Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Summary Offences Act 1966 - SECT 27

Search warrant for skins of cattle, goods from wreck etc.

27. Search warrant for skins of cattle, goods from wreck etc.



(1) If a magistrate is satisfied, by evidence on oath or by affidavit, that
there is reasonable cause to suspect that any of the following articles,
namely-

   (a)  the skin or carcass or any part of the skin or carcass of any cattle;

   (b)  any goods merchandise or article reasonably believed to have been
        taken or to have come from a ship or vessel in distress or wrecked
        stranded or cast on shore-

has been stolen or unlawfully taken or obtained and is to be found in a house
or other place the magistrate may issue a warrant to search the house or place
for the articles and to bring before the Magistrates' Court all such articles
found therein and to bring before a bail justice or the Magistrates' Court, or
summon to appear before the Magistrates' Court, any person in whose possession
or on whose premises those articles are so found.

(2) Whenever a member of the police force finds any such articles on the
premises or in the possession of any person or persons and has reasonable
cause to suspect that any of such articles has been stolen or unlawfully taken
or obtained he may bring all such articles before the Magistrates' Court and
also may summon such a person to appear before the Magistrates' Court or
arrest such a person and bring him or her before a bail justice or the
Magistrates' Court.





(3) Any person on whose premises or in whose possession any such article is so
found who, after proof of the matters referred to in subsection (1) or
subsection (2) of this section, does not satisfy the court before which he is
brought or appears that he came lawfully by the article or that the article
was on his premises without his knowledge or assent shall be guilty of an
offence.

Penalty: 25 penalty units or imprisonment for six months.