Dangerous driving occasioning death — what am I facing?
This is one of the most serious driving charges in NSW, dealt with under the Crimes Act. Here is what it means and where it is heard.
Driving a vehicle that is involved in an impact causing another person's death, at a speed or in a manner dangerous to others, or while under the influence of alcohol or a drug.
| Maximum penalty | 10 years imprisonment |
| Where it is heard | A strictly indictable offence — it starts in the Local Court but must be committed to the District Court, where it is heard by a judge (and, at a trial, a jury). |
| Your licence | A major offence: automatic disqualification of 3 years (minimum 12 months) for a first offence; 5 years (minimum 2 years) for a second or subsequent offence. |
This is a serious charge
A charge like this is an indictable matter. The process, the evidence and the possible penalties are very different from an ordinary traffic matter, and the defences are technical. Speak to a lawyer as early as possible — well before any court date.
Want to know what this means for you?
The free guide walks your own charge through to court, step by step. For advice about your matter, speak to Hanna Legal.
The charge in full
- Dangerous driving occasioning death — Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 52A(1)
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