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HARBORS AND NAVIGATION ACT 1993 - SECT 72

72—Authorised person may require drug screening test, oral fluid analysis and blood test

        (1)         If a person has submitted to an alcotest or a breath analysis as a result of a requirement under section 71, an authorised person may require the person to submit to a drug screening test.

        (2)         If—

            (a)         a person has submitted to a drug screening test as a result of a requirement under subsection (1) and the drug screening test indicates the presence of a prescribed drug in the person's oral fluid; or

            (b)         a person has submitted to an alcotest or breath analysis as a result of a requirement under section 71(1) that was made in prescribed circumstances,

an authorised person may require the person to submit to an oral fluid analysis or a blood test.

        (3)         If a person submits to an oral fluid analysis in compliance with a requirement made under subsection (2) but the person is unable to produce sufficient oral fluid for a sample to be taken, an authorised person may require that the person submit to a blood test.

        (4)         An authorised person may give reasonable directions for the purpose of making a requirement under this section that a person submit to a drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test.

        (5)         A person must forthwith comply with a direction under subsection (4).

Maximum penalty: $2 900.

        (6)         A drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test to which a person has been required to submit under this section may not be commenced more than 8 hours after—

            (a)         the person ceased to operate a vessel; or

            (b)         the person was a member of the crew of a vessel who was, or ought to have been, engaged in duties affecting the safe navigation, operation or use of the vessel.

        (7)         The performance of a drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test that has been required under this section commences when a direction is first given by an authorised person that the person concerned provide a sample of oral fluid or blood (as the case may be) to be used for the drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test.

        (8)         A drug screening test or an oral fluid analysis may only be conducted by a police officer authorised by the Commissioner of Police to conduct such tests or analyses.

        (9)         The regulations may prescribe the manner in which a drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test is to be conducted.

        (10)         A person required under this section to submit to a drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test must not refuse or fail to comply with all reasonable directions of an authorised person in relation to the requirement and, in particular, must not refuse or fail to allow a sample of oral fluid or blood to be taken in accordance with the directions of an authorised person.

Penalty:

            (a)         for a first offence—a fine of not less than $900 and not more than $1 300;

            (b)         for a subsequent offence—a fine of not less than $1 500 and not more than $2 200.

        (11)         It is a defence to a prosecution under subsection (10) that—

            (a)         the requirement or direction to which the prosecution relates was not lawfully made; or

            (b)         the person was not allowed the opportunity to comply with the requirement or direction after having been given the prescribed oral advice in relation to—

                  (i)         the consequences of refusing or failing to comply with the requirement or direction; and

                  (ii)         in the case of—

                        (A)         a drug screening test or an oral fluid analysis—the person's right to request the taking of a blood sample under subsection (12); or

                        (B)         a blood test—the person's right to request an oral fluid analysis under subsection (13); or

            (c)         there was, in the circumstances of the case, good cause for the refusal or failure of the defendant to comply with the requirement or direction.

        (12)         If a person of whom a requirement is made or to whom a direction is given under this section relating to a drug screening test or oral fluid analysis refuses or fails to comply with the requirement or direction by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person and forthwith makes a request of an authorised person that a sample of his or her blood be taken by a medical practitioner, an authorised person must do all things reasonably necessary to facilitate the taking of a sample of the person's blood—

            (a)         by a medical practitioner nominated by the person; or

            (b)         if—

                  (i)         it becomes apparent to the authorised person that there is no reasonable likelihood that a medical practitioner nominated by the person will be available to take the sample within 1 hour of the time of the request at some place not more than 10 kilometres distant from the place of the request; or

                  (ii)         the person does not nominate a particular medical practitioner,

by any medical practitioner who is available to take the sample.

        (13)         If a person of whom a requirement is made or to whom a direction is given under this section relating to a blood test refuses or fails to comply with the requirement or direction by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person and forthwith makes a request of an authorised person that an oral fluid analysis be conducted, an authorised person must do all things reasonably necessary to facilitate the conduct of an oral fluid analysis unless—

            (a)         a requirement or direction under this section relating to a drug screening test or oral fluid analysis has been made of, or been given to, the person; and

            (b)         —

                  (i)         the person refused or failed to comply with that requirement or direction on the ground of some physical or medical condition of the person and made a request under subsection (12) for a sample of his or her blood to be taken in accordance with that subsection; or

                  (ii)         the person was unable to produce sufficient oral fluid for a sample to be taken.

        (14)         A person is not entitled to refuse or fail to comply with a requirement or direction under this section on the ground that—

            (a)         the person would, or might, by complying with that requirement or direction, furnish evidence that could be used against himself or herself; or

            (b)         the person consumed a prescribed drug after the person last operated a vessel or was on duty as a member of the crew of a vessel and before the requirement was made or the direction was given.

        (15)         A person may not raise a defence that the person had good cause for a refusal or failure to comply with a requirement or direction under this section relating to a drug screening test or oral fluid analysis by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person unless—

            (a)         a sample of the person's blood was taken in accordance with subsection (12); or

            (b)         the person made a request as referred to in subsection (12), but—

                  (i)         an authorised person failed to facilitate the taking of a sample of the person's blood as required by that subsection; or

                  (ii)         a medical practitioner was not reasonably available for the purpose of taking such a sample; or

            (c)         the taking of a sample of the person's blood in accordance with subsection (12) was not possible or reasonably advisable or practicable in the circumstances by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person.

        (16)         A person may not raise a defence that the person had good cause for a refusal or failure to comply with a requirement or direction under this section relating to a blood test by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person unless—

            (a)         an oral fluid analysis was conducted in accordance with subsection (13); or

            (b)         the person made a request as referred to in subsection (13), but an authorised person failed to facilitate the conduct of an oral fluid analysis as required by that subsection; or

            (c)         the taking of a sample of the person's oral fluid in accordance with subsection (13) was not possible or reasonably advisable or practicable in the circumstances by reason of some physical or medical condition of the person.

        (17)         In determining whether an offence is a first or subsequent offence for the purposes of this section, any previous prescribed alcohol or drug offence for which the defendant has been convicted will be taken into account, but only if the previous offence was committed within the period of 5 years immediately preceding the date on which the offence under consideration was committed.

        (18)         If a person—

            (a)         refuses or fails to comply with a requirement or direction under this section; or

            (b)         submits to a drug screening test or oral fluid analysis and the drug screening test or preliminary result of the oral fluid analysis indicates the presence of a prescribed drug in the person's oral fluid,

there will be reasonable ground to suspect that a prescribed drug is present in the person's oral fluid for the purposes of the exercise of any power conferred on a police officer (including a power of arrest) to prevent the person committing an offence by operating a vessel in contravention of this Division.

        (19)         Subsection (18) does not limit the circumstances in which such a power may otherwise be exercised by a police officer under this or any other Act.



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