VICIn ForceAct
Pipelines Act 2005
170Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises or land
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170 Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises or land
(1) If—
S. 170(1)(a) amended by No. 13/2025 s. 89(2).
(a) a thing found at a premises or land is, or includes, a disk, tape or other device for the storage of information; and
S. 170(1)(b) amended by No. 13/2025 s. 89(2).
(b) equipment at the premises or land may be used with the disk, tape or other storage device; and
(c) the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that the information stored on the disk, tape or other storage device is relevant to determine whether this Act has been contravened—
the inspector or a person assisting the inspector may operate, or may require the occupier or an employee of the occupier to operate, the equipment to access the information.
S. 170(2) amended by No. 13/2025 s. 89(2).
(2) If the inspector or a person assisting the inspector finds that a disk, tape or other storage device at the premises or land contains information of the kind referred to in subsection (1)(c), he or she may—
(a) put the information in documentary form and seize the documents so produced; or
S. 170(2)(b) amended by No. 13/2025 s. 89(2).
(b) copy the information to another disk, tape or other storage device and remove that storage device from the premises or land; or
(c) if it is not practicable to put the information in documentary form or to copy the information, seize the disk, tape or other storage device and the equipment that enables the information to be accessed.
(3) An inspector or a person assisting an inspector must not operate or seize equipment for the purpose mentioned in this section unless the inspector or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that the operation or seizure of the equipment can be carried out without damage to the equipment.