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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


ROAD TRAFFIC AMENDMENT (DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVING) BILL 2005

                    Western Australia


Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired
           Driving) Bill 2005

                       CONTENTS


      Part 1 -- Preliminary
1.    Short title                                              2
2.    Commencement                                             2
      Part 2 -- Road Traffic Act 1974
           amended
3.    The Act amended in this Part                             3
4.    Section 63 amended                                       3
5.    Section 63A inserted                                     3
      63A.     Driving while impaired by drugs            3
6.    Section 65 amended                                       6
7.    Section 66A inserted                                     7
      66A.     Requirement to undergo driver
               assessment                                 7
8.    Section 67AA inserted                                   12
      67AA.    Failure to comply with requirement to
               undergo driver assessment, allow taking
               of blood sample for analysis or provide
               urine sample for analysis                 12
9.    Section 67A amended                                     14
10.   Section 69 amended                                      14
11.   Section 69A amended                                     15
12.   Section 70 amended                                      15
13.   Section 71A inserted                                    18
      71A.     Power to prevent use of vehicle by
               suspected offender                        18
14.   Section 72 amended                                      21
15.   Section 75 amended                                      21



                         101--1                                page i
Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005



Contents



      16.     Section 76 amended                           21
      17.     Section 106 amended                          22
              Part 3 -- Young Offenders Act 1994
                   amended
      18.     Schedule 1 amended                           24




page ii
                           Western Australia


                     LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY



    Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired
               Driving) Bill 2005


                               A Bill for


An Act to amend the --
x Road Traffic Act 1974; and
x Young Offenders Act 1994.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:




                                                         page 1
    Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
    Part 1         Preliminary

    s. 1



                           Part 1 -- Preliminary
    1.       Short title
             This is the Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving)
             Act 2005.

5   2.       Commencement
             This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.




    page 2
                         Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                                     Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                                   s. 3



                Part 2 -- Road Traffic Act 1974 amended
     3.         The Act amended in this Part
                The amendments in this Part are to the Road Traffic Act 1974*.
                [* Reprint 8 as at 16 July 2004.
 5                 For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                   Legislation Information Tables for 2004, Table 1, p. 395-6
                   and Gazette 27 May 2005 p. 2306-8.]

     4.         Section 63 amended
          (1)   Section 63(3) is amended by deleting "section 67 of this Act"
10              and inserting instead --
                "     section 63A or 67AA or section 67    ".
          (2)   Section 63(6) is amended by inserting before "64" --
                "     63A,   ".

     5.         Section 63A inserted
15              After section 63 the following section is inserted --
     "
            63A.        Driving while impaired by drugs
                (1)     A person who drives or attempts to drive a motor
                        vehicle while impaired by drugs commits an offence,
20                      and the offender may be arrested without warrant.
                (2)     A person convicted of an offence against this section is
                        liable --
                           (a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than
                                16 PU or more than 50 PU; and, in any event,
25                              the court convicting the person shall order that
                                the person be disqualified from holding or
                                obtaining a driver's licence for a period of not
                                less than 6 months;


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     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 5



                     (b)    for a second offence, to a fine of not less than
                            30 PU or more than 70 PU or to imprisonment
                            for 9 months; and, in any event, the court
                            convicting the person shall order that the person
 5                          be disqualified from holding or obtaining a
                            driver's licence for a period of not less than
                            2 years; and
                      (c)   for a third or subsequent offence, to a fine of
                            not less than 40 PU or more than 100 PU or to
10                          imprisonment for 18 months; and, in any event,
                            the court convicting the person shall order that
                            the person be permanently disqualified from
                            holding or obtaining a driver's licence.
              (3)   For the purposes of subsection (2), where a person is
15                  convicted of an offence against this section any offence
                    previously committed by the person against section 63
                    or 67AA or section 67 as in force after the coming into
                    operation of section 16 of the Road Traffic Amendment
                    Act (No. 2) 1982 shall be taken into account and be
20                  deemed to have been an offence against this section
                    (but not to the exclusion of any other previous offence
                    against this section) in determining whether that first
                    mentioned offence is a first, second, third or
                    subsequent offence.
25            (4)   Section 63(4) extends to the charging of a person with
                    an offence against this section unless a sample of the
                    person's blood was taken pursuant to section 66 or 66A
                    before the charge was laid.
              (5)   The accused may be convicted of an offence against
30                  this section if the prosecutor proves that --
                      (a) the accused drove or attempted to drive a motor
                            vehicle;
                      (b) one or more drugs were present in the
                            accused's body at the time of that driving or
35                          attempted driving;

