What are the Penalties for Fare Evasion?
With the advent of the opal card, quick, efficient public transport is once again on the agenda of the NSW government. However, so is catching out people who evade public transport fares and try to cheat the system. This year,...
Contamination in Law – A Brief Guide
Deliberately contaminating goods can lead to criminal charges under the Crimes Act 1900. Contamination can be a serious charge and if you have been accused of this offence, it’s important that you take it seriously and obtain legal advice from...
What is the Penalty for Insurance Fraud in NSW?
Insurance fraud is a continuing problem across Australia, costing billions of dollars each year, and forcing up the price of premiums for everyone. Insurance fraud is a criminal offence, and the penalty for insurance fraud in NSW can be harsh,...
Sale of E-Cigarettes Declared Illegal in WA
Western Australia is the first state in the country to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, even though it is still legal to sell and purchase ordinary tobacco products. In a recent landmark ruling, Perth e-cigarette seller Vince Van Heerden was...
Driving Furiously and other Less Prosecuted Offences
Throughout history, civilisations have come up with some fairly unusual crimes and possibly even more unusual punishments. Of course, many of these are never, if ever prosecuted. In a country like Australia, where there is an abundance of laws and...
What Are The Penalties for Making Hoax Calls To Police?
Making prank emergency calls to police is a criminal offence. Although it may seem like a harmless prank, making a hoax call can lead to heavy fines and a prison sentence of up to three years. Fake calls to police...
Catfishing: A Disturbing Type Of Recent Fraud In NSW
‘Catfish’, not only the name of a rather unattractive type of fish, is also a term increasingly being used to describe a person who pretends to be someone else online, often in the context of romantic relationships. Catfish, in the...
Is Intimidation a Crime? Has the Law Kept Up With the Many Forms of Intimidation?
Intimidate is defined in the Oxford dictionary as to “frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants”. However, in this modern age of smartphones and cyber bullying, the act of intimidation can be so...
Should Animal Cruelty Penalties be Tougher?
Last month, Liverpool Local Court heard that a 21 year old man had, according to one witness, been kicking the kitten “like it was a football.” By way of defence, the accused stood, with his hands on his hips, and...
What Does the Law Say About Stolen Dogs in Sydney?
Perhaps professional dognapping is not the first thing that springs to mind if you were to imagine embarking on a life of crime. But stealing people’s pets for financial gain, or for dog baiting is not unheard of, and has...
