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Exceed PCA

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Written by
Kristina Kothrakis
Criminal Defence Lawyer

Contact Kristina Kothrakis 

03 9670 5111


Driving - Drink Driving Offences - VIC
The Law - Exceed PCA

What the Law states - Exceed PCA


Road Safety Act 1986 - SECT 49

Offences involving alcohol or other drugs

49. Offences involving alcohol or other drugs

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he or she- 

(g)  has had a sample of blood taken from him or her in accordance with section 55, 55B, 55E or 56 within 3 hours after driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle and-


(i)  the sample has been analysed within 12 months after it was taken by a properly qualified analyst within the meaning of section 57 and the analyst has found that at the time of analysis the prescribed concentration of alcohol or more than the prescribed concentration of alcohol was present in that sample; and

(ii) the concentration of alcohol found by the analyst to be present in that sample was not due solely to the consumption of alcohol after driving or being in charge of the motor vehicle;

Maximum Penalty in Victoria


First offence: 12 penalty units

Second offence:

6 months / 60 penalty units (if the concentration of alcohol in the person's blood was less than 0×15 grams per 100 millilitres of blood; or in the person's breath was less than 0×15 grams per 210 litres of exhaled air as the case requires).


12 months / 120 penalty units (if the concentration of alcohol in the person's blood was 0×15 grams or more per 100 millilitres of blood; or in the person's breath was 0×15 grams or more per 210 litres of exhaled air as the case requires).

Subsequent offence:


12 months / 120 penalty units (if the concentration of alcohol in the person's blood was less than 0×15 grams per 100 millilitres of blood; or in the person's breath was less than 0×15 grams per 210 litres of exhaled air as the case requires).

18 months / 180 penalty units (if the concentration of alcohol in the person's blood was 0×15 grams or more per 100 millilitres of blood; or in the person's breath was 0×15 grams or more per 210 litres of exhaled air as the case requires).

Note: A person who is guilty of an accompanying driver offence is liable to a fine of not more than 5 penalty units.

What the Prosecution must prove - Exceed PCA - Vic


(a) The accused gave a blood sample within 3 hours of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle.

(b) The sample showed that the prescribed concerntration of alcohol (or more) was present.

(c) The result of the sample was not due solely to the consumption of alcohool after the driving or being in charge of the motor vehicle.

Street names for Exceed PCA


Drink driving, driving under the influence

Possible Defences - Exceed PCA


(a) Factual dispute.

(b) The result of the analysis was not a correct result.

 

Which court will hear the charge of Exceed PCA


Magistrates' Court.

Article published on 01/09/2009. To check if any changes to the law please discuss with one of our lawyers.
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