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            Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                        Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                      s. 5



             (c)   the conduct, condition or appearance of the
                   accused at or after the time of that driving or
                   attempted driving, or during a driver
                   assessment, was consistent with conduct, a
 5                 condition or an appearance associated with a
                   person who has consumed or used that drug or
                   those drugs; and
            (d)    the conduct or condition associated with a
                   person who has consumed or used that drug or
10                 those drugs would be inconsistent with the
                   person being capable of having proper control
                   of a motor vehicle.
     (6)   A person charged with an offence against this section
           may, instead of being convicted of that offence, be
15         convicted of an offence against section 63.
     (7)   If in any proceeding for an offence against this section
           it is proved that a certain drug was present in the
           accused's body at any time within 4 hours after the
           time of the driving or attempted driving of a motor
20         vehicle that gave rise to the alleged offence, the
           presence of that drug in the accused's body at the time
           of that driving or attempted driving is taken to be
           proved in the absence of proof to the contrary.
     (8)   In any proceeding for an offence against this section it
25         is a defence for the accused to prove in respect of the
           drug, or each drug, referred to in subsection (5) --
              (a) that the drug was --
                      (i) taken pursuant to a prescription of a
                           medical practitioner, nurse practitioner
30                         registered under the Nurses Act 1992, or
                           registered dentist; or
                     (ii) administered by a medical practitioner,
                           nurse practitioner registered under the
                           Nurses Act 1992, or registered dentist,
35                 for therapeutic purposes;

                                                                page 5
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 6



                         (b)    that where the drug was received or obtained by
                                the accused in a packaged form, the packaging
                                of the drug did not include a label advising that
                                the drug was likely to result in conduct or a
 5                              condition that would be inconsistent with the
                                person being capable of having proper control
                                of a motor vehicle; and
                          (c)   that the accused was not aware, and could not
                                reasonably have been expected to be aware,
10                              that the drug was likely to result in conduct or a
                                condition that would be inconsistent with the
                                person being capable of having proper control
                                of a motor vehicle.
              (9)       Subsection (8) has effect despite subsection (5).
15                                                                                   ".

     6.       Section 65 amended
              Section 65 is amended as follows:
                (a) by deleting the definition of "analyst" and inserting
                     instead --
20            "
                        "analyst" means a person certified by the Director of
                            the Chemistry Centre (WA) as being competent --
                            (a) to determine the percentage of alcohol in
                                 bodily substances;
25                         (b) to ascertain whether and to what extent drugs
                                 are present in bodily substances; or
                            (c) to do both of those things;
                                                                                 ";
                  (b)    by inserting in the appropriate alphabetical positions --
30            "
                        "conduct" includes behaviour and demeanour;



     page 6
                        Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                                    Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                                   s. 7



                       "driver assessment" means an assessment of drug
                           impairment required by a member of the Police
                           Force under section 66A(1) or (2);
                       "drug" means any substance, material, preparation,
 5                         mixture, article or other thing (other than alcohol),
                           whether in gaseous, liquid, solid or other form --
                           (a) to which the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981
                                 applies;
                           (b) that is included in Schedule 4 to the Poisons
10                               Act 1964; or
                           (c) that, when consumed or used by a person,
                                 deprives the person (temporarily or
                                 permanently) of any of the person's normal
                                 mental or physical faculties;
15                                                                                  ";
                 (c)    by deleting the definition of "drugs analyst".

     7.     Section 66A inserted
            After section 66 the following section is inserted --
     "
20        66A.         Requirement to undergo driver assessment
            (1)        A member of the Police Force may require --
                        (a) the driver or person in charge of a motor
                            vehicle; or
                        (b) any person the member of the Police Force has
25                          reasonable grounds to believe was the driver or
                            person in charge of a motor vehicle,
                       to undergo an assessment of drug impairment if a
                       member of the Police Force has reasonable grounds to
                       believe that the person is, or was while driving or
30                     attempting to drive the motor vehicle, impaired by
                       something, other than alcohol alone, affecting the
                       person's capacity to drive a motor vehicle.


