Version No. 144
Summary Offences Act 1966
No. 7405 of 1966
Version incorporating amendments as at
30 September 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
1Short title, commencement and division
3Definitions
Part I—Provisions applicable throughout Victoria
Division 1—Public order
Offences Relating to the Good Order
4Offences relating to the good order of towns etc.
5Obstruction of footpath etc.
Division 1A—Move-on powers
6Direction to move on
Division 1B—Councils to consult with Victoria Police
6AConsultation with Victoria Police before issuing permit to facilitate public protest
Division 2—General
Offences tending to Personal Injury, or Damage to Property, &c.
7Offences tending to personal injury or damage to property
Offences relating to Horse-drawn Vehicles, Public Vehicles, Animals, &c.
8Offences relating to horse-drawn vehicles, public vehicles, animals etc.
Destroying, Damaging or Injuring Property—Trespass
9Wilful destruction, damage etc. of property
Bill Posting, &c.
10Posting bills etc. and defacing property
Fire
11Lighting of fires in the open air
Obscene, Threatening, Insulting, Abusive, &c. Words and Behaviour
17Obscene, indecent, threatening language and behaviour etc. in public
17ADisorderly conduct
19Sexual exposure
Conduct of Refreshment Houses
20Improperly conducting refreshment house
Disturbing Religious Worship
21Disturbing religious worship
Entry of Police into Houses, Buildings, &c.
22Entry of police
Assaults
23Common assault
24Aggravated assault
25Conviction or dismissal a bar to criminal proceedings
Property Suspected to be Stolen, &c.
26Unexplained possession of personal property reasonably suspected to be stolen
27Search warrant for skins of cattle, goods from wreck etc.
28Recovery of possession of stolen cattle
29Recovery of price paid for stolen cattle
30Possession of skin or carcass of stolen cattle
31Possession of property from wrecks
32Offering property from wrecks for sale
33Examination of persons through whose hands property has passed
34Retaining or disposing of property as workmen etc.
Passing Valueless Cheques
37Obtaining goods etc. by valueless cheque
Division 3—Illegal taking or using of vehicles
38Taking or using vehicle without consent of owner etc.
Division 3A—Commercial sexual services
38ADefinitions
38BCommercial sexual services at or near certain places
38COffence to allow child on premises used for commercial sexual services
38DPower to require person to state age
Division 4—Advertising of commercial sexual services
38EDefinition
38FAdvertising controls for commercial sexual services
39Advertising regulations
Division 4A—Observation of genital or anal region
40Definitions
41Location immaterial
41AObservation of genital or anal region
41DExceptions to offence against section 41A
41ESearch warrant
41FSeizure of things not mentioned in the warrant
41GAnnouncement before entry
Division 4B—Food or drink spiking
41HFood or drink spiking
Division 4C—Public display or performance of Nazi symbols or gestures
41IStatement for this Division
41JDefinitions
41KPublic display or performance of Nazi symbols or gestures
41LDirection to remove Nazi symbol or Nazi gesture from public display
41MIssue of search warrant by magistrate
Division 5—Tattooing of juveniles
42Tattooing of juveniles
Division 6—Body piercing
43Definitions
43AApplication
44Intimate body piercing of persons under 18
44ANon-intimate body piercing of persons under 16
Division 7—Homing pigeons
45Definition
46Destruction of homing pigeons
47Compensation
48Entering in pursuit of homing pigeons
49Existing remedies preserved
Division 8—Other offences
49ABegging or gathering alms
49BLoitering with intent to commit an indictable offence
49CBeing disguised with…