offence under this section
in relation to a motor vehicle or trailer:
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 40
Speeding and other dangerous driving Part 3
Speeding and other dangerous driving offences Division 1
(a) except as provided by paragraph (b)--the person is
disqualified from holding a driver licence by the conviction
and without any specific order of a court for 12 months, or
(b) if the court at the time of the conviction thinks fit to order a
shorter or a longer period of disqualification--the person is
disqualified from holding a driver licence for the period
specified in the order.
Note. Section 26 of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 provides for the
effect of a disqualification (whether or not by order of a court).
(5) Any disqualification under this section is in addition to any penalty
imposed for the offence.
(6) This section does not apply to any test of the slow running of a
vehicle.
41 Conduct associated with road and drag racing and other activities
(cf Traffic Act, s 4BA)
(1) A person must not, on a road or road related area, operate a motor
vehicle in such a manner as to cause the vehicle to undergo
sustained loss of traction by one or more of the driving wheels (or,
in the case of a motor cycle, the driving wheel) of the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units.
(2) A person must not operate a motor vehicle contrary to subsection
(1) knowing that any petrol, oil, diesel fuel or other inflammable
liquid has been placed on the surface of the road or road related area
beneath one or more tyres of the vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 7 penalty units.
(3) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (2), it is
a defence if the person charged satisfies the court that the vehicle,
although operated as referred to in subsection (1), was not so
operated deliberately.
(4) A person must not, on a road or road related area, engage in conduct
prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this section,
being conduct associated with the operation of a motor vehicle for
speed competitions or other activities specified or described in the
regulations.
Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units.
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Section 41 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 1 Speeding and other dangerous driving offences
(5) Nothing in this section applies to the operation of a motor vehicle
for the purposes of a race, attempt or trial undertaken in accordance
with an approval given under section 40 by the Commissioner of
Police.
42 Negligent, furious or reckless driving (cf Traffic Act, s 4)
(1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle negligently on a road or
road related area.
Maximum penalty:
(a) if the driving occasions death--30 penalty units or
imprisonment for 18 months or both (in the case of a first
offence) or 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years or
both (in the case of a second or subsequent offence), or
(b) if the driving occasions grievous bodily harm--20 penalty
units or imprisonment for 9 months or both (in the case of a
first offence) or 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 12
months or both (in the case of a second or subsequent
offence), or
(c) if the driving does not occasion death or grievous bodily
harm--10 penalty units.
(2) A person must not drive a motor vehicle furiously, recklessly or at
a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public, on a road or road
related area.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units or imprisonment for 9 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 30 penalty units or
imprisonment for 12 months or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
(3) In considering whether an offence has been committed under this
section, the court is to have regard to all the circumstances of the
case, including the following:
(a) the nature, condition and use of the road or road related area
on which the offence is alleged to have been committed,
(b) the amount of traffic that actually is at the time, or which
might reasonably be expected to be, on the road or road
related area.
(4) In this section:
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 42
Speeding and other dangerous driving Part 3
Speeding and other dangerous driving offences Division 1
grievous bodily harm includes any permanent or serious
disfigurement.
43 Menacing driving (cf Traffic Act, s 4AA)
(1) Offence--intent to menace
A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a road or road related
area in a manner that menaces another person with the intention of
menacing that other person.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
(2) Offence--possibility of menace
A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a road or road related
area in a manner that menaces another person if the person ought to
have known that the other person might be menaced.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 30 penalty units or
imprisonment for 18 months or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
(3) Application of section
This section applies:
(a) whether the other person is menaced by a threat of personal
injury or by a threat of damage to property, and
(b) whether or not that person or that property is on a road or
road related area.
(4) Defence
A person is not guilty of an offence under this section if the person
could not, in the circumstances, reasonably avoid menacing the
other person.
(5) Double jeopardy
A person is not liable to be convicted of:
(a) both an offence under subsection (1) and an offence under
subsection (2), or
(b) both an offence under this section and an offence under
section 42,
arising out of a single incident.
Page 39
Section 44 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 2 Speed measurement
Division 2 Speed measurement
44 Approved speed measuring devices (cf Traffic Act, ss 2 (1) and 4AB (3))
(1) In this Act, an approved speed measuring device is a device of a
type approved by the Governor by order published in the Gazette as
being designed to measure the speed at which a vehicle is travelling.
(2) The Minister is not to recommend the making of an order by the
Governor for the purposes of subsection (1) except with the
concurrence of the Attorney General.
45 Approved camera recording devices (cf Traffic Act, s 2 (1))
In this Act, an approved camera recording device is a device of a
type approved by the Commissioner of Police by order published in
the Gazette as being designed for attachment to an approved speed
measuring device for the purpose of taking photographs of vehicles
being driven in excess of speed limits and for recording on any such
photograph:
(a) the speed at which any such vehicle is travelling (as
measured by the approved speed measuring device), and
(b) the date on which the photograph is taken, and
(c) the time and location at which the photograph is taken, and
(d) the speed limit that, in accordance with the regulations, is
applicable to the length of road or road related area at which
the photograph is taken, and
(e) the direction in which the vehicle is travelling (that is,
towards or away from the device).
46 Certificates concerning use of approved speed measuring devices
(cf Traffic Act, s 4AB (1) and (2))
(1) In proceedings for any offence in which evidence is given of a
measurement of speed obtained by the use of an approved speed
measuring device, a certificate purporting to be signed by a police
officer certifying that:
(a) the device is an approved speed measuring device within the
meaning of this Act, and
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 46
Speeding and other dangerous driving Part 3
Speed measurement Division 2
(b) on a day specified in the certificate (being within the time
prescribed by the regulations before the alleged time of the
offence) the device was tested in accordance with the
regulations and sealed by a police officer, and
(c) on that day the device was accurate and operating properly,
is admissible and is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is
adduced) of the particulars certified in and by the certificate.
(2) If any such certificate is tendered in proceedings for an offence,
evidence of the accuracy or reliability of the approved speed
measuring device is not required in those proceedings unless
evidence that the device was not accurate or not reliable has been
adduced.
47 Photographic evidence of speeding offence (cf Traffic Act, s 4AC)
(1) In proceedings for an offence of driving at a speed in excess of a
speed limit imposed by or under this Act or the regulations,
evidence may be given of a measurement of speed obtained by the
use of an approved speed measuring device and recorded by an
approved camera recording device.
(2) In proceedings in which such evidence is given:
(a) the provisions of section 46 relating to the accuracy or
reliability of the approved speed measuring device apply, and
(b) subsections (3) and (4) apply in relation to the approved
camera recording device.
(3) A photograph tendered in evidence as a photograph taken by an
approved camera recording device on a specified day at a specified
location:
(a) is to be accepted as having been so taken (unless evidence to
the contrary is adduced), and
(b) is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of
the matters shown or recorded on the photograph.
(4) When the photograph is tendered in evidence, a certificate
purporting to be signed by a police officer and certifying the
following particulars is also to be tendered in evidence and is
evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of those
particulars:
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Section 47 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 2 Speed measurement
(a) that the officer is authorised by the Commissioner of Police
to install and inspect approved camera recording devices,
(b) that within 84 hours before the time and day recorded on the
photograph as the time at which and the day on which the
photograph was taken, the officer carried out the inspection
specified in the certificate on the approved camera recording
device that took the photograph,
(c) that on that inspection the approved camera recording device
was found to be operating correctly.
