New crackdown on drink-drivers comes into effect today
Drink-drivers will be the target of a new police crackdown which comes into effect today.
New laws introduced in NSW will see drink-drivers lose their licence immediately under the tough penalty regime that will also see low-range offenders fined almost $600.
First-time low-range drink-drivers will lose their licence on the spot for three months and be slapped with a $561 fine.
However, drivers can request to go to court to appeal licence disqualifications.
No more ‘slap on the wrist’
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the law was about supporting police on the roads.
"For far too long, too many people who have been caught drink-driving, or driving with drugs in their system, have been able to go get themselves a good lawyer, head off to court and get off without even a slap on the wrist,” he said.
The NSW change mirrors laws introduced to Victoria in April 2018.
When asked about the level of public awareness of the new laws, Mr Khoury said the NRMA ran the first drink driving education campaign in the 1980s "and we're still here talking about it".
"People shouldn't have to wait for a change in the rules to not get behind the wheel when you're drunk, it shouldn't come down to the government having to introduce tougher penalties," he said.
New law ‘won’t deter drink-drivers’
The move was first announced in September but has been met with some skepticism from legal experts.
Law Society of NSW president Elizabeth Espinosa told Yahoo News Australia earlier this month the law was not enough of a deterrent for first-time offenders because more will avoid facing court.
“We are particularly concerned that the effect of the ‘drink driving is a crime’ campaign will be diluted if low-range PCA offences are dealt with by penalty notices rather than by the courts,” she said.
“There is also a genuine deterrent factor for first-time low-range PCA offenders in going to court.
“The experience, and shame, of having to appear before a magistrate, undertake a traffic offender program, and be warned of the consequences of further offending may well have a significantly greater deterrent effect on future offending than a penalty notice, fine and suspension.”
Roads Minister Andrew Constance said when announcing the new law NSW was taking a “zero-tolerance” approach to drink driving.
Some 68 people died in alcohol-related crashes on NSW roads last year. Drug-driving resulted in a similar number of deaths.
with AAP
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