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(1) A person commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse that person

(a) causes anything to be on or over a road,

(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or

(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with any traffic equipment, in such circumstances that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.

(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1)

"dangerous" includes danger of injury to a person while on or near a road, or of serious damage to property on or near a road; and in determining for the purposes of that subsection what would be obvious to a reasonable person in a particular case, regard shall be had not only to the circumstances of which an accused person could be expected to be aware but also to any circumstances shown to have been within the knowledge of the accused person;

"traffic equipment" includes

(a) anything placed on or near a road by a road agency under the Ministry;

(b) a traffic sign lawfully placed on or near a road by a person other than a road authority; and

(c) any fence, barrier or light lawfully placed on or near a road-

(i) in pursuance of the provisions of an enactment providing for guarding and lighting in streets where works are undertaken; or

(ii) by a police officer.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) anything placed on or near a road shall unless the contrary is proved, be taken to have been lawfully placed there.

(5) In this section "road" does not include a footpath.