Traffic Law Offences South Australia

In South Australia, traffic offences are known as road law offence as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1961.There are different laws which govern drivers, pedestrians and riders. Summary offences like some traffic offences are governed by the Road Traffic Act 1961 and in Regulations such as Australian Road Rules 1999 and the Motor Vehicles Act 1959.

Summary offences like traffic offences are those heard and tried by the Magistrate’s Court and not presented for trial before a judge and the jury. Minor and undisputed traffic matters are heard by the justice of the peace. On the other hand, major and indictable traffic offences are covered by the Criminal Law Consolidated Acts 1935.
Depending on the seriousness of the offence and whether the offender has prior convictions, penalties for conviction on traffic offences in South Australia include fines, loss of demerit points, cancellation or suspension of driver’s licence and imprisonment.

The following traffic or road law offences carry with them the penalty of imprisonment, to wit: a). procuring use of vehicle by fraud, b). careless driving of motor vehicle, c). reckless and dangerous driving, and d). driving under the influence of intoxicating liquors or drugs, e). interference with photographic detection device.
There are also traffic offences which are detected by the photographic detection device such as speeding offence and red lights offence under the Road Traffic Act 1961, specifically under section 79B of the said Act.

On September 1, 2010, the Government changed the penalties for speeding limit to minimize speeding offence. Speeding offence is one of the factors in most road accidents in South Australia. The rules and laws as well as their corresponding penalties governing motorists, pedestrians and riders are constantly changing to address the problems of South Australia regarding traffic offences that caused bodily harm and loss of life.