5Power of controlling officer to impound

5 Power of controlling officer to impound

(1)  The controlling officer may on behalf of the Crown exercise in respect of the grounds of Parliament House all the rights of an occupier of land to impound chattels wrongfully on his or her land.

(2)  Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) , the controlling officer may immobilize any motor vehicle wrongfully left in the grounds of Parliament House until 10.30 a.m. of the next day on which the offices of the Houses of Parliament are open by –

(a) removing some part whereby no permanent damage is done to the vehicle; or

(b) chains and padlocks; or

(c) a barrier of vehicles or other things –

and may if no claim is made for the vehicle by that time cause it to be towed away to some safe place and there kept till the cost of its towing and keeping are paid to the controlling officer.

(3)  [Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 4 of 2017, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2019] *[Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 4 ]*If a vehicle impounded by the controlling officer is deemed by 2 justices in petty sessions to be of no use except for wrecking or scrap, they may, by warrant under their hands, authorize the controlling officer to sell it as they think fit and pay the proceeds of sale, less such amount as they award the controlling officer for his or her expenses, into the Public Account, out of which they may be paid to the owner of the vehicle.