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Justices Act 1959
71Petty crimes triable summarily
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### 71 Petty crimes triable summarily
> *\[Section 71 Substituted by No. 108 of 1974, s. 22 \]*
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> > (1) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2020, s. 16, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS16@Hpd@EN) *\[Section 71 Subsection (1) substituted by No. 75 of 1983, s. 4 \]**\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 45 of 1986, s. 13 \]*Where a person is brought before justices upon a complaint for an offence under–
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> > > > (a) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 2004, s. 37, Applied:16 Nov 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-11-16/act-2004-044#GS37@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2020, s. 16, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS16@Hpa@EN) one of the sections of the [Criminal Code](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069) referred to in [Schedule 2](#JS2@EN) in respect of property the value of which does not exceed $20 000; or
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> > > > (ab) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 23 of 2013, s. 6, Applied:01 Sep 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-09-01/act-2013-023#GS6@EN) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2020, s. 16, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS16@Hpb@EN) [section 244](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069#JS1@GS244@EN) or [245(a)(iii)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069#JS1@GS245@Hpa@Hqiii@EN) of the [Criminal Code](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069) , except where it is alleged in the complaint that –
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> > > > > > (i) in the circumstances in which the offence was committed, property to the value of more than $20 000 was stolen; or
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> > > > > > (ii) in the commission of the offence, the person intended to commit a crime other than stealing; or
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> > > > (b) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 2004, s. 37, Applied:16 Nov 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-11-16/act-2004-044#GS37@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2020, s. 16, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS16@Hpc@EN) [section 278](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069#GS278@EN) or [279 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-9999-999#GS279@EN) [Criminal Code](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-9999-999) in respect of a document, seal, or die which relates to an amount not exceeding $20 000, whether as the consideration for a transaction or dealing or otherwise–
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> > the section creating that offence shall, unless the justices think that the offence should be dealt with in the Supreme Court, be deemed, subject to [subsection (1A)](#GS71@Gs1A@EN) and [(2)](#GS71@Gs2@EN) , to have created a simple offence, and the complaint shall be dealt with accordingly.
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> > (1A) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 27 of 2020, s. 16, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS16@Hpe@EN) [Subsection (1)](#GS71@Gs1@EN) does not apply in respect of a person brought before justices upon a complaint for an offence referred to in that subsection if –
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> > > > (a) the person is brought before justices for more than one offence referred to in this section that –
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> > > > > > (i) are joined in a single complaint; or
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> > > > > > (ii) are substantially from the same course of conduct or founded on the same facts; and
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> > > > (b) the total value specified in the charges for those offences exceeds $20 000.
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> > (2) *\[Section 71 Subsection (2) amended by No. 45 of 1986, s. 13 \]*An offence mentioned in [subsection (1)](#GS71@Gs1@EN) may be dealt with in the Supreme Court unless –
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> > > > (a) the person arraigned therefor has been convicted therefor;
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> > > > (b) a complaint against him therefor has been dismissed upon summary trial by virtue of that subsection; or
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> > > > (c) [*\[Section 71 Subsection (2) amended by No. 59 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Aug 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-08-01/act-1997-059#JS1@Ja9@GC1@EN) a complaint against him therefor has been dismissed under the [Sentencing Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-059) or he has been released on probation under that Act on the hearing of proceedings relating to such an offence.