Traffic PCA Flashcards
What are the PCA ranges and where are they found in legislation?
Road Transport Act 2013 Section 108
Ranges are:
Novice Range - 0.001 - 0.019
Special Range - 0.020 - 0.049
Low Range - 0.050 - 0.079
Mid Range - 0.080 - 0.149
High Range - 0.150+
What offence does a person commit if prohibited drugs are found to have been in their blood when they were driving?
Where in legislation is this offence, and what are its elements?
Road Transport Act 2013 Section 111
Elements:
- accused
- had in their saliva, bloor or urine a prescribed illicit drug
- while driving, occupying driver’s seat attempting to put vehicle in motion, or supervising a learner driver from the driver’s seat
Where is the offence of Driving under the Influence found and what are the elements?
Road Transport Act 2013 Section 112
Elements:
- Accused
- was under the influence of alcohol or any other drug
- while driving, occupying driver’s seat attempting to put vehicle in motion, or supervising a learner driver from the driver’s seat
What are the main occasions when police conduct breath tests?
- Random Breath Testing (mobile or stationary)
- Collisions
- Manner of driving
- Breach of road rules (traffic offence).
What are the two types of breath test and when are they conducted and when should they not be conducted?
Passive
- Generally the initial test at an RBT
- It is only an indication of the presence of alcohol
- If there is presence of alcohol police conduct a standard test to confirm
Standard
- after a positive passive test
- when police already suspect the driver has consumed alcohol, or driver admits this
- in windy conditions
Where does the power to conduct random breath tests come from?
Road Transport Act 2013, Schedule 3, Clause 3
power to conduct random breath testing
When can police not conduct a breath test?
- If the driver has been admitted to hospital where blood sample has been take and the doctor says ‘no’
- If it is dangerous for the persons health/condition due to injury or illness
- Any time after the expiration of 2 hours after the collision which brought the driver under notice
- At the person’s place of abode (within their driveway or curtilage of their home.)
When may police arrest for breath analysis? Where in legislation is this power?
Road Transport Act 2013, Schedule 3, Clause 4
Police can arrest for breath analysis after a driver has failed or refused to take a standard breath test.
Where is the power for police to conduct a sobriety assessment and what can this assessment include?
Road Transport Act 2013, Schedule 3, Clause 13 empowers police to conduct a sobriety assessment.
A sobriety assessment is an observation made by police that assesses a persons:
- Breath
- Face
- Eyes
- Speech
- Actions/Movements
- Clothing
- Attitude
- Slightly, moderately or well affected by intoxicating liquor
Where is the power to arrest for a blood and urine sample come from?
Road Transport Act 2013, Schedule 3, Clause 14
Police can arrest for blood/urine test after a driver has failed or refused a sobriety test.
Where is the power to arrest anyone involved in fatal / likely fatal collision come from?
Road Transport Act 2013, Schedule 3, Clause 12
Power to arrest persons involved in accidents resulting in death for purpose of blood and urine testing
When can police officers suspend a person’s license?
Where in legislation does this power come from?
Road Transport Act 2013, Section 224
- detect Novice Range PCA
- detect Special Range PCA
- detect Low Range PCA
- detect Mid-Range PCA
- detect High Range PCA
- Refuse Breath Analysis
- Wilfully Alter Concentration of Alcohol
- Refuse/hinder blood sample (crash patients)
- Any indictable (driving ) offence causing GBH
- Any indictable (driving) offence causing death
What are the time constraints for conducting breath tests and breath analysis?
Breath tests and breath analysis must both be conducted within 2 hours of the incident which brought the driver to notice
Where is the offence of prescribed concentration of alcohol in breath/blood and what are the elements?
Road Transport Act 2013 Section 110
Elements:
- accused
- had a [novice/special/low/mid/high range] prescribed concentration of alcohol in their blood/breath
- while driving, occupying driver’s seat attempting to put vehicle in motion, or supervising a learner driver from the driver’s seat
SECTION KNOWLEDGE TEST:
What are the key sections of the Road Transport Act that relate to PCA and DUI offences, and police powers to test for and punish these?
Road Transport Act 2013
S108 - PCA ranges (grams alcohol per 210mL of breath)
S110 - PCA offences
S111 - presence of drug in blood/urine
S112 - DUI offence
S224 - police power to immediately suspend license
Sch 3, cl 3 - power to require breath test
Sch 3, cl 4 - power to arrest for breath analysis test following failed/refused breath test
Sch 3, cl 5 - power to require breath analysis test following positive breath test
Sch 3, cl 12 - power to arrest for blood and urine testing if crash fatal / likely to be
Sch 3, cl 13 - power to require sobriety test
Sch 3, cl 14 - power to arrest for blood/urine test following failed/refused sobriety test
Sch 3, cl 15 - power to require blood/urine test at hospital following cl 14 arrest