QLD Criminal Check when pulled over by police?

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AnthonyC

Well-Known Member
7 September 2014
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This is (mostly) a hypothetical question:

Do QLD Police on normal Road Patrols have access to a person's Criminal History?

For example, a person has a Criminal Record (wrongfully or otherwise) and is pulled over for a License check and License was found to be a couple of days over, and it is right after a holiday period ....

My question is whether in such a situation where some degree of leniency might normally be expected, is it likely that the person might be treated unfavourably due to their Criminal Record being pulled up on the Computer?

Is it not entirely possible that the Police, having access to this information (and being only human) could view the person in a less favourable light because the person is purported to have committed a Crime (or because of type of Crime involved) ? (I am talking about a single solitary item on an otherwise unblemished record.)

How could one establish for sure whether such checks are done?
 

Iamthelaw

Well-Known Member
13 September 2016
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794
Generally speaking they have access to all information contained on the police database, including obviously criminal history and contact with police as well as access to road transport authority databases.
 

sammy01

Well-Known Member
27 September 2015
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QLD police being lenient? oh funny. Look I think these days if a copper pulled someone over and put their licence through the system, it would automatically flag as out of date and the copper would not have much room to be lenient. Remember, an unlicensed driver is also an uninsured driver.... What if copper gives them this mythological warning that you're talking about only to see the car pull out and cause an accident.

The whole holiday argument is bung - In NSW the RTA send you a licence renewal notification a month out... I'm sure QLD would do the same...
 

Tim W

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
28 April 2014
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Sydney
Do QLD Police on normal Road Patrols have access to a person's Criminal History?
Sure.
For example, a person has a Criminal Record (wrongfully or otherwise) and is pulled over for a License check and License was found to be a couple of days over, and it is right after a holiday period ....
Sure. They can check that on the side of the road.
Contrary to popular opinion, there is no "grace period" for licences and regos.
My question is whether in such a situation where some degree of leniency might normally be expected,
Nope.
...is it likely that the person might be treated unfavourably due to their Criminal Record being pulled up on the Computer?
Likely? More like "certain".
Especially if you also fail the RSAT*.
Is it not entirely possible that the Police, having access to this information (and being only human) could view the person in a less favourable light because the person is purported to have committed a Crime (or because of type of Crime involved) ? (I am talking about a single solitary item on an otherwise unblemished record.)
Yes. And if it's a recorded conviction, then there's nothing "purported" about it.
How could one establish for sure whether such checks are done?
You should assume that they will be done.
It's pretty common for police "run the usuals" on pretty much every vehicle they stop, even at RBT.
You could always just ask the constable.

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* Roadside Attitude Test