48 Sale, purchase or use of prohibited speed measuring evasion
articles (cf Traffic Act, s 4AD)
(1) A person must not sell or offer for sale, or purchase, a prohibited
speed measuring evasion article.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person must not drive a motor vehicle, or cause a motor vehicle
or trailer to stand, on a road or road related area if`a prohibited
speed measuring evasion article is fitted or applied to, or carried in,
the vehicle or trailer.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) The responsible person for a motor vehicle or trailer which is driven
or stands on a road or road related area in contravention of
subsection (2) is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section if
the defendant satisfies the court that the article concerned was not
designed as a prohibited speed measuring evasion article but was
designed for another purpose.
(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (2)
or (3) if the defendant satisfies the court that, at the time of the
alleged offence:
(a) the vehicle was in the course of a journey to a place
appointed by a police officer, an officer of the Authority or
a court, in order to surrender the article, or
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 48
Speeding and other dangerous driving Part 3
Speed measurement Division 2
(b) the vehicle was the subject of a notice, issued in accordance
with the regulations, requiring the responsible person for the
vehicle to remove the article from the vehicle within a
specified time and that time had not expired, or
(c) the defendant did not know, and in the circumstances could
not reasonably be expected to have known, that the article
concerned was fitted or applied to, or was being carried in,
the vehicle or trailer.
49 Surrender and forfeiture of prohibited speed measuring evasion
articles (cf Traffic Act, s 4AE)
(1) A police officer who reasonably believes that:
(a) a prohibited speed measuring evasion article is being sold or
offered for sale in contravention of section 48 (1), or
(b) a motor vehicle or trailer is standing or being driven in
contravention of section 48 (2) because of an article fitted or
applied to, or carried in, the motor vehicle or trailer,
may require a person in possession of the article to surrender it
immediately to the police officer or, in the case of an article fitted
or applied to a motor vehicle or trailer and not immediately
removable, may by notice in writing served on the responsible
person for the vehicle or trailer require the responsible person to
surrender the article within a specified time and in a specified
manner to the Commissioner of Police.
(2) An officer of the Authority who is authorised in writing by the
Authority for the purposes of this section and who finds a prohibited
speed measuring evasion article fitted or applied to, or carried in, a
motor vehicle or trailer may, by notice in writing served on the
responsible person for the motor vehicle or trailer, require the
person to do either or both of the following:
(a) remove the article (if it is fitted to the motor vehicle or
trailer),
(b) surrender the article within a specified time and in a
specified manner to the Commissioner of Police.
(3) A person must comply with a requirement under subsection (1) or
(2), whether or not he or she is the owner of the article concerned.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
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Section 49 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 3 Speeding and other dangerous driving
Division 2 Speed measurement
(4) A court that finds an offence under section 48 or under subsection
(3) to have been proven against any person may order that the article
concerned, if not already surrendered in compliance with a
requirement under this section, be delivered to the Commissioner of
Police within a time and in a manner specified by the court.
(5) An article surrendered as required under this section is forfeited to
the Crown and may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the
direction of the Commissioner of Police.
(6) No liability attaches to any person on account of the surrender by
the person, in compliance with a requirement under this section, of
a prohibited speed measuring evasion article of which that person
is not the absolute owner.
Page 44
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 50
Traffic control devices Part 4
Installation, display and removal of prescribed traffic control devices Division 1
Part 4 Traffic control devices
Division 1 Installation, display and removal of prescribed
traffic control devices
50 Interpretation
In this Division:
installation of a prescribed traffic control device includes the
painting or formation of any marks or structure that constitute, or
form part of, the device.
prescribed traffic control device means a sign, signal, marking,
structure or other device to direct or warn traffic on a road or road
related area (or part of a road or road related area) that is prescribed
by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
traffic control authority means:
(a) the Authority, or
(b) the Commissioner of Police, or
(c) any other person (or person belonging to a class or
description of persons) prescribed by the regulations for the
purposes of this definition.
51 Appropriate authority for the purposes of this Division
For the purposes of this Division, a person has appropriate authority
to install or display (or to interfere with, alter or remove) a
prescribed traffic control device if:
(a) the person is a public authority that has been directed by the
Authority under Division 1C of Part 6 of the Transport
Administration Act 1988 to install or display (or to interfere
with, alter or remove) the device, or
(b) the person is otherwise authorised in writing by the Authority
to install or display (or to interfere with, alter or remove) the
device.
Note. Division 1C of Part 6 of the Transport Administration Act 1988 enables
the Authority to give certain public authorities directions in respect of safety and
traffic management.
Page 45
Section 52 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 4 Traffic control devices
Division 1 Installation, display and removal of prescribed traffic control devices
52 Unauthorised prescribed traffic control devices (cf Traffic Act, s 4D (6))
(1) A person must not, without appropriate authority:
(a) install or display a prescribed traffic control device on, above
or near a road or road related area, or
(b) interfere with, alter or remove any prescribed traffic control
device installed or displayed on, above or near a road or road
related area.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person must not install or display on, above or near a road or road
related area any sign, signal, marking, structure or other device that
might reasonably be mistaken to be a prescribed traffic control
device.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
53 Removal of unauthorised prescribed traffic control devices (cf Traffic
Act, s 4D (7) and (8))
(1) A traffic control authority (or a person authorised by any such
authority) may direct any person who contravenes section 52 to
remove, within a time specified by the authority when giving the
direction, the sign, signal, marking, structure or other device in
respect of which the contravention took place.
(2) A person to whom a direction is given under subsection (1) must
comply with the direction.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) Without affecting any liability of any person under section 52 or
subsection (2), a traffic control authority may remove, or cause to
be removed, any sign, signal, marking, structure or other device
installed or displayed in contravention of section 52.
54 Cost of removal of prescribed traffic control device
(1) A traffic control authority may, by proceedings brought in a court
of competent jurisdiction, recover the expenses that the authority
has incurred in exercising the functions conferred by section 53 as
a debt from the person who (without appropriate authority) installed
or displayed the sign, signal, marking, structure or other device
concerned.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 54
Traffic control devices Part 4
Installation, display and removal of prescribed traffic control devices Division 1
(2) A certificate that is issued on behalf of a traffic control authority by
a person prescribed by the regulations (or by a person belonging to
a class of persons so prescribed) and that states that a specified
amount represents the costs incurred by the authority in carrying out
specified work or in taking specified action for the purposes of
section 53, is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced)
of the fact or facts so stated.
55 Prescribed traffic control devices presumed to be lawfully installed
or displayed except for purposes of section 52 (cf Traffic Act, s 4D (9))
In proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations
(other than an offence against section 52 (1)), a prescribed traffic
control device that is installed or displayed on, above or near a road
or road related area is conclusively presumed to have been lawfully
installed or displayed there under this Act.
Division 2 Monitoring of traffic light offences
56 Approved camera detection device (cf Traffic Act, s 2 (1))
In this Act, an approved camera detection device is a device of a
type approved by the Commissioner of Police by order published in
the Gazette as being designed to take a photograph of a vehicle that
is driven in contravention of a traffic light signal displaying a red
circle or a red arrow and to record on the photograph:
(a) the date on which the photograph is taken, and
(b) the time and location at which the photograph is taken, and
(c) the direction and lane in which the vehicle activating the
camera is travelling, and
(d) the interval during which the red circle or red arrow has been
continuously displayed immediately before the photograph
is taken.
