32Reckless driving

### 32 Reckless driving > *\[Section 32 Substituted by No. 14 of 1957, s. 2 \]**\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 52 of 1978, s. 4 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 41 of 1987, s. 13 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 32 Subsection (2) amended by No. 52 of 1978, s. 4 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 32 Subsection (2) amended by No. 41 of 1987, s. 13 and Sched. 1 \]* > > > (1)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpa@EN) *\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]*A person who drives a motor vehicle on a public street recklessly, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the nature, condition, and use of the public street and the amount of traffic that actually is at the time or that might reasonably be expected to be on the public street, is guilty of an offence against this Act and is liable on summary conviction to – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 1999, s. 7, Applied:24 Nov 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-11-24/act-1999-071#GS7@Hpa@EN) a penalty not exceeding 20 penalty units, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or both, for a first offence; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 1999, s. 7, Applied:24 Nov 1999\]*](/view/html/inforce/1999-11-24/act-1999-071#GS7@Hpb@EN) a penalty not exceeding 40 penalty units, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years, or both, for a second or subsequent offence. > > > (1A)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpb@EN) For the avoidance of doubt, a second or subsequent offence under [subsection (1)](#GS32@Gs1@EN) includes any offence under that subsection whether the offence occurred before or after the commencement of the [Criminal Code Amendment (Dangerous Driving) Act 2017](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-9999-999) . > > > (2)  *\[Section 32 Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]*[*\[Section 32 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpa@EN) A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a public street negligently. > > > > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units. > > > (2A)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpa@EN) A person must not cause the death of another person by driving a motor vehicle on a public street negligently. > > > > Penalty:  In the case of – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2A) amended by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpc@EN) a first offence, a fine not exceeding 10 penalty units and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2A) amended by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpd@EN) a subsequent offence, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years. > > > (2B)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2B) inserted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpa@EN) A person must not cause grievous bodily harm to another person by driving a motor vehicle on a public street negligently. > > > > Penalty:  In the case of – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2B) amended by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpe@EN) a first offence, a fine not exceeding 10 penalty units and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2B) amended by No. 35 of 2017, s. 4, Applied:19 Sep 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-09-19/act-2017-035#GS4@Hpf@EN) a subsequent offence, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months. > > > (2C)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (2C) inserted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpa@EN) For the purpose of determining whether a person is driving a motor vehicle on a public street negligently, the following are to be taken into account: > > > > > > (a) the circumstances of the case; > > > > > > > (b) the nature, condition and use of the public street; > > > > > > > (c) the amount of traffic that is actually at the time, or that might reasonably be expected to be, on the public street. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (3) amended by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpb@EN) *\[Section 32 Subsection (3) amended by No. 83 of 1958, s. 6 \]*Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, proceedings in respect of offences under [subsection (1)](#GS32@Gs1@EN) shall be heard and determined by a magistrate sitting alone. > > > (4)  *\[Section 32 Subsection (4) substituted by No. 94 of 1971, s. 5 \]*[*\[Section 32 Subsection (4) omitted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpc@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (4AA)  *\[Section 32 Subsection (4AA) substituted by No. 94 of 1971, s. 5 \]*[*\[Section 32 Subsection (4AA) omitted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpc@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (4A)  *\[Section 32 Subsection (4A) inserted by No. 31 of 1961, s. 30 \]*[*\[Section 32 Subsection (4A) omitted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpc@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (4B)  *\[Section 32 Subsection (4B) inserted by No. 31 of 1961, s. 30 \]*[*\[Section 32 Subsection (4B) omitted by No. 15 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-015#GS6@Hpc@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (5)  A person may lawfully be charged and convicted of an offence under this section notwithstanding that death or bodily harm has resulted from the driving of the motor vehicle in the circumstances that are the subject of the charge and that he might have been charged with a crime under the [Criminal Code](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1924-069) arising out of the same circumstances. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (6) amended by No. 90 of 1999, Sched. 1, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-1999-090#JS1@Ja26@GC8@Hpb@EN) A police officer may apprehend without warrant the driver of a motor vehicle who commits an offence under [subsection (1)](#GS32@Gs1@EN) within his view if the driver refuses to give his name and address when required so to do by the police officer. > > > (7)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (7) amended by No. 90 of 1999, Sched. 1, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-1999-090#JS1@Ja26@GC9@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 32 Subsection (7) amended by No. 90 of 1999, Sched. 1, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-1999-090#JS1@Ja26@GC9@Hpa@EN) If the driver of a motor vehicle who commits an offence under [subsection (1)](#GS32@Gs1@EN) refuses to give his name and address when required so to do, or gives a false name or address, he is guilty of an offence against this Act, and it is the duty of the owner or the registered operator of the vehicle, if required by a police officer, to give any information that it is within his power to give, and that may lead to the identification and apprehension of the driver, and if the owner or the registered operator fails to do so he also is guilty of an offence against this Act. > > > (8)  [*\[Section 32 Subsection (8) inserted by No. 5 of 2023, s. 20, Applied:13 Jun 2023\]*](/view/html/inforce/2023-06-13/act-2023-005#GS20@EN) A complaint in relation to an offence against [subsection (2A)](#GS32@Gs2A@EN) or [(2B)](#GS32@Gs2B@EN) may, despite [section 26 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077#GS26@EN) [Justices Act 1959](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077) , be made at any time within 12 months after the time when the alleged offence occurred.