New NSW Sentencing Penalty Introduced: The New ‘Intensive Corrections Orders’
On 24 October 2017, Parliament in NSW assented to the amending legislation which effectively changed the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW). As of 24 September 2018, three major new sentencing options were introduced into NSW. A Magistrate or Judge can now impose any one of these new sentencing or penalty options for traffic ...continue reading
New Sentencing Option Introduced in NSW: ‘Community Correction Orders’
Our previous blog outlined how the ‘section 10 bond’ has now replaced the new ‘conditional release order’ as a new sentencing option in NSW for criminal and traffic offences. This blog outlines a further new sentencing option called a ‘community corrections order’ which effectively replaces the old ‘section 9 bond’ and ‘community service order’ penalties, ...continue reading
The End of ‘Section 10 Bonds’ in NSW as a Sentencing Option
The Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) reflects the law behind all the sentencing options a Magistrates or Judges can impose on a person guilty of a NSW criminal or traffic offence. That Law has now changed and the new NSW sentencing penalties or options commence from today 24 September 2018 onwards. The popular ...continue reading
How Do the New Slow Down Traffic Laws Affect Your Safety as a Motorist in NSW?
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh As of Saturday, September 1, a new road rule was put in place in NSW that requires motorists to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles. These include police cars, ambulances, and fire engines – that are displaying red and blue flashing lights. The new law ...continue reading
Is it Illegal to Drive in Thongs or Apply Makeup While Driving?
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh Across the nation, 10.9 million people admit to driving dangerously on the road and engaging in some form of distraction. From snacking on takeaway food, to applying make-up, wearing thongs instead of covered shoes, and even having a microsleep, Australians’ desire to multitask behind the wheel is putting them ...continue reading
Driving with Pets: The Harsh Penalties You Could be Facing
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh Australia is a nation of animal lovers, with an estimated 25 million pets across the country. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), dogs are the most common pet of choice, with 39 per cent of households owning at least one four-legged friend. ...continue reading
New Laws on Drug Driving and Mobile Phone Use in NSW
The Controversial Drug Driving Laws in NSW To be guilty of DUI under section 112, the police only need to prove that you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of driving, the law doesn’t require proof that your driving skills were effected by drugs or alcohol. Under the current law ...continue reading
Can You Refuse to Give a DNA Sample to Police?
By Jimmy Singh and Fahim Khan Australian criminal law can be complex to understand, especially when it’s concerning police rights regarding when they can and can’t carry out intrusive tests on your body. Generally, DNA samples are considered to be more effective at solving crimes than fingerprints. DNA samples are considered to be very effective ...continue reading
Can You Refuse to Give Evidence in Court Against a Family Member?
By Jimmy Singh & Tayla Regan Imagine being compelled by the courts to give evidence against your mum, dad, brother or sister. Regardless of the court outcome, consider the kind of potential damage this can cause to the relationship. To avoid undue hardship of a witness and to protect the family unit, in some situations ...continue reading
The Fairness of Mobile Drug Tests and Your Rights
By Jimmy Singh & Tayla Regan In 2017, police have conducted about 112,000 roadside drug tests. This is expected to rise to about 200,000 each year from 2020. The relatively new drug driving laws have criminalised driving with the mere presence of illicit drugs in your saliva, urine or blood. Criminalising the mere presence of ...continue reading