Summary Offences Act 1981

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Version as at 28 October 2021

Summary Offences Act 1981

Public Act		1981 No 113
Date of assent		23 October 1981
Commencement		see section 1(2)

Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

	Title
1	Short Title and commencement
2	Interpretation
	Offences against public order
3	Disorderly behaviour
4	Offensive behaviour or language
5	Disorderly behaviour on private premises
5A	Disorderly assembly
6	Associating with convicted thieves
6A	Associating with violent offenders
6B	Associating with serious drug offenders
6C	Proof of habitual association
7	Fighting in public place
8	Publishing document or thing explaining manufacture of explosives, etc
	Offences against persons or property
9	Common assault
10	Assault on Police, prison, or traffic officer
10A	Ill-treatment or wilful neglect of child [Repealed]
10B	Leaving child without reasonable supervision and care
11	Wilful damage
11A	Graffiti vandalism, tagging, defacing, etc
11B	Possession of graffiti implements
12	Acts endangering safety
13	Things endangering safety
13A	Possession of knives
13B	Possession of high-power laser pointers
14	Possession of burglary tools
	Spraycans
14A	Sale of spraycans to people under 18 prohibited
14B	Access to spraycans in shops to be restricted
	Offences resembling forgery or fraud
15	Seeking donations by false pretence
16	Acting as medium with intent to deceive
17	Publishing false notice of birth, marriage, civil union, or death
18	Imitation of court documents
19	Imitation of official documents
20	False claim of qualifications
	Official information
20A	Unauthorised disclosure of certain official information
	Intimidation, obstruction, and hindering Police
21	Intimidation
22	Obstructing public way
23	Resisting Police, prison, or traffic officer
24	False allegation or report to Police
25	Advertising reward for stolen property
	Indecency
26	Soliciting [Repealed]
27	Indecent exposure
	Loitering and trespass
28	Being found in public place preparing to commit offence
29	Being found on property, etc, without reasonable excuse
30	Peeping or peering into dwellinghouse
31	Trespass on a ship
	Offences resembling nuisance
32	Excreting in public place
33	Billsticking
34	Throwing stones
35	Setting off or throwing fireworks
36	Lighting fires
37	Disturbing meetings
38	Drinking in public place
	Infringement offences
38A	Infringement offences
38B	Commission of infringement offence
38C	Infringement notices
38D	Payment of infringement fees
38E	Regulations
	Search, arrest, and jurisdiction
39	Arrest
40	Jurisdiction
41	Charge alleging imitation of court documents
42	Charge alleging false claim of qualifications
43	No jury trial for offence of assault [Repealed]
44	Defendant may be convicted of lesser charge of disorderly behaviour
44A	Seizure and forfeiture of burglary instruments
45	Seizure and forfeiture of alcohol
45A	Attachment order default
	Amendments and repeals
46	Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act 1918 amended
47	Machinery Act 1950 amended [Repealed]
48	New sections inserted in Crimes Act 1961
49	Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966 amended
50	Children and Young Persons Act 1974 amended [Repealed]
51	Amendments and repeals
	Schedule 1 Enactments consequentially amended
	Schedule 2 Enactments consequentially repealed
	Schedule 3 Offences involving violence
	Schedule 4 Serious drug offences
	Crimes Amendment Act (No 3) 2011
	Notes

An Act to reform and restate the law relating to summary offences, and to replace the Police Offences Act 1927 and its amendments

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Summary Offences Act 1981

Summary Offences Act 1981

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