                                                                             page 7
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 7



              (2)   Where a member of the Police Force --
                     (a) has reasonable grounds to believe that the
                          presence of a motor vehicle has occasioned, or
                          its use has been an immediate or proximate
 5                        cause of, personal injury or damage to property;
                          and
                     (b) does not know, or has doubt as to, who was the
                          driver or person in charge of the motor vehicle
                          at the time of that presence or use,
10                  but has reasonable grounds to believe --
                     (c)   that the person may have been the driver or
                           person in charge of the motor vehicle at that
                           time; and
                     (d)   that the person was at that time impaired by
15                         something, other than alcohol alone, affecting
                           the person's capacity to drive a motor vehicle,
                    a member of the Police Force may require the person to
                    undergo an assessment of drug impairment.
              (3)   For the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) a member of
20                  the Police Force may require a person who is required
                    to undergo a driver assessment to wait at the place at
                    which the requirement was made.
              (4)   A driver assessment shall be carried out by a member
                    of the Police Force in accordance with regulations
25                  prescribing the procedure for assessing drug
                    impairment.
              (5)   A person who is required to undergo a driver
                    assessment shall comply with that requirement by
                    undergoing the assessment in accordance with the
30                  directions of a member of the Police Force.




     page 8
            Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                        Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                      s. 7



     (6)   A person shall not be required to undergo a driver
           assessment if it appears to a member of the Police
           Force that --
             (a) the driver assessment could not be carried out
 5                 within 4 hours after the time at which driving,
                   attempted driving, use or management of a
                   motor vehicle in circumstances giving rise to
                   the requirement is believed to have taken place;
                   or
10           (b) because of the person's physical condition the
                   person is incapable of undergoing the driver
                   assessment.
     (7)   Where --
            (a) a person having undergone a driver assessment,
15               it appears to a member of the Police Force that
                 the assessment indicates that the person is drug
                 impaired;
            (b) a person refuses or fails to undergo a driver
                 assessment having being required to do so; or
20          (c) a member of the Police Force might require a
                 person to undergo a driver assessment but is
                 precluded from doing so by subsection (6)(b),
           a member of the Police Force may require the
           person --
25           (d) to allow a medical practitioner or registered
                  nurse nominated by the person to take a sample
                  of the person's blood for analysis; or
             (e) to provide a medical practitioner or registered
                  nurse nominated by the person with a sample of
30                the person's urine for analysis,
           or to do both of those things, and for the purposes of
           this subsection may require the person to accompany a



                                                               page 9
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 7



                      member of the Police Force to a place, and may require
                      the person to wait at that place.
                (8)   Where a person is incapable of complying with a
                      requirement under subsection (7)(d), a member of the
 5                    Police Force may cause a medical practitioner or
                      registered nurse to take a sample of the person's blood
                      for analysis.
                (9)   Where a person is apparently unconscious or seriously
                      injured a member of the Police Force shall facilitate the
10                    provision of medical assistance for the person.
               (10)   A person shall not be required --
                       (a) to allow a medical practitioner or registered
                             nurse to take a sample of the person's blood; or
                       (b) to provide a medical practitioner or registered
15                           nurse with a sample of the person's urine,
                      under subsection (7), and a medical practitioner or
                      registered nurse shall not be caused to take a sample of
                      a person's blood under subsection (8), if it appears to
                      the member of the Police Force that the sample cannot
20                    be taken or provided, as the case may be, within
                      4 hours after the time at which driving, attempted
                      driving, use or management of a vehicle in
                      circumstances giving rise to the requirement is believed
                      to have taken place.
25             (11)   Where under subsection (7) --
                       (a) a member of the Police Force requires a
                            person --
                              (i) to allow a medical practitioner or
                                   registered nurse nominated by the
30                                 person to take a sample of the person's
                                   blood for analysis; or
                             (ii) to provide a medical practitioner or
                                   registered nurse nominated by the

     page 10
      Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                  Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                              s. 7