57 Photographic evidence of traffic light offences (cf Traffic Act, s 4DA)
(1) In this section:
traffic light offence means an offence under the regulations of
contravening a traffic light signal displaying a red circle or a red
arrow.
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Section 57 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 4 Traffic control devices
Division 2 Monitoring of traffic light offences
(2) In proceedings for a traffic light offence:
(a) a photograph tendered in evidence as a photograph taken by
means of the operation, on a specified day, of an approved
camera detection device installed at a specified location is
taken to have been so taken (unless evidence to the contrary
is adduced), and
(b) any such photograph is evidence (unless evidence to the
contrary is adduced) of the matters shown or recorded on the
photograph, and
(c) evidence of the condition of the approved camera detection
device is not required unless evidence that the device was not
in proper condition has been adduced.
(3) If a photograph referred to in subsection (2) is tendered in evidence
in proceedings for a traffic light offence, a certificate purporting to
be signed by a police officer certifying that:
(a) the officer is authorised by the Commissioner of Police to
install and inspect approved camera detection devices, and
(b) on a day and at a time specified in the certificate (being
within 84 hours before the time recorded on the photograph
as the time at which the photograph was taken), the officer
carried out the inspection specified in the certificate on the
approved camera detection device by means of which the
photograph was taken, and
(c) on that inspection, the approved camera detection device was
found to be properly operating,
is to be tendered in evidence in those proceedings and is evidence
(unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the particulars
certified in and by the certificate.
Page 48
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 58
Vehicle safety and accidents Part 5
Offences relating to unsafe loads Division 1
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 1 Offences relating to unsafe loads
58 Unsafe loads (cf Traffic Act, s 8C)
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, that a motor
vehicle or trailer is loaded unsafely, and
(b) the person drives or causes or permits the motor vehicle or
trailer to be driven or to stand on a road or road related area,
and
(c) death or personal injury to a person, or damage to property
(other than the motor vehicle, trailer or load), occurs while
the motor vehicle or trailer is being so driven or stood
because it is loaded unsafely.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months
or both (in the case of an individual) or 100 penalty units (in the
case of a corporation).
(2) The responsible person for a motor vehicle or trailer is guilty of an
offence if:
(a) the motor vehicle or trailer is loaded unsafely and is driven
or stood on a road or road related area, and
(b) the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the
motor vehicle or trailer is loaded unsafely, and
(c) death or personal injury to a person, or damage to property
(other than the motor vehicle, trailer or load), occurs while
the motor vehicle or trailer is being so driven or stood
because it is loaded unsafely.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months
or both (in the case of an individual) or 100 penalty units (in the
case of a corporation).
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Section 58 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 1 Offences relating to unsafe loads
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is a director of, or a person concerned in the
management of, a corporation that is the responsible person
for a motor vehicle or trailer that is loaded unsafely and is
driven or stood on a road or road related area, and
(b) the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the
motor vehicle or trailer is loaded unsafely, and
(c) death or personal injury to a person, or damage to property
(other than the motor vehicle, trailer or load), occurs while
the motor vehicle or trailer is being so driven or stood
because it is loaded unsafely.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months
or both (in the case of an individual) or 100 penalty units (in the
case of a corporation).
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section if
a person establishes that the person was not in a position to prevent
the motor vehicle or trailer from being driven or stood on a road or
road related area while loaded unsafely.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a motor vehicle or trailer is loaded
unsafely if:
(a) a load on the motor vehicle or trailer is placed in a way that
makes the motor vehicle or trailer unstable or unsafe, or
(b) a load on the motor vehicle or trailer is not secured in such
a way that it is unlikely to fall or be dislodged from the motor
vehicle or trailer, or
(c) an appropriate method is not used to secure a load on the
motor vehicle or trailer.
(6) In proceedings for an offence under this section, it is sufficient to
prove that a motor vehicle or trailer was loaded unsafely if the
prosecution proves that the load on the vehicle or trailer was not
placed, secured or restrained in a way that met the performance
standards recommended in the Load Restraint Guide--Guidelines
for the safe carriage of loads on road vehicles published by the
Australian Government Publishing Service on 12 December 1994.
(7) In this section:
motor vehicle includes a combination consisting of a motor vehicle
connected to one or more vehicles.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 59
Vehicle safety and accidents Part 5
Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods Division 2
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles
carrying dangerous goods
59 Definitions (cf Traffic Act, s 10F)
(1) In this Division:
applicable motor vehicle means a motor vehicle to which this
Division applies.
approved means approved by the Authority.
automatic data, in relation to a journey made by a motor vehicle,
means recordings (made by mechanical or electronic means, or by
both of those means, in an approved form, and to an approved
degree of accuracy) of:
(a) the lengths of time for which the vehicle is driven, and for
which it is standing, during the journey, and
(b) the speeds at which the vehicle is driven (measured
continuously or at approved intervals) during the journey,
and
(c) the distance travelled during each period when the vehicle is
driven during the journey,
being recordings made by a monitoring device.
manual data, in relation to a journey made by a motor vehicle,
means recordings made by hand of:
(a) the date, time and place of commencement, and of
completion, of the journey, and
(b) the times at which the vehicle is driven, and at which it is
standing, during the journey, and
(c) the name of each driver, and the times at which each driver
was in charge of the vehicle, during the journey, and
(d) the registration number of the vehicle, and
(e) the name of each person making each of the those
recordings.
monitoring device means a device which, when fitted to a motor
vehicle, is capable of producing automatic data for a journey made
by the vehicle.
motor vehicle includes a trailer.
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Section 59 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods
prescribed officer means a person:
(a) who is employed:
(i) by the Authority, or
(ii) as an inspector under the Dangerous Goods Act 1975,
or
(iii) in some other capacity prescribed by the regulations,
and
(b) who is authorised for the purposes of this Division by the
regulations.
vehicle movement record, in relation to a journey made by a
vehicle, means a record, in durable and graphic form, consisting of:
(a) manual data for the journey, and
(b) either:
(i) corresponding automatic data for the journey
produced by a monitoring device, except where
subparagraph (ii) applies, or
(ii) where the automatic data is stored electronically in a
monitoring device--a graphic representation,
produced by an approved method, of that data.
(2) The regulations may prescribe the manner in which the Authority
may signify any approval for the purposes of this Division.
60 Application of this Division (cf Traffic Act, s 10G)
(1) This Division applies to:
(a) any motor vehicle (being a coach or heavy motor vehicle) of
a class or description prescribed by the regulations, except in
such circumstances as may be so prescribed, and
(b) any motor vehicle which, because it carries dangerous goods
within the meaning of the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 or the
Road and Rail Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act 1997 is
required by regulations under either Act, or under any code
prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph by regulations
under this Act, to have a sign exhibited on it.
(2) This Division applies to vehicles, drivers and responsible persons
for vehicles whether or not:
(a) the vehicles are registered in New South Wales, or
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 60
Vehicle safety and accidents Part 5
Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods Division 2
(b) the drivers hold driver licences issued in New South Wales,
or
(c) the responsible persons ordinarily reside (or, being
corporations, are incorporated or have their principal places
of business) in New South Wales.
