Law Changes - February 2023

[Tyla Jai]

Hello all,

Just a message to inform everybody of a number of recent law changes. This is not going to become a regular occurrence but as a number of them have changed I thought it would be beneficial to create a one-off post to go along with this. You can see the new laws below.

Emergency Vehicle Terminology

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This has been changed without vote as it makes no material change in law. The new law now reads as follows;

Emergency Vehicle refers to any vehicle under possession by any entity listed as part of Emergency Services and operated by a member of Emergency Services.

7.5 Displayal of Offensive Weapons

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The key change here being the offensive weapon must now be seen in a public area, it is now legal for weapons to be on display through windows etc as this used to fall under the public setting criteria. This law now reads as follows;

Any person who displays an offensive weapon in a public area or publicly restricted area commits an offence.

7.7 Sale of Offensive Weapons

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This has been changed to allow for businesses to be used in addition to shops for selling offensive weapons. This law now reads as follows;

A person does not commit an offence under articles 7.4 or 7.5 if the offensive weapon in question is stored or displayed within a property defined by the banks of Paralake City as being a Shop or Business. In addition to this, the offensive weapon in question must be intended for sale to the general public, it must not be being held by any person and must not intended to assist in the committing of any criminal offence.

Burglary, Robbery, Aggravated Burglary and Theft

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This law has been split into four sections, replacing breaking and entering and theft. This includes the following.

Theft is the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another

Any person who dishonestly appropriates any possession belonging to another person commits a criminal offence.

Misdemeanor - liable to 3 years maximum imprisonment, $3,000 maximum fine and asset forfeiture.

Burglary is committing a theft whilst trespassing on a premises.

Any person who enters a property or any part of a property with the intention to commit theft, cause unlawful damage or to inflict unlawful serious injury.

Felony - liable to 6 years maximum imprisonment, $6,000 maximum fine and asset forfeiture.

Robbery is committing a theft but in order to do so the offender has used force.

Any person who steals, and immediately before or at the time of doing so, uses force on any person or seeks to put any person in fear of being then and there subjected to force.

Felony - liable to 7 years maximum imprisonment, $7,000 maximum fine and asset forfeiture.

Aggravated Burglary is committing a burglary with the use of a weapon, such as a bank robbery.

Any person who commits a burglary and at the time has with them any firearm or imitation firearm, any offensive weapon, or any explosive.

Felony - liable to 9 years maximum imprisonment, $9,000 maximum fine and asset forfeiture.

Thanks
Tyla