                     person with a sample of the person's
                     urine for analysis,
            or to do both of those things, and the person
            fails to nominate a medical practitioner or
 5          registered nurse; or
      (b)   a person nominates a medical practitioner or
            registered nurse to take a sample of the
            person's blood or to collect a sample of the
            person's urine, or for both of those purposes,
10          but a member of the Police Force has
            reasonable grounds to believe that the medical
            practitioner or registered nurse so nominated --
               (i) is not available within a distance of
                     40 kilometres;
15            (ii) is not available within the time
                     prescribed by subsection (10);
             (iii) refuses to take the blood sample or
                     collect the urine sample or to do either
                     of those things; or
20           (iv) cannot readily be located,
     the member of the Police Force may require the
     person --
       (c) to allow a medical practitioner or registered
            nurse nominated by the member of the Police
25          Force to take a sample of the person's blood for
            analysis; or
       (d) to provide a medical practitioner or registered
            nurse nominated by the member of the Police
            Force with a sample of the person's urine for
30          analysis,
     or to do both of those things, and for the purposes of
     this subsection may require the person to accompany a
     member of the Police Force to a place, and may require
     the person to wait at that place.

                                                        page 11
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 8



               (12)   Where under this section a member of the Police
                      Force --
                       (a) requires a person to allow a medical
                             practitioner or registered nurse nominated by
 5                           the member of the Police Force to take a
                             sample of the person's blood for analysis; or
                       (b) causes a medical practitioner or registered
                             nurse to take a sample of a person's blood for
                             analysis,
10                    this section authorises the medical practitioner or
                      registered nurse to take that sample.
               (13)   No action lies against a person who is a medical
                      practitioner or registered nurse by reason only of the
                      person taking a sample of another person's blood for
15                    analysis under this section.
                                                                                ".

     8.         Section 67AA inserted
                Before section 67A the following section is inserted --
     "
20          67AA. Failure to comply with requirement to undergo
                  driver assessment, allow taking of blood sample for
                  analysis or provide urine sample for analysis
                (1)   In this section --
                      "requirement" means a requirement of a member of
25                         the Police Force made under section 66A.
                (2)   A person who fails to comply with a requirement --
                       (a) to undergo a driver assessment;
                       (b) to allow a medical practitioner or registered
                             nurse to take a sample of the person's blood for
30                           analysis; or



     page 12
            Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                        Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                     s. 8



             (c)   to provide a medical practitioner or registered
                   nurse with a sample of the person's urine for
                   analysis,
           commits an offence.
 5   (3)   A person convicted of an offence against this section is
           liable --
              (a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than
                   16 PU or more than 50 PU; and, in any event,
                   the court convicting the person shall order that
10                 the person be disqualified from holding or
                   obtaining a driver's licence for a period of not
                   less than 6 months;
             (b) for a second offence, to a fine of not less than
                   30 PU or more than 70 PU or to imprisonment
15                 for 9 months; and, in any event, the court
                   convicting the person shall order that the person
                   be disqualified from holding or obtaining a
                   driver's licence for a period of not less than
                   2 years;
20            (c) for any subsequent offence, to a fine of not less
                   than 40 PU or more than 100 PU or to
                   imprisonment for 18 months; and, in any event,
                   the court convicting the person shall order that
                   the person be permanently disqualified from
25                 holding or obtaining a driver's licence.
     (4)   For the purposes of subsection (3), where a person is
           convicted of an offence against this section any offence
           previously committed by the person against section 63
           or 63A or section 67 as in force after the coming into
30         operation of section 16 of the Road Traffic Amendment
           Act (No. 2) 1982 shall be taken into account and be
           deemed to have been an offence against this section
           (but not to the exclusion of any other previous offence
           against this section) in determining whether that first


                                                               page 13
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 9



                       mentioned offence is a first, second, third or
                       subsequent offence.
                 (5)   It shall be a defence to a prosecution for an offence
                       against this section if the accused satisfies the court
 5                     that there was some substantial reason for the
                       accused's failure to comply other than a desire to avoid
                       providing information that might be used as evidence.
                 (6)   Without limiting the generality of subsection (5) it
                       shall be a defence to a prosecution for failing to
10                     comply with a requirement mentioned in
                       subsection (2)(c) if the accused satisfies the court that
                       the accused attempted to comply with the requirement.
                                                                                   ".

