Western Australian Current Acts

MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1981 - SECT 20I

20I .         Powers of police officers in relation to premises

        (1)         In this section —

        premises includes a vehicle at the premises.

        (2)         Under a premises search authorisation, a police officer may do one or more of the following in respect of the premises to which the authorisation relates —

            (a)         enter the premises;

            (b)         subject to subsection (3), do a preliminary drug detection test on, or in relation to, any consigned article;

            (c)         take into and use in the premises any equipment that is, or facilities that are, reasonably necessary in order to exercise any power under the authorisation;

            (d)         make reasonable use of any equipment, facilities or services in the premises in order to exercise any power under the authorisation and for that purpose —

                  (i)         to operate the equipment or facilities; and

                  (ii)         to require an occupier of the premises to do anything that is reasonable and necessary to facilitate that use;

            (e)         open and examine a consigned article if a preliminary drug detection test indicates the detection of any of the following in relation to the article —

                  (i)         a prohibited drug;

                  (ii)         a prohibited plant;

                  (iii)         a controlled precursor;

            (f)         take any action that is reasonably necessary in order to search the premises.

        (3)         A police officer may do a preliminary drug detection test on, or in relation to, a consigned article under subsection (2)(b) only if the consigned article is in a part of the premises used for the purpose of —

            (a)         storing consigned articles prior to delivery; or

            (b)         sorting consigned articles prior to delivery; or

            (c)         dispatching consigned articles for delivery; or

            (d)         if the consigned article is in a vehicle, parking vehicles.

        (4)         Section 25 applies as if the reference in subsection (1) of that section to a police officer exercising the powers conferred by section 22 or 23 included a reference to a police officer exercising the powers conferred by subsection (2) of this section.

        (5)         Section 26 applies as if —

            (a)         the reference in subsection (1)(a)(i) and (ii) of that section to a dangerous substance included a reference to a controlled precursor; and

            (b)         the reference in subsection (1) of that section to the exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 or 23 included a reference to the exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (2) of this section.

        [Section 20I inserted: No. 47 of 2016 s. 5.]

        [Heading inserted: No. 47 of 2016 s. 5.]