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NEWS : 15.5.09 - Police put drug-drivers on notice: you will be caught!

kingpin007

kingpin007

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Police put drug-drivers on notice: you will be caught!

Friday, 15 May 2009 11:57am

The state’s most-senior traffic policeman has revealed more than 750 New South Wales motorists have been charged since the introduction of random drug testing two years ago.

NSW Police Force first introduced Random Drug Testing (RDT) operations in January 2007 targeting motorists using illicit substances in both metropolitans and rural areas.

Highly-trained officers attached to Traffic Services Branch carry out roadside testing for Tetrahydrocannabinol (the active ingredient in cannabis), methylamphetamine (speed, ice, crystal methylamphetamine) and MDMA (ecstasy).

The process involves two screening tests at the roadside, followed by a laboratory analysis of positive tests to provide a conclusive result.

Since the introduction of RDT, 34,335 motorists have been screened for drug use – 757 tested positive for illicit substances.

Of the 598 motorists so far prosecuted in court, approximately 98% have had convictions recorded against them.

Traffic Services Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said the drug testing campaign has been highly-successful.

“We currently have three drug testing trucks available to us for intelligence-based deployment across NSW,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said. “In the 28 months since we introduced random drug testing, an average of 1 in every 45 motorists has tested positive to a prohibited substance.”

“Driving under the influence of any substance is extremely dangerous and not only puts the affected motorist at risk but it also endangers every other innocent road user,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Hartley warned motorists caught driving whilst drug affected will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

“Police have a very good strike rate with about 98% of the drug drivers we’ve charged and put before the courts having been convicted,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said. “My officers will continue to take the appropriate action against motorists who break the law - whether they speed, drink-drive, driving under the influence of drugs or something else – to prevent the road toll climbing further.”

The 2009 NSW road toll stands at 181, which is 48 higher than for the same period last year.

Following the success of random drug testing, police are now looking to bolster their screening capabilities.

“We are currently exploring ways to get more drug-testing vehicles out on NSW roads and we hope to ramp up our drug testing campaign over the next 12 months,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

“Whereas every police car is a mobile random breath testing unit, we rely solely on three trucks for random drug testing duties at present,” he said. “I hope in the near future we will have more drug testing units available for deployment in metropolitan and regional areas to take drug-affected motorists off the roads.”
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http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjYyODUuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==
 
LOL - 750 motorists, is that all?

considering the amount of fuckers i know who drive 'round on a daily basis under the influence of SOMETHING... that's a very minor statistic.
 
750 in two years is shocking.

I don't know many drug users who don't drug drive. Wonder how many were caught drink driving in that 2 years.
 
it's basically 1 person per day.

which, for a state as big as NSW, doesn't say much to me.

still though - tsk tsk.
 
Anyone that drives under the influence of drugs deserves to be caught imo.
 
If you're driving under the influence you deserve to be caught. But the thing I hate about the drug-driver testing is that there's no official rules on how long after drug use you can make a positive result. If I do the right thing and get a taxi home from a club or whatever after having a couple pills or perhaps a joint, get a nights sleep, and drive the next afternoon, am I still able to give a positive reading? The general rule with alcohol is a standard drink an hour, how long does it take our other recreational drugs of choice to clear from our systems so we don't get convicted of drug driving?

I guess I'm doing the 'wrong' thing in the first place, so the law doesn't care for me.

EDIT:

Sorry I should have searched google again, I found this...

http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/downloads/Drugsdriving/DrugsandDriving_English.pdf
 
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yep - looks like you answered your own question there.

drug drivers who put others peoples lives at risk should be caught, yes.

driving while totally mashed/stoned/tweaked or drowsy on the tail end of a bender is just massively irresponsible.
 
There in force tonight in seaford(melbourne) on ballarto road, drug and alcohol. If anyones around that area, stay clear
 
But hey, if your on Ice and driving there's always a chance you'll jump at a police officer and assault her with a brick. 'Cause that's what we do apparently..
 
Weird that Australian police talk about drug-drivers constantly. You NEVER hear about that in the USA or Canada. I'm not sure about in Britain but I haven't seen much if anything from there either. But I've seen half a dozen or more articles in the Australian media talking about drug-drivers and what the police or politicians are doing to crack down on them.
 
Coolio said:
Weird that Australian police talk about drug-drivers constantly. You NEVER hear about that in the USA or Canada. I'm not sure about in Britain but I haven't seen much if anything from there either. But I've seen half a dozen or more articles in the Australian media talking about drug-drivers and what the police or politicians are doing to crack down on them.
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Yeah yeah scare tactics i think.....
 
hyroller said:
yep - looks like you answered your own question there.

drug drivers who put others peoples lives at risk should be caught, yes.

driving while totally mashed/stoned/tweaked or drowsy on the tail end of a bender is just massively irresponsible.
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Irresponsibility is not worthy of criminal penalties. That's not justice.

Perhaps it's morally acceptable to use as a modifier being totally mashed/stoned/tweaked/drowsy as a part of the sentencing decision process. But unless they otherwise violate traffic or criminal law, it's absolutely ridiculous that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs should be prohibited or punishable.

Drug drivers who otherwise break the law should just have more severe fines or penalties for the violation of that law. The drug or drunk driving itself shouldn't be illegal at all.
 
WOW...Coolio.....if i was a bit more sober than what i am i would attempt to answer that...but as i am in the state that i am i will not even consider.
 
Ive had mates killed driving under the influence, its a risk you take. And we all know we arnt invisible, ive personally gotten behind the wheel plenty of times and also been caught drug driving. In the end its not worth it, if you kill a family or anyone for that matter you will always have to live through that, and no drug will let you forgot about something so serious. Anyway thats my 2cents.
 
Coolio said:
Irresponsibility is not worthy of criminal penalties. That's not justice. But unless they otherwise violate traffic or criminal law, it's absolutely ridiculous that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs should be prohibited or punishable.

Drug drivers who otherwise break the law should just have more severe fines or penalties for the violation of that law. The drug or drunk driving itself shouldn't be illegal at all.
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You gota be fucking kidding me? Drunk's behind the wheel are a danger to everyone on the road and people walking past. Me thinks you might be just trying to justify your own bad habbits?

I hope every drunk and drug driver gets nailed by the coppers. It's for their own good and everyone elses.
 
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