     9.          Section 67A amended
15         (1)   Section 67A(1) is amended by deleting ", other than a
                 requirement mentioned in section 66(1aa) or 67(2)" and
                 inserting instead --
                 "
                       or 66A, other than a requirement mentioned in
20                     section 66(1aa), 67(2) or 67AA(2)
                                                                                   ".
           (2)   Section 67A(4) is amended as follows:
                   (a) by inserting before "64" --
                        " 63A, ";
25                (b) by deleting "or 67" and inserting instead --
                        " , 67 or 67AA ".

     10.         Section 69 amended
                 Section 69(1) is amended by inserting after "66" --
                 " or 66A ".



     page 14
                       Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                                   Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                             s. 11



     11.         Section 69A amended
                 Section 69A is amended by inserting after "66" --
                 " or 66A ".

     12.         Section 70 amended
 5         (1)   Section 70(3a) is amended as follows:
                   (a) by inserting after "influence of " --
                        " or impaired by ";
                  (b) by inserting after "given of " --
                        " one or more of the following ";
10                 (c) after paragraph (b) by deleting "and";
                  (d) in paragraph (c) by deleting "a drugs" and inserting
                        instead --
                        " an ";
                   (e) after paragraph (c) by deleting the full stop and
15                      inserting --
                        "
                              ;
                        (d)   the conduct, condition or appearance of the
                              person at or after the time of the driving or
20                            attempted driving of a motor vehicle that gave
                              rise to the alleged offence or during a driver
                              assessment;
                        (e)   conduct, a condition or an appearance
                              associated with a person who has consumed or
25                            used a particular drug or particular drugs;
                        (f)   the usual effect that conduct or a condition
                              associated with a person who has consumed or
                              used a particular drug or particular drugs has on
                              a person's capacity to have proper control of a
30                            motor vehicle.
                                                                                  ".

                                                                          page 15
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 12



        (2)    Section 70(3b) is amended as follows:
                 (a) in paragraph (a) by deleting "a drugs" and inserting
                      instead --
                      " an ";
 5              (b) after paragraph (d) by deleting "or";
                 (c) after paragraph (e) by deleting the comma and
                      inserting --
                      "
                             ;
10                    (f)    purporting to be signed by an analyst, certifying
                             either or both of the following, namely, that an
                             identified sample of blood taken from a named
                             person was analysed for drugs, and the analysis
                             result obtained from the analysis;
15                    (g)    purporting to be signed by an analyst, certifying
                             either or both of the following, namely, that an
                             identified sample of urine provided by a named
                             person was analysed for drugs, and the analysis
                             result obtained from the analysis;
20                    (h)    purporting to be signed by an approved expert
                             describing conduct, a condition or an
                             appearance associated with a person who has
                             consumed or used a drug or drugs specified in
                             the certificate;
25                     (i)   purporting to be signed by an approved expert
                             setting out the usual effect that conduct or a
                             condition associated with a person who has
                             consumed or used a particular drug or particular
                             drugs has on a person's capacity to have proper
30                           control of a motor vehicle;
                       (j)   purporting to be signed by a member of the
                             Police Force describing the conduct, condition
                             or appearance of a person at or after the time



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                                      Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                                s. 12



                                the person drove or attempted to drive a motor
                                vehicle; or
                          (k)   purporting to be signed by a member of the
                                Police Force --
 5                                 (i) certifying that the member carried out a
                                        driver assessment on a person named in
                                        the certificate on a date and at a time
                                        stated in the certificate;
                                  (ii) certifying that the assessment was
10                                      carried out in accordance with the
                                        regulations; and
                                 (iii) describing the conduct, condition or
                                        appearance of the person during the
                                        assessment,
15                                                                                   ";
                   (d)    by deleting "or registered nurse." and inserting
                          instead --
               "
                         , registered nurse, analyst, approved expert or member
20                       of the Police Force.
                                                                                     ".
     (3)       After section 70(4) the following subsections are inserted --
           "
               (5)       Except at the instance, or with the consent, of the
25                       accused in any proceeding such as is mentioned in
                         subsection (3a), a certificate mentioned in
                         subsection (3b)(f), (g), (h) or (i) shall not be adduced,
                         and if adduced shall not be admitted, in that proceeding
                         unless a copy of the certificate is proved to have been
30                       served on the accused at least 28 days before the day
                         on which the certificate is adduced.




