sec.17General powers of authorised officers

### sec.17 General powers of authorised officers An authorised officer, in addition to such other powers and duties as from time to time devolve upon that officer under this Act or the local laws for the local government area for which the officer is appointed may do the following— call to his or her aid a community police officer for the area where he or she has reasonable cause to apprehend any obstruction in the exercise of his or her powers or in the execution of his or her duties; be accompanied and aided by any person the officer may think competent to assist him or her in making any inspection or examination for the purposes of the local laws for the area; make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act or the relevant local laws have been or are being complied with by any person or in respect of the area concerned; at any time, stop any vehicle or vessel that he or she suspects on reasonable grounds to be used in the commission of a breach of the local laws for the area and search and examine that vehicle or vessel and all containers or other receptacles for any evidence of such a breach, and for that purpose may require the owner or person in charge thereof to open any such vehicle, vessel, container or other receptacle and expose its contents to view; perform such other functions and duties and exercise such other powers and authorities as may be prescribed in the local laws for the area concerned. An authorised officer who— finds any person committing or believes on reasonable grounds that any person has committed an offence against this Act or the relevant local laws; or is making inquiries or investigations with a view to establishing whether or not an offence against this Act or those local laws has been committed by any person; or is of the opinion that the name, age and address or place of residence of any person is required for the purpose of giving effect to any provision of this Act or the relevant local laws, or for the purpose of enabling the authorised officer to carry out his or her powers and duties under this Act or the relevant local laws; may require such person to state his or her name, age and address or place of residence, and, if the authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds that any information given in this regard is false, may require evidence of the correctness thereof. A person who fails to comply with a request of an authorised officer under subsection (2) commits an offence against this Act. Maximum penalty—4 penalty units. s 17 prev s 17 ins 1999 No. 53 s 6 om 2004 No. 37 s 86 sch 1 pres s 17 ins 1990 No. 104 s 17 amd 1999 No. 53 s 35 sch ; 2000 No. 5 s 373 sch 2 ; 2002 No. 46 s 3 (2) sch ; 2004 No. 37 s 86 sch 1 ; 2007 No. 59 s 18 ; 2008 No. 30 s 3 sch (sec.17-ssec.1) An authorised officer, in addition to such other powers and duties as from time to time devolve upon that officer under this Act or the local laws for the local government area for which the officer is appointed may do the following— call to his or her aid a community police officer for the area where he or she has reasonable cause to apprehend any obstruction in the exercise of his or her powers or in the execution of his or her duties; be accompanied and aided by any person the officer may think competent to assist him or her in making any inspection or examination for the purposes of the local laws for the area; make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act or the relevant local laws have been or are being complied with by any person or in respect of the area concerned; at any time, stop any vehicle or vessel that he or she suspects on reasonable grounds to be used in the commission of a breach of the local laws for the area and search and examine that vehicle or vessel and all containers or other receptacles for any evidence of such a breach, and for that purpose may require the owner or person in charge thereof to open any such vehicle, vessel, container or other receptacle and expose its contents to view; perform such other functions and duties and exercise such other powers and authorities as may be prescribed in the local laws for the area concerned. (sec.17-ssec.2) An authorised officer who— finds any person committing or believes on reasonable grounds that any person has committed an offence against this Act or the relevant local laws; or is making inquiries or investigations with a view to establishing whether or not an offence against this Act or those local laws has been committed by any person; or is of the opinion that the name, age and address or place of residence of any person is required for the purpose of giving effect to any provision of this Act or the relevant local laws, or for the purpose of enabling the authorised officer to carry out his or her powers and duties under this Act or the relevant local laws; may require such person to state his or her name, age and address or place of residence, and, if the authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds that any information given in this regard is false, may require evidence of the correctness thereof. (sec.17-ssec.3) A person who fails to comply with a request of an authorised officer under subsection (2) commits an offence against this Act. Maximum penalty—4 penalty units. - (a) call to his or her aid a community police officer for the area where he or she has reasonable cause to apprehend any obstruction in the exercise of his or her powers or in the execution of his or her duties; - (b) be accompanied and aided by any person the officer may think competent to assist him or her in making any inspection or examination for the purposes of the local laws for the area; - (c) make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act or the relevant local laws have been or are being complied with by any person or in respect of the area concerned; - (d) at any time, stop any vehicle or vessel that he or she suspects on reasonable grounds to be used in the commission of a breach of the local laws for the area and search and examine that vehicle or vessel and all containers or other receptacles for any evidence of such a breach, and for that purpose may require the owner or person in charge thereof to open any such vehicle, vessel, container or other receptacle and expose its contents to view; - (e) perform such other functions and duties and exercise such other powers and authorities as may be prescribed in the local laws for the area concerned. - (a) finds any person committing or believes on reasonable grounds that any person has committed an offence against this Act or the relevant local laws; or - (b) is making inquiries or investigations with a view to establishing whether or not an offence against this Act or those local laws has been committed by any person; or - (c) is of the opinion that the name, age and address or place of residence of any person is required for the purpose of giving effect to any provision of this Act or the relevant local laws, or for the purpose of enabling the authorised officer to carry out his or her powers and duties under this Act or the relevant local laws;