61 Vehicles to be fitted with monitoring devices in working order (cf
Traffic Act, s 10H)
(1) An applicable motor vehicle is not to be used on any journey made
wholly or partly on a road or road related area in New South Wales,
unless:
(a) a monitoring device is fitted to the vehicle, and
(b) the device is producing automatic data for the journey.
(2) If a vehicle is used in contravention of this section, the responsible
person for the vehicle is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
62 Vehicle movement record to be preserved (cf Traffic Act, s 10I)
(1) A vehicle movement record relating to each journey commenced, on
or after the commencement of this section, by a vehicle to which
this Division applies is to be preserved for a period of at least 12
months after the date of commencement of the journey.
(2) If this section is not complied with, the responsible person for the
vehicle is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
63 Vehicle movement record to be carried by driver (cf Traffic Act, s 10J)
(1) An applicable motor vehicle must not be used for any journey made
wholly or partly on a road or road related area or roads or road
related areas unless a duly completed vehicle movement record is
carried, in accordance with this section, by the driver of the vehicle
at all times while the vehicle is in the State during the journey.
(2) The record that must be carried on any day is to relate to any
journey or part of a journey made by the vehicle, whether in or
outside New South Wales, during the period of 14 days immediately
preceding that day.
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Section 63 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods
(3) If a vehicle is used in contravention of this section, the responsible
person for, and the driver of, the vehicle are each guilty of an
offence and are each liable to a penalty not exceeding 50 penalty
units.
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section if
the defendant satisfies the court:
(a) that the monitoring device fitted to the vehicle was of a type
that stores automatic data electronically, and
(b) that the compilation of the vehicle movement record required
to be carried by the driver on the date of the alleged offence
would have required the production of a graphic
representation of data which, on that date, were stored in the
monitoring device, and
(c) that, in the circumstances of the case, the required record
could not reasonably be expected to have been compiled by
that date.
(5) Nothing in this section requires the carriage of a vehicle movement
record relating to the use, before the commencement of this section,
of any vehicle.
64 Inspection of monitoring devices and records carried on vehicles
(cf Traffic Act, s 10K)
(1) A police officer may inspect any applicable motor vehicle in order
to ascertain:
(a) whether a monitoring device is fitted to the vehicle, and
(b) whether any device so fitted appears to be operating
correctly.
(2) For the purposes of an inspection under subsection (1), a police
officer may require the driver to operate the vehicle and to
co-operate in any other manner reasonably necessary to facilitate the
inspection.
(3) A prescribed officer may:
(a) require the driver of an applicable motor vehicle to produce
for inspection:
(i) his or her licence to drive the vehicle (whether issued
in New South Wales or elsewhere), and
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 64
Vehicle safety and accidents Part 5
Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods Division 2
(ii) any record required by this Division or the regulations
to be carried by the driver of the vehicle during the
journey, and
(iii) any record carried by the driver in connection with
the business to which the journey relates, and
(b) make copies of, or take extracts from, any such record, and
(c) make reasonable inquiries of the driver concerning any
entries in any such record that are made by the driver.
(4) For the purposes of this section:
(a) a police officer wearing a police uniform, or
(b) a prescribed officer identifying himself or herself in the
manner required by the regulations,
may by any reasonably clear signal require the driver of any
applicable motor vehicle to stop and park the vehicle.
(5) A police officer or a prescribed officer may require a vehicle and its
driver to stay for such time as is reasonably necessary for the
exercise of a power conferred on the officer by this section.
(6) A person must not:
(a) obstruct or hinder a police officer or a prescribed officer in
the exercise of a power conferred by this section, or
(b) fail to comply with a requirement made under this section.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
65 Seizure of monitoring devices and records (cf Traffic Act, s 10L)
(1) A police officer may disconnect and take and retain possession of
a monitoring device that is fitted to an applicable motor vehicle,
together with any automatic data stored in the device if:
(a) the vehicle has been involved in an accident in which any
person was killed, or
(b) the police officer reasonably believes that the monitoring
device or any part of its mechanism has been improperly
interfered with, or
(c) the police officer reasonably believes that the driver has
committed a major offence involving the vehicle during the
journey then being undertaken by the vehicle.
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Section 65 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods
(2) A police officer or a prescribed officer may take and retain
possession of any record carried, pursuant to a requirement of this
Division or the regulations, by the driver of an applicable motor
vehicle if the officer reasonably believes that:
(a) false entries have been made in the record, or
(b) the record is unlawfully in the possession of the driver, or
(c) the record does not relate to the vehicle concerned.
(3) A police officer or a prescribed officer may take and retain
possession of any document which the driver of an applicable motor
vehicle represents to be a record required by this Division or the
regulations to be carried by the driver but which the officer
reasonably believes is not such a record.
(4) A person must not obstruct or hinder a police officer or a prescribed
officer in the exercise of a power conferred by this section.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
66 Production of records by responsible persons (cf Traffic Act, s 10M)
(1) The Authority may, by notice in writing served on any responsible
person for an applicable motor vehicle, require the person to
produce vehicle movement records to the Authority.
(2) The notice may require the production of:
(a) all vehicle movement records relating to journeys undertaken
in the vehicle during the 12 months preceding the date of
service of the notice, or
(b) such of those records as the notice specifies.
(3) The notice is not complied with if the records are not produced at
a place, and within a time, specified by the notice.
(4) The responsible person for a vehicle must comply with a notice
under this section.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(5) Vehicle movement records produced to the Authority, whether in
compliance with a notice under this section or otherwise, may be
retained by the Authority for analysis, and while they are so
retained, the responsible person for the vehicle is exempted from the
requirements of any further notice under this section in relation to
them.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 66
Vehicle safety and accidents Part 5
Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods Division 2
(6) A notice under this section does not require the production of a
vehicle movement record being carried by the driver of a vehicle in
accordance with a requirement of this Division.
67 Tampering with monitoring devices or vehicle movement records
(cf Traffic Act, s 10N)
(1) A person must not adjust any part of the mechanism of a monitoring
device, fitted to an applicable motor vehicle, in such a manner that
the accuracy of a vehicle movement record for the vehicle will be
reduced.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) A person must not make any false entry in, or otherwise falsify, a
vehicle movement record.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3) Without limiting any power conferred on the Authority by or under
this Act, the Authority may cancel the driver licence or licences of
a person who commits an offence under this section.
68 Exemptions (cf Traffic Act, s 10O)
(1) The Authority may, in accordance with the regulations, exempt any
person or vehicle or any class of persons or vehicles from the
operation of all or any of the provisions of this Division.
(2) An exemption:
(a) may be absolute or subject to conditions, and
(b) if subject to conditions, has effect only while the conditions
are observed.
69 Evidence of vehicle movement record (cf Traffic Act, s 10P)
(1) A vehicle movement record is not admissible in evidence in any
criminal proceedings unless:
(a) the proceedings are proceedings for:
(i) an offence under section 67, or
(ii) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the
commission of an offence under that section, or
(iii) a major offence, or
(b) the record is adduced by the defendant.
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Section 69 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 5 Vehicle safety and accidents
Division 2 Monitoring of heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods
(2) Nothing in this section affects the admissibility in any civil
proceedings of a vehicle movement record.