                                                                             page 17
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 13



                 (5a)    If subsection (5) has been complied with in relation to
                         a certificate, the accused shall not challenge or call into
                         question any matter certified or set out in the certificate
                         unless --
 5                          (a) notice of the accused's intention to do so is
                                  proved to have been served on the prosecutor at
                                  least 14 days before the day on which the
                                  certificate is adduced; or
                           (b) the court, in the interests of justice, gives the
10                                accused leave to do so.
                 (5b)    A notice under subsection (5a)(a) must specify the
                         matter that is to be challenged or called into question.
                                                                                       ".
           (4)    Section 70(6) is amended by deleting "67." and inserting
15                instead --
                  "     63A, 67 or 67AA.    ".
           (5)    Section 70(7) is amended by inserting in the appropriate
                  alphabetical position --
                  "
20                       "approved expert" means a qualified clinical
                            pharmacologist approved by the Minister for the
                            purpose of this section by notice published in the
                            Gazette;
                                                                                       ".

25   13.          Section 71A inserted
                  After section 71 the following section is inserted --
     "
             71A.        Power to prevent use of vehicle by suspected
                         offender
30                (1)    If a member of the Police Force has reason to suspect
                         that a person (the "offender") is driving, is attempting


     page 18
            Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                        Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                  s. 13



           to drive, has driven or has attempted to drive a motor
           vehicle in contravention of section 63, 63A, 64, 64AA
           or 64A, the member of the Police Force may require
           the offender to immediately hand over all keys to any
 5         motor vehicle that are there and then in the offender's
           possession --
             (a) to the member of the Police Force; or
             (b) to another person in the company of the
                   offender whom the member of the Police Force
10                 is satisfied --
                      (i) holds a driver's licence authorising the
                            person to drive the vehicle on a road;
                            and
                     (ii) is responsible and is able to drive the
15                          vehicle properly.

     (2)   A member of the Police Force may make a requirement
           under subsection (1) if satisfied that the requirement is
           necessary in the circumstances and is in the interest of
           the offender, or of any other person or of the public,
20         and may do so whether or not the offender has been or
           is to be charged with an offence.
     (3)   If keys to a motor vehicle are handed over under
           subsection (1)(a), a member of the Police Force may
           take any steps that, in the opinion of the member of the
25         Police Force, are appropriate and practicable in order to
           ensure that the vehicle is not causing any obstruction to
           traffic and is secure.
     (4)   Those steps may include moving the vehicle to a more
           suitable place.

30   (5)   If a person requests a member of the Police Force to
           hand over to the person keys to a motor vehicle that
           have been handed over under subsection (1)(a), the



                                                               page 19
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 13



                     member of the Police Force is to comply with the
                     request if satisfied that the person --
                       (a) is entitled to lawful possession of the vehicle or
                             is in the company of a person who is entitled to
 5                           lawful possession of the vehicle;
                       (b) holds a driver's licence authorising the person
                             to drive the vehicle on a road; and
                       (c) is responsible and able to drive the vehicle
                             properly.
10             (6)   Before keys to a motor vehicle are handed over to a
                     person under subsection (1)(b) or (5) a member of the
                     Police Force may, for the purposes of
                     subsection (1)(b)(ii) or (5)(c), require the person to
                     provide a sample of the person's breath for a
15                   preliminary test in accordance with the directions of
                     the member of the Police Force.
               (7)   If keys to a motor vehicle are not handed over within
                     24 hours after a request is made under subsection (5),
                     the offender may apply to the Magistrates Court, in
20                   accordance with its rules of court, for an order for the
                     keys to be handed over to a person named in the
                     application.
               (8)   A person who --
                      (a) contravenes any requirement made by a
25                          member of the Police Force under
                            subsection (1); or
                      (b) attempts in any manner to obstruct a member of
                            the Police Force in the exercise of any power
                            conferred on the member of the Police Force
30                          under subsection (1), (3) or (4),
                     commits an offence.
                     Penalty: 8 PU.
                                                                                ".

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                               Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                                           Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                                    s. 14



     14.         Section 72 amended
                 After section 72(1)(ba) the following paragraph is inserted --
                           "
                               (bb)   prescribing the procedure for assessing whether
 5                                    a person is drug impaired;
                                                                                         ".

