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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


CRIMINAL CODE (ROCK THROWING AND LASER POINTING) AMENDMENT BILL 2009

                   Western Australia


Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser
    Pointing) Amendment Bill 2009

                      CONTENTS


1.   Short title                                                 2
2.   Commencement                                                2
3.   Act amended                                                 2
4.   Section 304A inserted                                       2
     304A.    Endangering the safe use of a vehicle by
              throwing an object or by a similar activity   2




                         99--1                                   page i
                           Western Australia


                     LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

                   (Introduced by Mr Quigley, MLA)



    Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser
        Pointing) Amendment Bill 2009


                               A Bill for


An Act to amend the The Criminal Code to render it unlawful to
endanger the safety of a person or the safe use of a vehicle by
throwing an object or by a similar activity.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:




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     Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser Pointing) Amendment Bill 2009



     s. 1




 1   1.       Short title
 2            This Act is the Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser
 3            Pointing) Amendment Act 2009.

 4   2.       Commencement
 5            This Act comes into operation as follows --
 6             (a) sections 1 and 2 -- on the day on which this Act
 7                   receives the Royal Assent;
 8             (b) the rest of the Act -- on the day after that day.

 9   3.       Act amended
10            This Act amends The Criminal Code.

11   4.       Section 304A inserted
12            Insert after Section 304:

13          304A.   Endangering the safe use of a vehicle by throwing
14                  an object or by a similar activity
15            (1)   In this section --
16                  at includes towards;
17                  beam of light, from a laser, means the beam of
18                  radiation produced by a laser device;
19                  laser means a laser pointer, laser scope or other laser
20                  device;
21                  path includes pathway, course and channel;
22                  place includes insert and submerge;
23                  throw includes propel, project and kick.
24            (2)   A person who --
25                   (a) throws an object at a vehicle, vessel or aircraft
26                         that is in the course of travelling; or



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     Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser Pointing) Amendment Bill 2009



                                                                               s. 4



 1                 (b)   places an object in or near to the path a vehicle,
 2                       vessel or aircraft is using or may use in the
 3                       course of travelling; or
 4                 (c)   directs a beam of light from a laser at or near a
 5                       vehicle, vessel or aircraft that is in the course of
 6                       travelling,
 7               in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger the safe
 8               use of the vehicle, vessel or aircraft is guilty of a crime
 9               and is liable to imprisonment for a maximum of
10               2 years.
11         (3)   A person who engages in the actions described in
12               subsection (2)(a), (2)(b) or (2)(c) and as a result
13               endangers or is likely to endanger the life, health or
14               safety of any person is guilty of a crime and is liable to
15               imprisonment for a maximum of 5 years.
16         (4)   For paragraph (2)(a), throwing an object at a vehicle,
17               vessel or aircraft includes throwing or dropping an
18               object onto or near the vehicle, vessel or aircraft or into
19               or near to the path of the vehicle, vessel or aircraft.
20         (5)   The following do not matter --
21                (a) the intention with which an object is thrown,
22                       dropped or placed or a beam of light from a
23                       laser is directed (in any case, the initial act);
24                (b) whether contact is made with a vehicle, vessel
25                       or aircraft;
26                (c) without limiting paragraph (a), whether a
27                       particular vehicle, vessel or aircraft is involved;
28                (d) in relation to a requirement that a vehicle,
29                       vessel or aircraft be in the course of
30                       travelling--whether the vehicle, vessel or
31                       aircraft is moving or stationary;




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    Criminal Code (Rock Throwing and Laser Pointing) Amendment Bill 2009



    s. 4



1                   (e)   whether a vehicle, vessel or aircraft is in the
2                         sight of the offender or present when the initial
3                         act is done.

4




 


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