ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1974 - SECT 79BA
ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1974 - SECT 79BA
79BA . Notice to surrender vehicle for impoundment, issue of etc.
(1) This section
applies if —
(a) a
police officer (the police officer ) suspects that the driver of a vehicle
(the vehicle ) has committed an offence (the offence ); and
(b) the
police officer —
(i)
would have been required by section 79(1) or 79A(1) (the
impounding provision ) to impound the vehicle if it had been practicable to do
so but, because it was impracticable, the vehicle was not impounded; or
(ii)
is required by section 79(1) or 79A(1) (the impounding
provision ) to impound the vehicle but by the time the police officer forms
the necessary suspicion the impounding can most conveniently be achieved by
giving a notice under this section.
(2) If this section
applies the police officer may give to a responsible person for the vehicle,
personally or by registered post, a notice in accordance with this section (a
surrender notice ).
(3) The surrender
notice cannot be given after the expiry of a period of 28 days from the day of
the offence.
(4) The surrender
notice must contain a statement to the effect that, because the vehicle was
used in the commission of the offence, the vehicle is required to be
surrendered to the Commissioner for impounding, and the notice must specify
—
(a)
sufficient details of the vehicle to identify it; and
(b) the
time and place at which the offence is suspected to have been committed; and
(c)
sufficient other details of the offence to identify the grounds for giving the
notice; and
(d) if
known, the name of the person who was driving the vehicle when the offence is
suspected to have been committed; and
(e)
which of sections 79(1) and 79A(1) is the impounding provision; and
(f) if
the impounding provision is section 79(1) and the notice is given on the basis
that the driver is a previous offender as defined in section 79(1A),
sufficient details to explain why the driver is regarded as a previous
offender; and
(g) the
length of the impounding period, which is to be —
(i)
if section 79(1) is the impounding provision, either 28
days or 3 months according to which of those periods is the impounding period
for which section 79(1) requires the vehicle to be impounded or would require
the vehicle to be impounded if it applied; and
(ii)
if section 79A(1) is the impounding provision, 28 days;
and
(h) the
place at which, and the time of day during which, the vehicle and its keys are
required to be surrendered under this Division; and
(i)
the last day on or before which the vehicle and its keys
are required to be surrendered, being the 7th day after the day on which the
notice is given.
(5) The surrender
notice must also include —
(a) a
statement to the effect that this Division contains law about the notice and
the impounding of the vehicle; and
(b) a
statement as to the effect of section 79BB(5) and (6); and
(c) a
statement to the effect that failure to comply with the notice will result in
the vehicle being impounded under section 79BB(2).
[Section 79BA inserted: No. 23 of 2009 s. 12;
amended: No. 8 of 2012 s. 24 and 38; No. 51 of 2016 s. 22.]