     15.         Section 75 amended
                 Section 75(6) is amended as follows:
                   (a) in paragraph (a) by inserting after "63" --
10                      " , 63A ";
                  (b) in paragraph (b) by inserting after "1982" --
                        " or section 67AA of this Act ".

     16.         Section 76 amended
           (1)   Section 76(1a) is amended as follows:
15                 (a) in paragraph (a) by deleting "or section 67(3)(b) or (c);"
                        and inserting instead --
                                "
                                      , 63A(2)(b) or (c), 67(3)(b) or (c) or
                                      67AA(3)(b) or (c);
20                                                                                       ";
                     (b)        in paragraph (b) by deleting "or section 67(3)(a)" and
                                inserting instead --
                                " , 63A(2)(a), 67(3)(a) or 67AA(3)(a) ".
           (2)   Section 76(12)(a) is amended by deleting "or 67(3)(a);" and
25               inserting instead --
                 "    , 63A(2)(a), 67(3)(a) or 67AA(3)(a);          ".




                                                                                 page 21
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 2         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended

     s. 17



     17.             Section 106 amended
           (1)       Section 106(3)(c) and (4) are amended by deleting "least the"
                     and inserting instead --
                     "     least a ".
 5         (2)       After section 106(5) the following subsections are inserted --
                 "
                     (6)     A court sentencing a person who has been convicted of
                             an offence against section 63A must order a
                             pre-sentence report about the offender under Part 3
10                           Division 3 of the Sentencing Act 1995.
                     (7)     A court sentencing a person who has been convicted of
                             a first offence against section 63A or 67AA must,
                             instead of or in addition to imposing a fine --
                               (a) order the release of the person and impose a
15                                    community based order under Part 9 of the
                                      Sentencing Act 1995 with at least a programme
                                      requirement as a primary requirement of the
                                      order; or
                               (b) if the offender is a young person under the
20                                    Young Offenders Act 1994, subject to
                                      sections 50, 50A and 50B of that Act, make a
                                      youth community based order under that Act
                                      imposing at least attendance conditions on the
                                      offender.
25                   (8)     A court sentencing a person who has been convicted of
                             a second or subsequent offence against section 63A or
                             67AA must, instead of or in addition to imposing a
                             fine --
                               (a) order the release of the person and impose a
30                                  community based order under the Sentencing
                                    Act 1995 with at least a supervision
                                    requirement and a programme requirement as
                                    primary requirements of the order;

     page 22
             Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
                         Road Traffic Act 1974 amended         Part 2

                                                                   s. 17



             (b)    order the release of the person and impose an
                    intensive supervision order under the
                    Sentencing Act 1995 with at least a programme
                    requirement as a primary requirement of the
 5                  order; or
              (c)   if the offender is a young person under the
                    Young Offenders Act 1994, subject to
                    sections 50, 50A and 50B of that Act, make a
                    youth community based order, or an intensive
10                  youth supervision order, under that Act
                    imposing at least attendance conditions and
                    supervision conditions on the offender.
      (9)   Subsections (7) and (8) apply despite section 39(3) and
            (4) of the Sentencing Act 1995 and section 74 of the
15          Young Offenders Act 1994.
     (10)   Subsection (8) does not apply if the court imposes a
            custodial sentence on the offender.
                                                                      ".




                                                               page 23
     Road Traffic Amendment (Drug Impaired Driving) Bill 2005
     Part 3         Young Offenders Act 1994 amended

     s. 18



                 Part 3 -- Young Offenders Act 1994 amended
     18.          Schedule 1 amended
           (1)    The amendments in this section are to the Young Offenders
                  Act 1994*.
 5                [* Reprint 3 as at 15 July 2005.]
           (2)    Schedule 1 is amended in the division headed "3. Road Traffic
                  Act 1974 " as follows:
                    (a) by inserting after the item relating to section 63 --
            "
                   s. 63A                    Driving while impaired by drugs
10                                                                                      ";
                    (b)     by deleting the item relating to section 67 and inserting
                            instead --
            "
                   s. 67                     Failing to provide a breath
                                             sample, allow taking of a blood
                                             sample or provide a urine sample
                   s. 67AA                   Failing to undergo a driver
                                             assessment, allow taking of a
                                             blood sample or provide a urine
                                             sample
                                                                                        ".

15




 


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