121Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment

121 Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment

(1) This section applies to premises to which a warrant relates.

(2) If a marine safety inspector believes on reasonable grounds that:

(a) there is on the premises information (data) relevant to the monitoring purposes or determining whether there is evidential material on the premises; and

(b) the data may be accessible by operating electronic equipment on the premises; and

(c) expert assistance is required to operate the equipment; and

(d) if he or she does not take action under this subsection, the data may be destroyed, altered or otherwise interfered with;

he or she may do whatever is necessary to secure the equipment for up to 72 hours, whether by locking it up, placing a guard or other means.

(3) The marine safety inspector must give notice to the occupier of the premises of his or her intention to secure the equipment and of the fact that the equipment may be secured for up to 72 hours.

Note: That period may be extended: see section 123.