What is the maximum penalty for police pursuit (skye's law) in NSW?
Maximum penalty. Imprisonment for 3 years (first offence); imprisonment for 5 years (offence on a second or subsequent occasion). Where the matter is dealt with summarily in the Local Court, the Local Court's jurisdictional maximum term is 2 years.
A maximum is the ceiling the law sets for the worst category of case. It is not what a court is likely to impose, and it is not a prediction about any particular matter.
What the charge covers
This offence, commonly called Skye's Law, applies to a driver who knows or ought reasonably to know that police are pursuing the vehicle and requiring it to stop, who does not stop, and who then drives recklessly, at a dangerous speed, or in a manner dangerous to others. All three elements must be present, so failing to stop alone is not enough without the dangerous or reckless driving that follows. A second or subsequent offence carries a higher maximum.
Where these figures come from
Every figure on this page was taken from the legislation or the Judicial Commission of New South Wales, not from secondary summaries:
Legislation changes. Figures are general as at publication; confirm the current position with a lawyer.
This page is general information about NSW law, not legal advice about your matter. Whether a charge can be defended, and what a court is likely to do, depends on the evidence and the circumstances.
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