(1) A person who—
S. 317AE(1)(a) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(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. 317AE(1)(b) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(2).
(b) knows that, or is reckless as to whether, the other person is an emergency worker, custodial officer or youth justice custodial worker; and
(c) without lawful excuse, drives the motor vehicle and recklessly exposes the other person to a risk to safety—
is guilty of an offence and liable to level 5 imprisonment (10 years maximum).
S. 317AE(2) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(2).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the person is taken to know that the other person is an emergency worker, custodial officer or youth justice custodial worker (as the case may be) if—
S. 317AE(2)(a) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(2).
(a) the other person has identified themselves as an emergency worker, custodial officer or 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. 317AE(2)(c) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(2)(3).
(c) the fact that the other person is an emergency worker, custodial officer or 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. 317AE(3) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 11(3).
(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.
Note
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. 317AF (Heading) amended by No. 65/2017 s. 12.
S. 317AF inserted by No. 65/2017 s. 3.