Division 3 Duties of participants and others involved in
road accidents
70 Duty to stop and give assistance where person killed or injured in
road accident (cf Traffic Act, s 8 (1))
The driver or rider of a vehicle or horse concerned in an accident
that occurs because of the presence of the vehicle or horse on a road
or road related area and that causes the death of or injury to any
person must not knowingly fail to stop and give any assistance that
may be necessary and that it is in his or her power to give.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 18 months
or both (in the case of a first offence) or 50 penalty units or
imprisonment for 2 years or both (in the case of a second or
subsequent offence).
Page 58
Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 71
Miscellaneous Part 6
Part 6 Miscellaneous
71 Regulations (cf Cth Act, s 7; Traffic Act, s 3)
(1) General regulation-making power
The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act,
for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or
permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be
prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) Examples of subject-matter for regulations
In particular, the regulations may make provision for or with respect
to the matters set out in Schedule 1.
(3) Application, adoption or incorporation of certain documents
The regulations:
(a) may apply, adopt or incorporate, whether wholly or in part or
with or without modifications, publications of the National
Road Transport Commission that have been approved
(whether before or after the commencement of this section)
by the Australian Transport Council or any other publication
(including any Act or regulation of the Commonwealth, a
Territory or another State), either as published or as in force
from time to time, and
(b) may apply to any provision of the regulations, whether
wholly or in part or with or without modifications, the
provisions of the Criminal Code set out in the Schedule to
the Criminal Code Act 1995 of the Commonwealth.
(4) Ambit of power in subsection (3)
Subsection (3) (a) extends to documents approved by the Australian
Transport Council that have been published in this State by the
Authority on behalf of the National Road Transport Commission.
(5) Definitions in regulations
For the purposes of the regulations, the regulations may define an
expression (or apply, adopt, or incorporate a definition of an
expression in a publication referred to in subsection (3) (a)) that is
defined by this Act:
(a) in the same (or in substantially the same) way as it is defined
by this Act, or
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Section 71 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 6 Miscellaneous
(b) by reference to one or more classes of matter included in the
expression as defined by this Act, or
(c) by reference to a combination of classes of matter included
in the expression as defined by this Act and in any other
expression defined by this Act (but not so as to exceed the
power to make regulations in respect of those classes of
matter), or
(d) for the purposes of applying, adopting or incorporating a
publication of the National Road Transport Commission that
has been approved by the Australian Transport Council--in
the same way as it is defined in the publication despite
anything contained in this Act or the other road transport
legislation (within the meaning of the Road Transport
(General) Act 1999).
(6) Evidence of publications of National Road Transport Commission
If a regulation applies, adopts or incorporates by way of reference
any publication (or provision of a publication) referred to in
subsection (3) (a) of the National Road Transport Commission that
has been approved by the Australian Transport Council, evidence
of the publication or provision may be given in any proceedings:
(a) by the production of a document purporting to be a copy of
it and purporting to be published by or on behalf of the
National Road Transport Commission, or
(b) by the production of a document purporting to be a copy of
it and purporting to be printed by the government printer or
by the authority of the Government of the Commonwealth,
a State or a Territory.
(7) Offences in regulations
The regulations may create offences punishable by a penalty not
exceeding 30 penalty units (including defences for such offences
and who bears the onus of proof in respect of such defences).
(8) Penalty of driver licence disqualification
In addition to a penalty referred to in subsection (7), the regulations
may provide for a person who is convicted of an offence against this
Act or the regulations:
(a) to be automatically disqualified by virtue of the conviction
from holding a driver licence for a period not exceeding 6
months, or
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 71
Miscellaneous Part 6
(b) to be disqualified by order of the court that convicts the
person of the offence from holding a driver licence for such
period as the court thinks fit (whether for a period that is
shorter or longer than a period of automatic disqualification
referred to in paragraph (a)).
(9) Alternative verdicts
The regulations may provide for a person who is prosecuted for an
aggravated form of an offence under the regulations to be convicted
by a court of a lesser offence if the court is not satisfied that the
elements of the aggravated offence have been proven, but is
satisfied that the elements of the lesser offence have been proven.
(10) Certificate evidence regarding speed limits
The regulations may provide for a document that is signed or
purports to be signed by or on behalf of the Authority or other
specified person in respect of a speed limit applying to a road or
road related area that certifies any matter specified by the
regulations concerning the speed limit (or the operation of any
device by means of which the speed limit is imposed) to be
admissible as evidence concerning that matter in proceedings before
a court or tribunal unless evidence to the contrary is adduced.
(11) Fees
The regulations may impose a fee in respect of services provided by
the Authority under this Act or the regulations despite the fact that
the fee may also comprise a tax.
72 Regulations may exclude vehicles, persons and animals from this
Act and the regulations (cf Cth Act, s 10)
(1) The regulations may:
(a) exempt a vehicle, person or animal (or a class of vehicles,
persons or animals of a kind) identified in the regulations
from the operation of this Act or the regulations (or specified
provisions of this Act or the regulations), or
(b) authorise the Authority to exempt a vehicle, person or animal
(or a class of vehicles, persons or animals of a kind)
identified in the regulations from the operation of this Act or
the regulations (or specified provisions of this Act or the
regulations).
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Section 72 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 6 Miscellaneous
(2) An exemption granted by or under a regulation referred to in
subsection (1) may be given unconditionally or on specified
conditions.
(3) The regulations may provide for the Authority:
(a) to suspend the operation of any regulation referred to in
subsection (1) in such manner and in such circumstances as
may be specified by the regulations, or
(b) to suspend the operation of an exemption given by it to any
vehicle, person or animal in such manner and in such
circumstances as may be specified by the regulations,
or both.
73 Use of samples for accident research (cf Traffic Act, s 17B)
(1) If a sample of blood is provided in accordance with Division 4 of
Part 2:
(a) the sample or any part of it, and
(b) any sample of saliva voluntarily provided at the same time,
may be used in any research program that is related to safety and has
been approved by the Minister.
(2) The results of research carried out under this section with respect to
the blood or saliva of a person are not admissible as evidence of the
presence of any drug in the blood or saliva of the person.
(3) A person who carries out research under this section with respect to
blood or saliva must not carry out the research in such a way as
identifies the person who provided the blood or saliva.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
74 Road or road related area may be closed temporarily to traffic (cf
Traffic Act, s 23)
(1) A police officer may:
(a) close any road or road related area to traffic during any
temporary obstruction or danger to traffic or for any
temporary purpose, and
(b) prevent the traffic of any vehicles, persons or animals in or
on any road or road related area closed to traffic under
paragraph (a) or under the authority of any other Act.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20 Section 74
Miscellaneous Part 6
(2) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with
any direction of a police officer under this section.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
75 Removal of dangers and obstructions to traffic (cf Traffic Act, s 25)
(1) If a danger or obstruction to traffic on a road or road related area is
caused by:
(a) a vehicle that has been involved in an accident or has broken
down, or
(b) any thing that has fallen, escaped or been removed from a
vehicle, or
(c) any container used for transporting materials or refuse
(including a building skip),
an authorised officer may remove the vehicle, thing or container and
take such other steps as may be necessary to protect the public and
facilitate the free flow of traffic.
