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Written by
Shaun Pascoe
Criminal Defence Lawyer


Driving - Other Traffic Offences - VIC
Welcome to the VIC Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs article page. Everything you need to know about Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs according to VIC law - Dated: 09/01/2009

What the Law States according to VIC Law for Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs

According to VIC Law for the charge of Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs, 61A. Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident
occurs



(1) If owing to the presence of a specified vehicle an accident occurs whereby
any person is injured or any property (including any animal) is damaged or
destroyed, the driver of the vehicle-

   (a)  must immediately stop the vehicle; and

   (b)  must immediately render such assistance as he or she can; and

   (c)  must at the scene of the accident as soon as possible give his or her
        name and address and also the name and address of the owner of the
        vehicle and the identifying number of the vehicle (if any)-

   (i)  to any person who has been injured or to the owner of any property
        which has been damaged or destroyed; or

   (ii) to a person representing the injured person or the owner of the
        property; and

   (d)  must at the scene of the accident as soon as possible give those names
        and addresses to any member of the police force who is present; and

   (e)  if any person is injured and no member of the police force is present
        at the scene of the accident, must as soon as possible report in
        person full particulars of the accident at the police station that is
        most accessible from the scene of the accident if that station is open
        and, if it is not open, at the next most accessible station; and

   (f)  if any property is damaged or destroyed and neither the owner of the
        property nor any person representing the owner nor any member of the
        police force is present at the scene of the accident, must as soon as
        possible report in person full particulars of the accident at the
        police station that is most accessible from the scene of the accident
        if that station is open and, if it is not open, at the next most
        accessible station.

(2) If a specified vehicle, which has been left standing on a highway, moves
of its own accord from the position in which it was left and is involved in an
accident whereby any person is injured or any property (including any animal)
is damaged or destroyed, the person who left the vehicle so standing must as
soon as possible after becoming aware of the accident comply as far as the
circumstances permit with the requirements of subsection (1).







(3) If-

   (a)  as a result of an accident involving a specified vehicle a person is
        killed or suffers serious injury; and

   (b)  the driver of the vehicle knows or ought reasonably to have known that
        the accident had occurred and had resulted in a person being killed or
        suffering serious injury; and

   (c)  the driver of the vehicle does not comply with the requirements of
        subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) in relation to the accident-

the driver is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to level 6
imprisonment (5 years maximum) or a level 6 fine (600 penalty units maximum).

(4) If-

   (a)  as a result of the accident a person is killed or suffers serious
        injury then a person who contravenes subsection (1)(c), (1)(d) or
        (1)(e) is guilty of an offence; or

   (b)  as a result of the accident a person is otherwise injured then a
        person who contravenes any provision of this section is guilty of an
        offence-

and liable for a first offence to a penalty of not more than 40 penalty units
or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 4 months and for a subsequent
offence to a penalty of not more than 120 penalty units or to imprisonment for
a term of not less than 2 months and not more than 1 year.

(5) If no person is killed or suffers injury as a result of the accident then
a person who contravenes any provision of this section is guilty of an offence
and liable for a first offence to a penalty of not more than 2·5 penalty units
or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 7 days and for a subsequent
offence to a penalty of not more than 5 penalty units or to imprisonment for a
term of not less than 7 days and not more than 14 days.

(6) If a person who is convicted or found guilty of an offence against any
provision of this section has at any time been convicted or found guilty of an
offence against another provision of this section or any previous enactment
corresponding to any of those provisions, the conviction for, or finding of
guilt of, the offence against that provision is to be taken to be a conviction
for, or finding of guilt of, a subsequent offence.

(7) The specifying by subsection (3) of fault elements for an offence against
that subsection is not intended to affect the question of whether fault
elements are required for any other offence against this section or any other
provision of this Act.

(8) In this section, specified vehicle means a vehicle that is not-

   (a)  a motor vehicle; or

   (b)  a non-motorised wheel-chair; or

   (c)  a motorised wheel-chair that is not capable of a speed of more than
        10km per hour.

The Maximum Penalty - Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs

According to VIC Law for the charge of Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs,

1. Where the driver of a vehicle, that is not a motor vehicle, is involved in an accident, and that accident results in a person being killed or serious injured, and the driver fails to stop and or fails to render assistance: 5 years or 600 penalty units.

2. Where the driver of a vehicle, that is not a motor vehicle, is involved in an accident, and that accident results in a person being killed or seriously injured, and the driver fails to give name and address and or fails to report accident to police: 40 penalty units, or 1 month imprisonment (1st offence), 120 penalty units or not less than 2 months and not more than 12 months imprisonment (subsequent offence).

3. Where the drvier of a vehicle, that is not a motor vehicle, is involved in an accident, and that accident does not result in either property damage or injury to the other party: 2.5 penalty units, or 7 days imprisonment (1st offence), 5 penalty units or 14 days imprisonment (subsequent offence)

What the Police must prove according to VIC Law for Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs

1. Driver driving a motor vehicle that is not a motor vehicle

2. That there was an accident

3. That the driver either:

a. did not stop

b. did not render assistance

c. did not provide their name and address to the other party

d. did not report the accident to the police

2. Aggravating circumstances

a. that the driver caused the other person's death, or serious injury to the otehr person;

b. that the driver caused damage to the other person's property.

Possible Defences under VIC Law - Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs

1. Factual dispute

 

In VIC which court will hear the matter - Duty of driver etc. of vehicle that is not a motor vehicle if accident occurs

All offences under s. 61A can be heard and determined in the Magistrates Court.

Fail to stop at scene of accident

Fail to give name and address

Fail to render assistance

Fail to report accident to police.

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