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Driving in a Dangerous Manner is an offence under Section 117(2) of the Road Transport Act 2013.
To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:
You drove a motor vehicle, and
Your manner of driving was dangerous
Your driving was dangerous if it was:
“In a real sense potentially dangerous to a human being or human beings who as a member or members of the public may be upon or in the vicinity of the roadway on which the driving is taking place”.
Your driving must have:
“create[d] a danger, real or potential, to the public”.
When determining whether the offence has occurred the court must consider:
The nature, condition and use of the road at the time
The amount of traffic on the road at the time, or which might reasonably be expected on the road at that time, and
Any obstructions or hazards on the road at the time
If it is your first major traffic offence in the past 5 years the maximum penalty is:
9 months in prison
A 3 year ‘automatic’ licence disqualification, which the court can reduce to 12 months, and
A fine of $2,200
If it is your second or more major traffic offence in the past 5 years the maximum penalty is:
12 months in prison
A 5 year automatic licence disqualification, which the court can reduce to 2 years, and
A fine of $3,300
However, there will be no criminal record, licence disqualification or fine where the court deals with you by way of:
A Section 10(1)(a) dismissal, or
A Conditional release order without a conviction
Defences to the charge include:
Necessity
Duress, and
Automatism
If you require the services of a traffic defence team that specialises in representing clients for cases under the Road Transport Act, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers today on (02) 9261 8881 to arrange a consultation.
Our team is vastly experienced in advising and representing clients in traffic law cases, and will fight to ensure you achieve the optimal result in the circumstances.
We offer fixed fees for all traffic cases, and a free first conference for those who are going to court.
The Legislation
Section 117(2) of the Road Transport Act 2013 is Driving in a Dangerous Manner and reads as follows:
Driving in a Dangerous Manner
(2) A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a road furiously, recklessly or at a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public.
The penalties
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units or imprisonment for 9 months or both (in the case of a first offence) or 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months or both (in the case of a second or subsequent offence).
Why Sydney Criminal Lawyers®?
Choosing the right legal team to defend your reputation and interests can be a difficult process.
However, it is always important to look at a firm’s experience and results when making this decision.
At Sydney Criminal Lawyers®, we have extensive experience defending and winning some of the most complex traffic matters – so you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.
Our traffic law specialists will take the time in every case to carefully scrutinise all the evidence in order to identify problems with the prosecution case at an early stage in the proceedings.
Where issues are found, our lawyers will write to the prosecution asking to have the charges dropped on this basis – often sparing our clients the considerable time and expense associated with defended hearings.
However, should your matter proceed to court, our senior lawyers will represent you and present a strong defence case to maximise your chances of being found ‘not guilty.’
Our senior lawyers are highly skilled advocates who have been recognised for their expert knowledge of the traffic law, as well as their ability to obtain excellent results in difficult cases.
We can assist you in avoiding the harsh penalties imposed by the law if you simply wish to plead guilty – in these cases, our experienced advocates can prepare and present compelling sentencing submissions which focus on any positive factors of your case.
For the best defence in your case, get the experts on your side today. Call us now on (02) 9261 8881 and book your FREE first conference with our traffic law specialists.
Driving in a Dangerous Manner is an offence under Section 117(2) of the Road Transport Act 2013. To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that: You drove a motor vehicle, and Your manner of driving was...
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Reckless Driving is an offence under Section 117(2) of the Road Transport Act 2013. To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that: You drove a motor vehicle, and You drove the vehicle recklessly You drove ‘recklessly’...
Driving at a dangerous speed is an offence under Section 117(2) of the Road Transport Act 2013. To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that: You drove a motor vehicle, and You drove at a speed that...