Section 10

What is a Conditional Release Order?

A Conditional Release Order (“CRO”), previously referred to as Section 10, is a special discretionary power that the Magistrate hearing your matter can exercise. That power is to dismiss the drink driving charges that have been laid against you. A Magistrate may also attach a condition to a Section 10, such as a bond or a fine.

Can I Get a CRO?

Obtaining a CRO for your drink driving matter will depend on the circumstances. Generally speaking, it is easier to obtain a CRO for a low range drink driving charge rather than a high range drink driving charge. Other factors do have an important impact on the likelihood of obtaining a CRO. An example of this is your previous driving record and/or your criminal record.

This is What Drink Driving Solicitors Can Do for You!

We can advise you on whether it is likely that you will be able to obtain a CRO Dismissal. If applicable, we can then make strong submissions on your behalf to the court that may result in the Magistrate exercising his discretion and granting you a CRO.

It’s Our Job!

The team at Drink Driving Solicitors is a team of supportive, knowledgeable and skilled lawyers who specialise in all drink driving matters. They understand the fundamental principles of the applicable laws and how they affect you and your rights. The lawyers at Drink Driving Solicitors have practiced in drink driving matters for a long time and have acquired, over the years, all the expertise required to argue your case and win.

Things you did not know about a Conditional Release Order

CROs are famous and popular. It is the outcome most of our clients are seeking when they contact us for assistance. Most people have heard of a Section 10 or a CRO. And if they haven’t, they quickly learn about them when they are charged by the police.

Unfortunately, due to its popularity, and the rumours about the possible meaning of a CRO and a Section 10, it is the most confused area of law in the community.

To help you understand the complexities of the potential ways a CRO can be interpreted, we have listed 5 interesting points about CROs that most people do not know.

  • A CRO is still a finding in guilt of a charge or crime. It may still appear on your Criminal Record if and when a search is conducted.
  • A CRO is a discretion to a Magistrate or a Judge. It is not an automatic right,
    regardless of how worthy of a CRO your matter may be.
  • If the Court orders a CRO with a good behaviour bond, it will appear on your
    criminal record for the duration of the bond. While CRO itself clearly states that it is not a “conviction”, under the Criminal Records Act 1991, a CRO is actually defined as a conviction that becomes spent (that is, extinguished) as soon as the bond finishes. This means that if you need to show a clean criminal record in the near future (for example if you are about to apply for a job or travel overseas) you really need to obtain an outright Section 10.
  • For certain traffic offences, you cannot get more than one CRO within a period of 5 years.
  • After a Court grants you a CRO, (subject to some exceptions), you do not
    have to disclose the offence or charge or even the CRO to your employer or anyone else. This may apply even if you are asked directly about a CRO.

It is interesting how employers are getting around how they pose questions to potential employees about their criminal history in the job applications. Many will ask about convictions, Sections 10s, CRO and/or “findings of guilt.” Most people applying for a job will assume that they must provide all the information to the employer, including previous CRO that they may have obtained from a Court. This may not necessarily be the right way of dealing with the response.

The reason is that Section 12 of the Criminal Records Act 1991 states that you do not need to disclose a “spent conviction” to any one for any purpose.

The Act also defines Section 10 as a “spent conviction.”

That means that, arguably, even if you are asked directly by an employer about any previous CRO’s or ‘findings of guilt” that you have received in the past, you do not have to disclose these to your employer as long as any CRO bond has expired.

This is certainly an interesting area of law and you can easily see how confusing it can become.

We should point out that there has not been any actual case law on these matters yet. Accordingly, this commentary on CROs should not be read or taken as legal advice. It simply raises a position or interpretation of the law that may or may not be adopted by a Court, should it be asked.

Section 10’s are famous and popular. It is the outcome most of our client’s are seeking when they contact us for assistance. Most people have heard of a Section 10. And if they haven’t, they quickly learn about them when they are charged by the police.

Unfortunately, due to its popularity, and the rumours about the possible meaning of a Section 10, it is the most confused area of law in the community.

To help you understand the complexities of the potential ways a Section 10 can be interpreted, we have listed 5 interesting points about Section 10s that most people do not know.

1. A Section 10 is still a finding in guilt of a charge or crime. It may still appear on your Criminal Record if and when a search is conducted.

2. A Section 10 is a discretion to a Magistrate or a Judge. It is not an automatic right,
regardless of how worthy of a Section 10 your matter may be.

3. If the Court orders a Section 10 with a good behavior bond, it will appear on your
criminal record for the duration of the bond. While Section 10 itself clearly states that it is not a “conviction”, under the Criminal Records Act 1991, a Section 10 is actually defined as a conviction that becomes spent (that is, extinguished) as soon as the bond finishes. This means that if you need to show a clean criminal record in the near future (for example if you are about to apply for a job or travel overseas) you really need to obtain an outright Section 10.

4. For certain traffic offences, you cannot get more than one Section 10’s within a
period of 5 years.

5. After a Court grants you a Section10, (subject to some exceptions), you do not
have to disclose the offence or charge or even the Section 10 to your employer or anyone else. This applies even if you are asked directly about a Section 10.

It is interesting how employers are getting around how they pose questions to potential employees about their criminal history in the job applications. Many will ask about convictions, Sections 10s and/or “findings of guilt.” Most people applying for a job will assume that they have to provide all the information to the employer, including previous Section 10 that they may have obtained from a Court. This may not necessarily be the right way of dealing with the response.

The reason is that Section 12 of the Criminal Records Act 1991 states that you do not need to disclose a “spent conviction” to any one for any purpose.

The Act also defines Section 10 as a “spent conviction.”

That means that, arguably, even if you are asked directly by an employer about any previous Section 10’s or ‘findings of guilt” that you have received in the past, you do not have to disclose these to your employer as long as any Section10 bond has expired.

This is certainly an interesting area of law and you can easily see how confusing it can become.

We should point out that there has not been any actual case law on these matters yet. Accordingly, this commentary on Section 10s should not be read or taken as legal advice. It simply raises a position or interpretation of the law that may or may not be adopted by a Court, should it be asked.

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