15Public passenger vehicles

### 15 Public passenger vehicles > > (1)  [*\[Section 15 Subsection (1) amended by No. 60 of 2011, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-07-01/act-2011-060#JS1@Ja15@GC2@EN) Subject to the regulations, a person must not drive a public passenger vehicle unless the person – > > > > > > (a) holds an Australian driver licence to drive a motor vehicle of the relevant class; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 15 Subsection (1) amended by No. 41 of 2000, s. 4, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-2000-041#GS4@EN) holds an ancillary certificate authorising the person to drive a public passenger vehicle of the relevant class. > > > > Penalty:   > > > > > > (a) if the person was, at the time of the offence, disqualified from holding or obtaining an ancillary certificate for driving public passenger vehicles – > > > > > > > > > > (i) for a first offence - a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, plus a further period of disqualification of 6 months; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) for a second or subsequent offence– a fine not exceeding 80 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, plus a further period of disqualification of 12 months; or > > > > > > > (b) if the person held an ancillary certificate for driving public passenger vehicles that was, at the time of the offence, under suspension – > > > > > > > > > > (i) for a first offence - a fine not exceeding 30 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, plus disqualification for a period of 6 months from holding or obtaining such a certificate; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) for a second or subsequent offence - a fine not exceeding 60 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, plus disqualification for a period of 12 months from holding or obtaining such a certificate; or > > > > > > > (c) in any other case – > > > > > > > > > > (i) for a first offence - a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) for a second or subsequent offence - a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, plus disqualification for a period of 6 months from holding or obtaining such a certificate. > > > (1A)  [*\[Section 15 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 19 of 2007, s. 9, Applied:01 Aug 2007\]*](/view/html/inforce/2007-08-01/act-2007-019#GS9@EN) Notwithstanding [subsection (1)](#GS15@Gs1@EN) , the regulations may provide that a person or class of persons specified in the regulations be exempted, subject to such conditions, and until such date, as may be specified in the regulations, from the requirement to hold an ancillary certificate referred to in [subsection (1)(b)](#GS15@Gs1@Hpb@EN) . > > > (2)  A person must not employ, cause or permit another to drive a public passenger vehicle contrary to this section. > > > > | Penalty: | > > | (a) if the driver was, at the time of the offence, disqualified from holding or obtaining an ancillary certificate for driving public passenger vehicles – | > > | (i) for a first offence – | > > | (ia) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 200 penalty units; and | > > | (ib) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both; and | > > | (ii) for a second or subsequent offence – | > > | (iia) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 400 penalty units; and | > > | (iib) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 80 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both; or | > > | (b) if the driver's ancillary certificate was, at the time of the offence, under suspension – | > > | (i) for a first offence – | > > | (ia) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 150 penalty units; and | > > | (ib) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 30 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months; and | > > | (ii) for a second or subsequent offence – | > > | (iia) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 300 penalty units; and | > > | (iib) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 60 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months; or | > > | (c) in any other case – | > > | (i) for a first offence – a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units; and | > > | (ii) for a second or subsequent offence – | > > | (iia) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 200 penalty units; and | > > | (iib) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months. | > > > (3)  It is a defence to a charge of an offence against [subsection (2)](#GS15@Gs2@EN) to prove that the defendant did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that the driver was driving a public passenger vehicle contrary to this section.