Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988

16 Documentary evidence as to specimens in such proceedings. U.K.

(1) Evidence of the proportion of alcohol or a drug in a specimen of breath, blood or urine may, subject to subsections (3) and (4) below and to section 15(5) [F1 and (5A)]of this Act, be given by the production of a document or documents purporting to be whichever of the following is appropriate, that is to say—

(a) a statement automatically produced by the device by which the proportion of alcohol in a specimen of breath was measured and a certificate signed by a constable (which may but need not be contained in the same document as the statement) that the statement relates to a specimen provided by the accused at the date and time shown in the statement, and

(b) a certificate signed by an authorised analyst as to the proportion of alcohol or any drug found in a specimen of blood or urine identified in the certificate.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, evidence that a specimen of blood was taken from the accused with his consent by a medical practitioner [F2 or a registered health care professional] may be given by the production of a document purporting to certify that fact and to be signed by a medical practitioner [F2 or a registered health care professional].

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below—

(a) a document purporting to be such a statement or such a certificate (or both such a statement and such a certificate) as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above is admissible in evidence on behalf of the prosecution in pursuance of this section only if a copy of it either has been handed to the accused when the document was produced or has been served on him not later than seven days before the hearing, and

(b) any other document is so admissible only if a copy of it has been served on the accused not later than seven days before the hearing.

(4) A document purporting to be a certificate (or so much of a document as purports to be a certificate) is not so admissible if the accused, not later than three days before the hearing or within such further time as the court may in special circumstances allow, has served notice on the prosecutor requiring the attendance at the hearing of the person by whom the document purports to be signed.

(5) In Scotland—

(a) a document produced in evidence on behalf of the prosecution in pursuance of subsection (1) or (2) above and, where the person by whom the document was signed is called as a witness, the evidence of that person, shall be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in the document, and

(b) a written execution purporting to be signed by the person who handed to or served on the accused or the prosecutor a copy of the document or of the notice in terms of subsection (3) or (4) above, together with, where appropriate, a post office receipt for the registered or recorded delivery letter shall be sufficient evidence of the handing or service of such a copy or notice.

(6) A copy of a certificate required by this section to be served on the accused or a notice required by this section to be served on the prosecutor may be served personally or sent by registered post or recorded delivery service.

[F3 (6A) Where the proceedings mentioned in section 15(1) of this Act are proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring into an offence as examining justices this section shall have effect with the omission of subsection (4).]

(7) In this section “authorised analyst” means—

(a) any person possessing the qualifications prescribed by regulations made under [F4 section 27 of the Food Safety Act 1990] as qualifying persons for appointment as public analysts under those Acts, and

(b) any other person authorised by the Secretary of State to make analyses for the purposes of this section.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 16(1) inserted (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 53, s. 57(5); S.I. 2002/2306 art. 2(d)(v)

F2 Words in s. 16(2) inserted (1.4.2003) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), ss. 57(6), 108(2); S.I. 2003/808, art. 2(e)

F3 S. 16(6A) inserted (8.3.1997) (E.W.) by 1996 c. 25, s. 47, Sch. 1 Pt. II, para. 37, Pt. III para. 39; S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)

F4 Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), s. 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 38