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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.”
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjYyODUuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==