150Liability of registered operators

150 Liability of registered operators

(1) This section applies to a road law offence, where the offence is expressed to be committed by an operator of a vehicle or combination (whether or not any other person can also commit the offence). (2) If an offence to which this section applies is committed: (a) with respect to a vehicle not forming part of a combination at the relevant time—the registered operator of the vehicle is taken to have committed the offence and is punishable accordingly; or (b) with respect to a whole combination or with respect to the towing vehicle of a combination—the registered operator of the towing vehicle of the combination is taken to have committed the offence and is punishable accordingly; or (c) with respect to a trailer forming part of a combination at the relevant time—the registered operator of the towing vehicle and the registered operator (if any) of the trailer are each taken to have committed the offence and are punishable accordingly. (3) The registered operator has the benefit of any defences available to the operator. (4) Subsection (2) does not apply if, during the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner, the registered operator gives the Authority a statutory declaration containing prescribed information, including the name and address of the operator of the vehicle or combination at the time of the offence. (5) This section does not affect the liability of the principal offender.