(1) A person who—
S. 317AC(1)(a) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 7(1).
(a) drives a motor vehicle in the vicinity of another person who is an emergency worker on duty, a custodial officer on duty or a youth justice custodial worker on duty; and
S. 317AC(1)(b) amended by Nos 65/2017 s. 7(2), 3/2019 s. 5(1).
(b) knows that, or is reckless as to whether, the other person is an emergency worker, a custodial officer or a youth justice custodial worker; and
(c) without lawful excuse, drives the motor vehicle and intends to expose the other person to a risk to safety—
is guilty of an offence and liable to level 3 imprisonment (20 years maximum).
S. 317AC(2) amended by Nos 65/2017 s. 7(2), 3/2019 s. 5(1).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the person is taken to know that the other person is an emergency worker, a custodial officer or a youth justice custodial worker (as the case may be) if—
S. 317AC(2)(a) amended by Nos 65/2017 s. 7(2), 3/2019 s. 5(1).
(a) the other person has identified themselves as an emergency worker, a custodial officer or a youth justice custodial worker; or
(b) the other person is inside or in the vicinity of a vehicle which—
(i) bears the livery or insignia of an emergency service; or
(ii) is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is displaying other lights); or
(iii) is sounding an alarm; or
S. 317AC(2)(c) amended by Nos 65/2017 s. 7(2)(3), 3/2019 s. 5(2).
(c) the fact that the other person is an emergency worker, a custodial officer or a youth justice custodial worker is reasonably apparent, having regard to all the circumstances, including the conduct and manner of the emergency worker, custodial officer or youth justice custodial worker.
S. 317AC(3) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 7(3). [21]
(3) A person may be found guilty of an offence under subsection (1) irrespective of whether the emergency worker, custodial officer or youth justice custodial worker was injured by the conduct of the person driving the motor vehicle.
Notes to s. 317AC(3) amended by Nos 65/2017 s. 7(4), 48/2018 s. 93, repealed by No. 23/2020 s. 17(1).
* * * * *
Notes to s. 317AC inserted by No. 23/2020 s. 17(2).
Notes
1 An offence against this section is a category 1 offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 if an emergency worker on duty, a custodial officer on duty or a youth justice custodial worker on duty was injured in the commission of the offence. See section 5(2G) and (2GA) of that Act for the requirement to impose a custodial order or other specified order for this offence if committed in those circumstances.
2 See section 10AE(1) of the Sentencing Act 1991 for the requirement that a term of imprisonment be imposed for an offence against section 317AC and that a non-parole period of not less than 2 years be fixed under section 11 of that Act if an emergency worker on duty, a custodial officer on duty or a youth justice custodial worker on duty was injured in the commission of the offence unless the court finds under section 10A of that Act that a special reason exists.
3 Section 16(3D) of the Sentencing Act 1991 requires that every term of imprisonment imposed on a person for an offence against this section must, unless otherwise directed by the court, be served cumulatively on any uncompleted sentence or sentences of imprisonment imposed on that offender, whether before or at the same time as that term.
S. 317AD (Heading) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 8.
S. 317AD inserted by No. 65/2017 s. 3.