Overview

The Public Roads and Public Notices Act 1913 was enacted to regulate public roads and public notices on Norfolk Island, ensuring orderly conduct and preservation of infrastructure. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Norfolk Island to address the need for legal provisions governing public roads and notices on the island. The overarching policy objective is to maintain public safety and the integrity of public infrastructure by imposing penalties for specific offences. The Act outlines various penalties for offences such as damaging public roads, obstructing roads or footways, riding or driving without proper lighting, endangering the safety of persons, driving furiously after dark, and defacing public notices. This legislation serves to deter such activities and maintain public order on the island.

Scope and Application

The Public Roads and Public Notices Act 1913 applies to any person or entity on Norfolk Island, governing conduct related to public roads and notices. The Act specifically targets those who wilfully damage public roads or obstruct water-tables, those who drive or ride on public roads without proper lighting after sundown and before sunrise, those who endanger the safety of persons by negligent or furious driving or riding, and those who deface public notices. The Act imposes fines for violations, such as a maximum penalty of $4 for damaging a water-table or defacing a public notice, and up to $10 for obstructing a public road or footway without authority. The Act's application is confined to Norfolk Island, and while it does not explicitly exclude any particular persons or entities, it does provide exceptions for actions carried out with the Minister's leave or authority. Additionally, the Act's application may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments issued by the Minister.

Key Provisions

The Norfolk Island Public Roads and Public Notices Act 1913 contains several key provisions that regulate activities and behaviours on public roads and in relation to public notices on the island. Section 2 specifies that anyone who wilfully damages or obstructs the water-table of a public road is liable to a penalty not exceeding $4. Section 3 mandates that any person crossing a water-table of a public road by horse or wheeled vehicle must construct a bridgeway over the water-table that meets the Minister's approval. Failure to comply results in a penalty not exceeding $4. Section 4 imposes a penalty not exceeding $10 on anyone who places an obstruction on a public road or footway, unless the obstruction is placed with the Minister's permission. The Act imposes several obligations on individuals and entities to maintain the safety and integrity of public roads and notices. Under Section 5, anyone driving a wheeled vehicle on a public road or place after sundown and before sunrise must ensure the vehicle has a bright light visible to oncoming traffic, with a penalty for non-compliance of up to $4. Section 6 prohibits riding or driving in a negligent or furious manner on any public road or place that endangers the safety of any person or the public, with a penalty of up to $6 for such actions. Section 7 specifically prohibits furious riding or driving on any public road or place after sundown and before sunrise, with a penalty of up to $4. Finally, Section 8 penalises anyone who wilfully tears down or defaces any public notice posted by lawful authority for public information, with a penalty of up to $4. The Act sets out various penalties for breaches of its provisions. Penalties are specified in each relevant section and range from a maximum of $4 to $10, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. For instance, wilful damage to a public road's water-table (Section 2) and defacing public notices (Section 8) each attract a maximum penalty of $4. Placing an obstruction on a public road or footway without permission (Section 4) incurs a penalty of up to $10. These penalties are intended to deter unlawful activities and ensure compliance with the Act’s requirements for the maintenance and safety of public roads and notices on Norfolk Island.