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You’ve probably heard the saying, “ignorance of the law is not an excuse”. Well, in very limited circumstances it can be. In Proudman v Dayman Dixon J summarised the defence of honest and reasonable mistake of fact: “As a general rule an honest and reasonable belief in a state of facts which, if they existed, […]

If you need a criminal & traffic lawyer during the Covid-19 Pandemic Astor Legal is available to assist. NSW Police will still be out there which means you may still find yourself issued with a penalty notice or charged with a criminal offence. The first step is to contact us via email or phone. Depending […]

If you’ve been charged with a drink driving offence its likely that you’ll end up having to fit an interlock device to your car. Thanks to Smart Start Interlocks we now have a demonstration interlock device in our Parramatta office. Clients facing drink driving charges can actually see and hold the device that may end […]

Background of mobile phone detection cameras in NSW Mobile phone detection cameras were trialled in New South Wales between January and June 2019. The trial consisted of two fixed cameras and relocatable cameras which were moved approximately every 4 days. During that trial over 8.5 million vehicles were checked and over 100,000 drivers were found […]

Driving with cannabis or THC in your system in NSW Driving with a prescribed illicit drug in your oral fluid, blood or urine is an offence in New South Wales under s.111(1) of the Road Transport Act. Prescribed illicit drugs include: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC), Methylamphetamine (also known as speed), 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (also known as […]

Astor Legal is the new name of Marsh Blom Lawyers. Established in 2017 by two ex-prosecutors the firm has grown significantly in a short period of time. We all have a background in criminal and traffic law and have always focused on that. In late 2019 one of our directors left to pursue another business […]

In New South Wales many of the road rules also apply to horse riders. Under the Australian Road Rules horses are included under the definition of vehicle. This means that most minor regulatory offences apply equally to both car drivers and horse riders. But you may not have heard some of the more obscure laws […]

In the final minute of a Parramatta v Wests game in July 2019 our client entered the playing field and streaked naked across the pitch. He was arrested and charged with “Enter playing field without authority” under the Sporting Venues (Invasions) Act 2003 and also “Wilful and obscene exposure” under the Summary Offences Act 1988. […]

The power of police officers to enforce bail conditions, has come under question during a Law Enforcement and Conduct Commission (LECC) hearing. The hearing which is taking place over the next few days, follows an increase in complaints made to the LECC surrounding police officers engaging in what has been referred to during the hearing […]

As the weather warms up more people will be taking to the water over summer, but many don’t know the laws regarding drink driving on a boat. Drink driving laws apply to any ‘vessel’ which includes not only boats but jet skis, kayaks, sailboards and kite boards. The Law on Drink Driving on A Boat […]