15CDangerous articles

### 15C Dangerous articles > *\[Section 15C Inserted by No. 71 of 1962, s. 4 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (1) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (2) amended by No. 99 of 1982, s. 3 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (2) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (3) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (3) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (4) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (4) amended by No. 75 of 1973, s. 2 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (4) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 15C Subsection (5) added by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*[*\[Section 15C Repealed by No. 1 of 2001, s. 12, Applied:12 Apr 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-04-12/act-2001-001#GS12@EN) > > > (1)  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (1) amended by No. 15 of 2016, s. 5, Applied:21 Jun 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-06-21/act-2016-015#GS5@Hpa@EN) A person, without lawful excuse (proof of which lies on the person), must not have possession of, or carry or use, a dangerous article in a public place. > > > > Penalty:  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2020, s. 26, Applied:01 Jul 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-07-01/act-2020-027#GS26@EN) [*\[Section 15C Subsection (1) amended by No. 10 of 2025, s. 4, Applied:16 Jun 2025\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-06-16/act-2025-010#GS4@Hpa@EN) Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both. > > > (1A)  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 29 of 2004, s. 6, Applied:23 Sep 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-09-23/act-2004-029#GS6@Hpa@EN) [Subsection (1)](#GS15C@Gs1@EN) does not apply to – > > > > > > (a) a police officer acting in the performance of his or her duties; or > > > > > > > (b) a person, or group of persons, excluded in writing by the Commissioner from the application of that subsection. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (2) amended by No. 10 of 2025, s. 4, Applied:16 Jun 2025\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-06-16/act-2025-010#GS4@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 15C Subsection (2) amended by No. 29 of 2004, s. 6, Applied:23 Sep 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-09-23/act-2004-029#GS6@Hpb@EN) A police officer may stop, detain and search, without a warrant, any person in a public place who the police officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting has possession of, or carries, any dangerous article without lawful excuse and may stop, detain and search, without a warrant, the person's vehicle. > > > (3)  A police officer may seize and detain any dangerous article found. > > > (4)  A lawful excuse excludes self-defence but includes the following: > > > > > > (a) the pursuit of a lawful occupation, duty or activity using that dangerous article; > > > > > > > (b) the participation in a lawful sport, recreation or entertainment using that dangerous article; > > > > > > > (c) the lawful collection, display or exhibition of that dangerous article; > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 15C Subsection (4) amended by No. 15 of 2016, s. 5, Applied:21 Jun 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-06-21/act-2016-015#GS5@Hpb@EN) the use of that dangerous article for the lawful purpose for which it was intended; > > > > > > > (e) [*\[Section 15C Subsection (4) amended by No. 15 of 2016, s. 5, Applied:21 Jun 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-06-21/act-2016-015#GS5@Hpc@EN) religious observance. > > > (4A)  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (4A) inserted by No. 10 of 2025, s. 4, Applied:16 Jun 2025\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-06-16/act-2025-010#GS4@Hpc@EN) A failure to comply with a requirement to undergo an electronic metal detection device search in accordance with [section 15CAA(2)](#GS15CAA@Gs2@EN) may constitute a reasonable ground for suspicion that a person has possession of, or carries, a dangerous article without lawful excuse. > > > (5)  If a person is convicted or found guilty of an offence under this section, the dangerous article to which the offence relates is forfeited and may be disposed of as the court orders. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 15C Subsection (6) inserted by No. 29 of 2004, s. 6, Applied:23 Sep 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-09-23/act-2004-029#GS6@Hpc@EN) For the purposes of this section, a person who is in a motor vehicle in a public place is taken to be in the public place.