Planning on driving home after a big night over the New Years period? You may want to reconsider as from today, police will have increased powers to carry out roadside drug testing on any driver in NSW. Marijuana, crystal meth and ecstasy users will all be targeted with the new police powers and those who get caught out risk getting hit with a $1,100 fine, license disqualification and even heavier penalties for a second offence.
The RTA has released details on just how it will all work. Police will conduct a preliminary oral fluid test through the window of the vehicle, requiring the driver to lick a test pad of the device. It will take about five minutes for the test results to be determined and if you test negative you will be able to drive away, but if you test positive you will be forced to leave your vehicle and go with a police officer to provide a second oral fluid sample in the police support vehicle. This will hold you up for another 20 minutes, and if you test positive again you’ll be prohibited from driving for another 24 hours.
The remaining portion of the second sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis, and if the presence of one or more of the three drugs being targeted is confirmed, charges will be laid. A Court Attendance Notice will be sent within a few weeks with the charge of driving with the presence of an illicit drug.
The stance of the RTA is that drugs and driving don’t mix. Safe driving requires clear judgement, concentration and being able to react to what happens on the road and drugs affect all of these.
I find it funny how for something like falling asleep at the wheel they just ask to Stop - Revive - Survive but for something that keeps you awake at the wheel, they say your being too dangerous?
2 comments:
chuck us a pinger im gonna go get some bread..
c@#$s
Post a Comment