Glossary of Terms

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a

  • Alternative Verdict - A request made to the Court asking for the jury to be directed to a lesser offence i.e. Careless Driving rather than Dangerous Driving

b

  • Breath Test - A chemical test of a driver's breath to determine the amount of alcohol consumed

c

  • Careless Driving - The offence of driving below the standard required of a competent and careful driver i.e. reading a newspaper or map, lighting a cigarette
  • Coroners Inquest - Official investigation of violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths

d

  • Dangerous Driving - The offence of driving far below the standard of a competent and careful driver i.e. excessive speeding, ignoring traffic lights and other road signs
  • Disqualification Period - The period of time an offender is banned from driving a vehicle
  • Drink Driving - The offence of driving after knowingly consuming over the legal limit of alcohol

f

  • Failure to Produce - The offence of failing to produce the necessary documentation when requested by a Police Officer

m

  • Mitigation - The action of lessening in severity or intensity i.e. “due to the mitigating circumstances of the efendant’s health the fine was reduced”

n

  • NIP - Abbreviation for Notice of Intended Prosecution hich is documentation detailing the alleged offence and pending prosecution

p

  • Point System - A system of penalising drivers of motor vehicles for traffic violations by assigning points for each type of violation and revoking the driver's licence if a certain number of points are accrued

s

  • Special Reasons - “Special Reasons” are put forward to explain to the Court why the offence took place. They don’t excuse the offender but may reduce the penalty associated with the offence