(2) The appropriate roads authority may, by proceedings brought in a
court of competent jurisdiction, recover as a debt from the relevant
person the expenses that that authority has incurred in exercising the
functions conferred by this section.
(3) A certificate that is issued on behalf of the appropriate roads
authority by a person prescribed by the regulations, or by a person
belonging to a class of persons so prescribed, being a certificate that
states that:
(a) a specified amount represents the costs incurred by the
authority in carrying out specified work or in taking specified
action for the purposes of this section, or
(b) a specified amount represents the costs incurred by the
authority in relation to the exercise by an authorised officer
of a function under this section,
is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) of the fact
or facts so stated.
(4) In this section:
appropriate roads authority means:
(a) in relation to any road or road related area within a local
government area--the council of that area, and
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Section 75 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Part 6 Miscellaneous
(b) in relation to a classified road (within the meaning of the
Roads Act 1993)--the Authority, and
(c) in relation to that part of a road or road related area used for
the passage of light rail vehicles or as an access to light rail
vehicles--the Director-General of the Department of
Transport and the operator of the light rail system.
authorised officer means:
(a) an employee in the service of the appropriate roads authority
authorised by that authority to exercise the powers conferred
by this section, or
(b) a police officer, or
(c) a person of a class prescribed by the regulations who is
authorised by the appropriate roads authority to exercise the
functions of an authorised officer under this section.
relevant person means:
(a) in relation to a vehicle--the person who had custody of the
vehicle at the time of the accident or breakdown, or
(b) in relation to any thing that has fallen, escaped or been
removed from a vehicle--the person who had custody of the
vehicle at the time of the fall, escape or removal, or
(c) in relation to a container--the person who had custody of the
container at the time it was placed in such a way as to cause
danger or an obstruction to traffic.
76 Removal of unattended motor vehicles or trailers from certain
places (cf Traffic Act, s 26)
(1) An authorised officer may cause an unattended motor vehicle or
trailer unlawfully standing on a prescribed place to be removed in
accordance with this section if, in the opinion of the officer, the
vehicle is causing, or unless removed is likely to cause, danger to
the public or undue traffic congestion.
(2) An authorised officer may cause an unattended motor vehicle or
trailer unlawfully standing on any place to be removed in
accordance with this section if, in the opinion of the officer, it is
obstructing the passage of a light rail vehicle.
(3) A motor vehicle or trailer is removed in accordance with this
section if:
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Miscellaneous Part 6
(a) it is removed to a nearby place at which, in the opinion of the
authorised officer concerned, the vehicle may lawfully stand
without being likely to cause danger to the public or undue
traffic congestion, or an obstruction to the passage of a light
rail vehicle, and
(b) as soon as practicable after removal, the Authority or the
authorised officer concerned reports the removal and the
location of the motor vehicle or trailer to the police officer in
charge of a police station in the vicinity with a request that
the responsible person for the motor vehicle or trailer or
other person entitled to possession of the motor vehicle or
trailer be notified of the place to which it has been removed.
(4) If a motor cycle is moved to the footpath adjacent to the prescribed
place where it was standing it is not necessary that the responsible
person for the motor cycle or other person entitled to possession of
the motor cycle be notified of the place to which it has been
removed.
(5) If a motor vehicle or trailer:
(a) is removed in accordance with this section, or
(b) is attached to a tow truck for the purpose of being removed
under this section,
the Authority may require the responsible person for the vehicle or
the person who left it unattended to pay to the Authority the
prescribed tow-away charge within a time specified by the
Authority.
(6) The responsible person for a vehicle is not required to pay the
prescribed tow-away charge if the responsible person:
(a) satisfies the Authority that the vehicle was at the relevant
time a stolen vehicle or a vehicle illegally taken or used, or
(b) supplies by statutory declaration to the Authority the name
and address of the person (not being the responsible person)
who was in charge of the vehicle at all relevant times, or
(c) satisfies the Authority that he or she did not know and could
not with reasonable diligence have ascertained such name
and address.
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(7) A person must pay the prescribed tow-away charge within the time
specified by the Authority.
Maximum penalty: 2 penalty units.
(8) A statutory declaration under subsection (6) (b), if produced in any
proceedings against the person named in the declaration and in
respect of the offence of failure to pay the prescribed tow-away
charge, is evidence (unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) that
the person left the vehicle unattended on the prescribed place.
(9) In this section:
authorised officer means:
(a) an employee in the service of the Authority authorised by the
Authority to exercise the powers conferred by this section, or
(b) a police officer, or
(c) a person, or a person of a class, who is authorised by the
Director-General of the Department of Transport to exercise
the functions of an authorised officer under this section, but
only in respect of the removal of unattended vehicles
obstructing the passage of light rail vehicles, or
(d) a person of a class prescribed by the regulations who is
authorised by the Authority to exercise the functions of an
authorised officer under this section.
prescribed place means:
(a) a road or road related area (or part of a road or road related
area) prescribed by the regulations, or
(b) a class of road or road related area (or part of a road or road
related area) prescribed by the regulations.
77 Unpaid fees or charges (cf Traffic Act, s 19)
An amount of any unpaid fees or charges payable under this Act or
the regulations is a debt due to the Authority and may be recovered
in a court of competent jurisdiction.
78 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 2 has effect.
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Miscellaneous Part 6
79 Review of Act
(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy
objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act
remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period
of 5 years from the date of assent to this Act.
(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House
of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 5
years.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Schedule 1 Regulation-making powers
Schedule 1 Regulation-making powers
(Section 71 (2))
1 Regulations in respect of safety and traffic management
The regulation or prohibition of traffic, persons and animals on
roads and road related areas, including the following:
(a) the places in which and the manner in which vehicles or
animals may or may not be driven or ridden,
(b) the use of roads and road related areas by people on foot and
other persons and by animals,
(c) speed limits for vehicles (including speed limits that may be
varied electronically or otherwise),
(d) approved speed measuring devices (including the testing of
such devices),
(e) signs and other devices to control, direct or warn traffic,
(f) the marks that are to be used on the surface of roads and road
related areas,
(g) the control and reduction of:
(i) danger in vehicle operation, or
(ii) traffic congestion,
(h) the conduct of events on roads and road related areas that
may disrupt traffic,
(i) the use of safety equipment by drivers, riders, passengers and
other people,
(j) standards of conduct for safety purposes,
(k) complying with directions by police officers or other persons
prescribed by the regulations,
(l) the use of stalls or other means for the sale of goods, or
carrying out of any other business or trade, on a road or road
related area for the purpose of safety and traffic management.
2 Parking (cf Traffic Act, Pt 3B)
The regulation or prohibition of the parking of vehicles and parked
or stopped vehicles on roads and road related areas (including pay
parking), including the following:
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(a) the establishment and operation of schemes for pay parking
by councils, other persons or bodies,
(b) the fixing and collection of fees for parking by councils,
other persons or bodies and the application of such fees by
the collector of the fees and the payments to be made to the
Authority,
(c) the allocation of the costs in respect of schemes for pay
parking,
(d) the provision of pay parking by councils and other persons or
bodies on a common payment basis,
(e) the installation and operation of devices for use in
connection with pay parking,
(f) the issue of guidelines by the Authority in respect of pay
parking schemes and the legal effect of such guidelines,
(g) the granting of approvals by the Authority in respect of the
establishment and operation of pay parking schemes,
(h) the powers of police officers in respect of the removal of
vehicles parked, standing or stopped in space provided for
parking and in respect of the closing of spaces for parking,
(i) the resolution of disputes between different councils, other
persons and bodies in respect of pay parking.
