16 criminal offences that you may not be aware of in NSW

Many “common” offences in NSW are widely known by members of the public and road users. However, there are a number of offences and Road Rules that you may not be aware of, even though they can attract significant penalties:

1. It’s an offence to leave your motor vehicle running if you are more than 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle.  Maximum penalty: $2,200.
2. It’s an offence to leave the key in the ignition of your motor vehicle if you are more than 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle and there is no one left in the vehicle.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
3. It’s an offence to leave the windows of your motor vehicle down by more than 2cm, or the door of your motor vehicle unlocked, if you are more than 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle and there is no one left in the vehicle.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
4. It’s an offence to use your horn unless it is to warn other road users or animals of the approach or position of the vehicle, or as a warning device. Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
5. It’s an offence to ride a bicycle within 2 metres of the rear of a moving motor vehicle for more than 200 metres.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
6. It’s an offence to exit a motor vehicle travelling more than 5km per hour.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
7. It’s an offence to not take due care while driving which results in splashing mud/water on any person waiting at a bus stop.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
8. It’s an offence to lead any animal whilst you are in a motor vehicle.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
9. It’s an offence to ride on an animal-drawn vehicle in hazardous weather conditions without first fitting a white light to the front of each side of the vehicle and a red light fitted at or towards the rear of each side of the vehicle.  Maximum penalty:  $2,200.
10. It’s an offence to accept money to aid a person to recover a dog which has been stolen.  Maximum penalty:  imprisonment for 1 year.
11. It’s an offence to perform an act of piracy.  Maximum penalty:  life imprisonment.
12. It’s an offence to voluntarily participate on a pirate controlled ship.  Maximum penalty:  imprisonment for 15 years.
13. It’s an offence to have in your possession paper supplied to Australia Post for the purpose of printing postage stamps.  Maximum penalty:  imprisonment for 5 years.
14. It’s an offence to take or destroy any fish in water on private property.  Maximum penalty:  the value of the fish taken or destroyed, in addition to a fine of $110.
15. It’s an offence to steal any deadwood lying on land occupied by another person.  Maximum penalty:  the value of the wood, in addition to a fine of $110.
16. It’s an offence to steal any rock or stone belonging to another person.  Maximum penalty:  imprisonment for 6 months or a fine of $550, or both.

The above are a small but interesting selection of offences contained within the Road Rules and NSW criminal legislation. If a person you know has been charged with any criminal or traffic offence, you should suggest to them that they obtain legal advice from our Criminal Law Team immediately.