An Act to re-enact with Amendments the Law relating to certain Police Offences.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows (that is to say):
S. 1
amended by Nos 8642 s. 7(a), 74/2000 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 121.1).
1 Short title, commencement and division
This Act may be cited as the Summary Offences Act 1966 and shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation of the Governor in Council published in the Government Gazette.
S. 2
repealed by No. 71/1993
s. 4(a).
No. 6337 s. 3.
3 Definitions
In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
animal includes every species of quadruped and every species of bird whether in a natural or domestic state;
cattle includes any horse mare gelding ass bull cow ox ram ewe wether pig goat and every hybrid or cross thereof and the young of any such animals;
S. 3 def. of designated place inserted by No. 43/2011 s. 47, substituted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 160.1(b)).
designated place has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 3 def. of information repealed by No. 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 190.1(a)).
S. 3 def. of intelligence agency inserted by No. 55/2025 s. 86.
intelligence agency means—
(a) the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation; or
(b) the Australian Secret Intelligence Service; or
(c) the Australian Signals Directorate; or
(d) the Office of National Intelligence;
S. 3 def. of law enforcement officer inserted by No. 55/2025 s. 86.
law enforcement officer means—
(a) a police officer or a member of the police force or police service of any other State or of the Northern Territory; or
(b) a member of the Australian Federal Police; or
(c) a member of staff of the Australian Crime Commission established by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 of the Commonwealth;
S. 3 def. of local authority amended by Nos 9019 s. 2(1)(Sch. item 214), 12/1989 s. 4(1)(Sch. 2 items
115.1–115.3), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 190.1(b)).
local authority means—
(a) the council of any municipal district;
(b) any member of the staff of any such council authorized in writing by the council to exercise any of the powers and discretions conferred on a local authority by this Act; or
(c) in the case of any portion of Victoria that is not part of any municipal district—the nearest venue of the magistrates' court;
S. 3 def. of non-Government school inserted by No. 55/2025 s. 86.
non-Government school has the same meaning as in section 1.1.3(1) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006;
S. 3 def. of police officer inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 160.1(a)).
police officer has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 3 def. of post-secondary education institution inserted by No. 55/2025 s. 86.
post-secondary education institution has the same meaning as in section 1.1.3(1) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006;
S. 3 def. of protective services officer inserted by No. 43/2011 s. 47, substituted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 160.1(c)).
protective services officer has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 3 def. of public place amended by No. 9549 s. 2(1)(Sch. item 219), substituted by No. 97/1987 s. 181(14), amended by Nos 74/2000 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 121.2), 24/2006 s. 6.1.2(Sch. 7 item 39.1).
public place includes and applies to—
(a) any public highway road street bridge footway footpath court alley passage or thoroughfare notwithstanding that it may be formed on private property;
(b) any park garden reserve or other place of public recreation or resort;
(c) any railway station platform or carriage;
(d) any wharf pier or jetty;
(e) any passenger ship or boat plying for hire;
(f) any public vehicle plying for hire;
(g) any church or chapel open to the public or any other building where divine service is being publicly held;
(h) any Government school or the land or premises in connexion therewith;
(i) any public hall theatre or room while members of the public are in attendance at, or are assembling for or departing from, a public entertainment or meeting therein;
(j) any market;
(k) any auction room or mart or place while a sale by auction is there proceeding;
(l) any licensed premises or authorised premises within the meaning of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998;
(m) any race-course cricket ground football ground or other such place while members of the public are present or are permitted to have access thereto whether with or without payment for admission;
(n) any place of public resort;
(o) any open place to which the public whether upon or without payment for admittance have or are permitted to have access; or
(p) any public place within the meaning of the words "public place" whether by virtue of this Act or otherwise;
road includes and applies to every road street or bridge;
S. 3 def. of Scheduled public place inserted by No. 44/1997
s. 53(1).
Scheduled public place means a public place described in Schedule 1;
section means section of this Act;
town means a populous area or place.
Part I—Provisions applicable throughout Victoria
Division 1—Public order
Offences Relating to the Good Order
No. 6337 s. 5.
S. 4
amended by No. 9554 s. 2(2)(Sch. 2 item 302).