3 Safe operation of vehicles
(1) The safe operation of vehicles on roads and road related areas,
including the following:
(a) the management and prevention of driver fatigue in
connection with the driving of heavy trucks and coaches,
including (without limitation) provision for or with respect
to the following:
(i) restrictions on the hours for which the driver of a
heavy truck or coach may (continuously or otherwise)
drive a heavy truck or coach or engage in other
activities in connection with the driving or operation
of a heavy truck or coach,
(ii) requirements for minimum periods of rest for drivers
of heavy trucks or coaches,
(iii) the inclusion of time spent in a specified manner as
time spent driving a heavy truck or coach or working,
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Schedule 1 Regulation-making powers
(iv) the making, keeping, possession and inspection of
records in respect of heavy trucks and coaches and
their drivers,
(v) the medical examination of drivers of heavy trucks
and coaches,
(vi) fatigue management training,
(vii) the duties of employers of drivers of heavy trucks and
coaches and other persons (such as consignors of
goods) who make use of or engage in activities
involving the use or operation of heavy trucks or
coaches,
(viii) powers of entry and inspection for monitoring and
enforcing compliance with the requirements of the
regulations under this paragraph,
(b) the loading and unloading and securing of loads,
(c) the regulation of vehicles whose size, mass or load exceeds
limits set by the regulations,
(d) the keeping and production of records and other specified
information in respect of vehicles used on roads or road
related areas,
(e) the taking, storage, transmission and destruction of blood and
urine samples for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act and other
matter to which that Part relates.
(2) In this clause:
bus means a motor vehicle built mainly to carry people that seats
over 8 adults (including the driver).
heavy truck means:
(a) a motor vehicle (except a bus or a tram) with a GVM over 12
tonnes, or
(b) a motor vehicle (except a bus or tram) forming part of a
combination if the total of the GVMs of the vehicles in the
combination is over 12 tonnes.
tram means a light rail vehicle.
4 Towing fees (cf Traffic Act, s 4BB (6))
(1) The payment of a fee by the driver or responsible person for a
vehicle in relation to the towing of the vehicle as a consequence of
the exercise of functions under this Act or the regulations.
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(2) The recovery of any such fee by the Authority or any other person
as a debt due to the Crown in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) The issue of certificates as to the fact and cost of towing and their
use as evidence of those matters in proceedings before a court.
5 Child safety (cf Traffic Act, ss 4C and 6B)
(1) The duties of parents and other persons responsible for children (not
being older than 16 years and 9 months of age) in respect of the use
of roads or road related areas (or vehicles on roads or road related
areas).
(2) The establishment and conduct of schemes to assist children to
cross roads and road related areas safely, including the following:
(a) enabling the Authority to conduct, or authorise other persons
to conduct, such schemes,
(b) enabling the Authority:
(i) to amend or replace such schemes, and
(ii) impose conditions on the authority to conduct
schemes, and
(iii) revoke an authority to conduct schemes,
(c) signs to be displayed at crossings and the exhibition of such
signs,
(d) the placement of barriers across or partly across a road or
road related area near a crossing,
(e) conditions relating to the wearing or display of insignias,
badges, belts or other articles of uniform by any persons
taking part in crossing schemes,
(f) providing that evidence that a sign was exhibited, as
prescribed, by a person at or near a crossing, is evidence
(unless evidence to the contrary is adduced) in proceedings
in any court that the exhibition of the sign by such person
was authorised,
(g) the prescription of any other matters necessary or convenient
to be prescribed for the purpose of carrying out any such
scheme.
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6 Duties of participants in, and witnesses to, road accidents (cf Traffic
Act, s 8 (3) and (4))
The duties of any driver of a vehicle or other person involved in or
affected by an accident on a road or road related area, including in
relation to the following matters:
(a) the production of driver licences or other identification to
any person by a participant in the accident,
(b) the giving of particulars concerning:
(i) the vehicle, persons and property involved in or
affected by the accident, or
(ii) any damage or injury caused by the accident, or
(iii) the identity and addresses of any witnesses to the
accident.
7 Records in respect of rented vehicles (cf Traffic Act, s 3 (1) (q8))
The records to be kept by the owner of a vehicle rented to be driven
by the hirer or his or her employee or agent and for the inspection
of such records by any police officer.
8 Police powers (cf Traffic Act, s 3 (1) (q5) and (q10))
(1) The marking of tyres of vehicles by means of crayon, chalk or any
similar substance by police officers and special constables in the
employ of the Commissioner of Police for any purpose connected
with the enforcement of any of the provisions of any Act or
statutory rule.
(2) Provisions for:
(a) the seizure and for the taking charge of, removal or towing
away of any vehicle that is a danger or unreasonable
obstruction to traffic or has been abandoned on a road or
road related area, or has been caused or permitted to stand,
wait, stop or to be parked contrary to law on any part of a
road or road related area in which is conspicuously displayed
a sign exhibiting or including the words "tow away area" or
"vehicles impounded" or other words indicating that such a
vehicle is subject to seizure, and
(b) the keeping or impounding, at a place appointed or set apart
by the Commissioner of Police for the purpose, of any
vehicle so removed or towed away, and
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Regulation-making powers Schedule 1
(c) the conditions to be observed before the release of any such
vehicle, including a condition for payment of such amount as
may, from time to time, be fixed by the Commissioner of
Police in respect of the seizure, taking charge of, removal,
towing away, keeping, impounding or releasing of any such
vehicle, and for the disposal or destruction of any such
vehicle if the owner fails within the time prescribed to claim
the vehicle and to pay that amount, and
(d) the fixing of different amounts by the Commissioner of
Police as referred to in paragraph (c) in respect of different
classes of vehicles or according to different circumstances,
and
(e) the conditions to be observed before a vehicle can be seized.
9 Fees
Fees, including the following:
(a) the fixing of fees for services provided by the Authority
under this Act or the regulations,
(b) the collection and recovery of fees fixed under this Act or the
regulations,
(c) the refund, or partial refund, of fees fixed under this Act or
the regulations,
(d) the waiver or postponement of fees fixed under this Act or
the regulations.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Schedule 2 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 2 Savings, transitional and other
provisions
(Section 78)
Part 1 General
1 Regulations
(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional
nature consequent on the enactment of the following Acts:
this Act
Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act 1999
(2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect
from the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date.
(3) To the extent to which any such provision takes effect from a date
that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the
provision does not operate so as:
(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than
the State or an authority of the State), the rights of that
person existing before the date of its publication, or
(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an
authority of the State) in respect of anything done or omitted
to be done before the date of its publication.
Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of this Act
and Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act
1999
2 Act subject to savings and transitional provisions in Schedule 2 to
Road Transport (General) Act 1999
The provisions of this Act are subject to the provisions of Part 2 of
Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (General) Act 1999.
Note. Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 contains
savings and transitional provisions consequent on the repeal of the Traffic Act
1909 by the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act 1999 and the
enactment of this Act and the Road Transport (General) Act 1999.
