Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Road Safety Act 1986 - SECT 55C

Destruction of identifying information

55C. Destruction of identifying information



(1) In this section, relevant offence means-

   (a)  an offence under section 49(1)(ba) or (ea); or

   (b)  any other offence arising out of the same circumstances; or

   (c)  any other offence in respect of which the evidence obtained as a
        result of the assessment of drug impairment has probative value.

(2) If an assessment of drug impairment has been carried out on a person under
section 55A and-

   (a)  the person has not been charged with a relevant offence at the end of
        the period of 12 months after the assessment; or

   (b)  the person has been so charged but the charge is not proceeded with or
        the person is not found guilty of the offence, whether on appeal or
        otherwise, before the end of that period-

the Chief Commissioner of Police must, subject to subsection (4), destroy, or
cause to be destroyed, at the time specified in subsection (3) any
video-recording made of the assessment and any related material and
information.

(3) A video-recording and any related material and information referred to in
subsection (2) must be destroyed-

   (a)  in a case to which subsection (2)(a) applies, immediately after that
        period of 12 months; or

   (b)  in a case to which subsection (2)(b) applies-

   (i)  within 1 month after the conclusion of the proceeding and the end of
        any appeal period; or

   (ii) if the proceeding has been adjourned under section 75 of the
        Sentencing Act 1991, within 1 month after dismissal under that
        section.

(4) A member of the police force may, before the end of a period referred to
in subsection (3)(b), apply without notice to the Magistrates' Court for an
order extending that period and, if the Court makes such an order, the
reference to the period in subsection (3) is a reference to that period as so
extended.

(5) If the Magistrates' Court makes an order under subsection (4), it must
give reasons for its decision and cause a copy of the order to be served on
the person on whom the assessment of drug impairment was carried out.

(6) If a video-recording or related material and information is required to be
destroyed in accordance with this section, the Chief Commissioner of Police
must, if the person on whom the assessment was carried out so requests, within
14 days after receiving the request, notify that person in writing whether the
destruction has occurred.

(7) A person who knowingly-

   (a)  fails to destroy; or

   (b)  uses, or causes or permits to be used-

a video-recording or related material and information required by this section
to be destroyed is guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of not more than
120 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months.

(8) A person who at any time uses, or causes or permits to be used, or
otherwise disseminates information derived from any video-recording or related
material and information required by this section to be destroyed except in
good faith for the purposes of a relevant offence is guilty of an offence
punishable by a fine of not more than 120 penalty units or to imprisonment for
a term of not more than 12 months.