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Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 No 20
Dictionary
Dictionary
(Section 4)
1 Definitions
In this Act:
analyst means:
(a) any person employed by the Government as an analyst, or
(b) any person who is an analyst within the meaning of the
Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966, or
(c) a person (or a person of a class or description) prescribed by
the regulations.
approved camera detection device --see section 56.
approved camera recording device --see section 45.
approved speed measuring device --see section 44 (1).
Australian Transport Council means the Australian Transport
Council referred to in section 3 of the National Road Transport
Commission Act 1991 of the Commonwealth or its successor.
Authority means the Roads and Traffic Authority.
breath analysing instrument means any instrument of a type
approved by the Governor by order published in the Gazette as
being designed to ascertain, by analysis of a person's breath, the
concentration of alcohol present in that person's blood.
breath analysis means a test carried out by a breath analysing
instrument for the purpose of ascertaining, by analysis of a person's
breath, the concentration of alcohol present in that person's blood.
breath test means a test for the purpose of indicating the
concentration of alcohol present in a person's blood, carried out on
that person's breath by means of a device, not being a breath
analysing instrument, of a type approved by the Governor by order
published in the Gazette.
coach means a motor vehicle that is:
(a) constructed principally to carry persons, and
(b) equipped to seat more than 8 adult persons, and
(c) used to convey passengers for hire or reward or in the course
of trade or business.
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Dictionary
council means a council within the meaning of the Local
Government Act 1993.
court means the court dealing with the matter concerned.
drive includes:
(a) be in control of the steering, movement or propulsion of a
vehicle, and
(b) in relation to a trailer, draw or tow the trailer, and
(c) ride a vehicle.
driver means any person driving a vehicle, and includes any person
riding a cycle.
driver licence has the same meaning as it has in the Road Transport
(Driver Licensing) Act 1998.
drug means:
(a) alcohol, and
(b) a prohibited drug within the meaning of the Drug Misuse and
Trafficking Act 1985, not being a substance specified in the
regulations as being excepted from this definition, and
(c) any other substance prescribed as a drug for the purposes of
this definition.
exercise a function includes perform a duty.
first offence--see clause 2 (2).
function includes a power, authority or duty.
GCM (gross combination mass) of a motor vehicle means the
greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of the motor
vehicle and of any vehicles that may lawfully be towed by it at one
time:
(a) as specified by the motor vehicle's manufacturer, or
(b) as specified by the Authority if:
(i) the manufacturer has not specified the sum of the
maximum loaded mass, or
(ii) the manufacturer cannot be identified, or
(iii) the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the
manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate.
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GVM (gross vehicle mass) of a vehicle means the maximum loaded
mass of the vehicle:
(a) as specified by the vehicle's manufacturer, or
(b) as specified by the Authority if:
(i) the manufacturer has not specified a maximum loaded
mass, or
(ii) the manufacturer cannot be identified, or
(iii) the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the
manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate.
heavy motor vehicle means:
(a) a motor vehicle that has a GVM exceeding 13.9 tonnes, or
(b) a motor vehicle and trailer combination that has a GCM
exceeding 13.9 tonnes.
high range prescribed concentration of alcohol means a
concentration of 0.15 grammes or more of alcohol in 100 millilitres
of blood.
horse includes any animal used for the carriage of persons or goods.
hospital means:
(a) any public hospital within the meaning of the Health
Services Act 1997 controlled by an area health service or the
Crown, and
(b) a statutory health corporation or affiliated health organisation
within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997, and
(c) any private hospital within the meaning of the Private
Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres Act 1988.
learner licence has the same meaning as it has in the Road
Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998.
light rail vehicle means:
(a) a vehicle used on a light rail system within the meaning of
the Transport Administration Act 1988, or
(b) any other light rail system prescribed by the regulations.
low range prescribed concentration of alcohol means a
concentration of 0.05 grammes or more, but less than 0.08
grammes, of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
major offence has the same meaning as it has in the Road Transport
(General) Act 1999.
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Dictionary
middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol means a
concentration of 0.08 grammes or more, but less than 0.15
grammes, of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
motor vehicle means a vehicle that is built to be propelled by a
motor that forms part of the vehicle.
National Road Transport Commission means the National Road
Transport Commission established by the National Road Transport
Commission Act 1991 of the Commonwealth or its successor.
photograph includes a digitalised, electronic or computer generated
image in a form approved by the Authority.
prohibited speed measuring evasion article means any device or
substance that is designed, or apparently designed, to be fitted or
applied to, or to be carried in, a motor vehicle or trailer for the
purpose of detecting, interfering with, or reducing the effectiveness
of, an approved speed measuring device, and includes a radar
detecting device and a radar jamming device.
provisional licence has the same meaning as it has in the Road
Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998.
radar detecting device means a device designed or apparently
designed to be fitted to or carried in a motor vehicle or trailer for the
purpose of detecting electromagnetic radiations from an approved
speed measuring device.
radar jamming device means a device designed or apparently
designed to be fitted to or carried in a motor vehicle or trailer for the
purpose of interfering with the receiving by an approved speed
measuring device of reflected electromagnetic radiations.
registered, in relation to a vehicle, means registered under the Road
Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997.
responsible person for a vehicle--see section 7 of the Road
Transport (General) Act 1999.
road means an area that is open to or used by the public and is
developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding
of motor vehicles.
road related area means:
(a) an area that divides a road, or
(b) a footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road, or
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Dictionary
(c) an area that is open to the public and is designated for use by
cyclists or animals, or
(d) an area that is not a road and that is open to or used by the
public for driving, riding or parking vehicles, or
(e) a shoulder of a road, or
(f) any other area that is open to or used by the public and that
has been declared under section 9 of the Road Transport
(General) Act 1999 to be an area to which specified
provisions of this Act or the regulations apply.
second or subsequent offence --see clause 2 (1).
special range prescribed concentration of alcohol means a
concentration of 0.02 grammes or more, but less than 0.05
grammes, of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
traffic includes vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic.
trailer means a vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a
motor vehicle, but does not include a motor vehicle that is being
towed.
use of a vehicle includes standing the vehicle on a road or road
related area.
vehicle means:
(a) any description of vehicle on wheels (including a light rail
vehicle) but not including any other vehicle used on a
railway or tramway, or
(b) any other vehicle prescribed by the regulations.
2 First offences and second or subsequent offences
(1) An offence against a provision of this Act is a second or
subsequent offence only if, within the period of 5 years
immediately before a person is convicted of the offence, the person
was convicted of another offence against the same provision or of
a major offence.
(2) An offence against a provision of this Act is a first offence if it is
not a second or subsequent offence.
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Dictionary
3 References to licences
(1) In this Act, a reference to a licence in respect of a motor vehicle,
being a licence of any class, is a reference to a licence which
authorises the holder to drive motor vehicles of a class that includes
the motor vehicle (whether or not in combination with a trailer).
(2) If a person holding a learner licence:
(a) is driving a motor vehicle, and
(b) is accompanied by another person occupying the seat next to
the person by reason of a requirement made by the
regulations,
the other person is, for the purposes of Divisions 14 of Part 2,
taken to be the holder of a driver licence.
[Minister's second reading speech made in--
Legislative Assembly on 27 May 1999
Legislative Council on 23 June 1999]
BY AUTHORITY
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