OPERATION RAID CATCHES MOTORISTS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offence which can have serious legal repercussions. It is a fateful decision often made by people with no criminal history or association and who had no foreshadowed plan to commit the offence.
The situation may arise where a person has had a few drinks or has drugs in their system and alternative transport means such as an Uber or calling a friend may seem more expensive or inconvenient. However, the cost of committing the criminal offence of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may turn out much higher.
If you or someone you know have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, contact our expert criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation.
OPERATION RAID
A three-day NSW Police operation titled ‘Operation Raid (Remove All Impaired Drivers)’ targeting reckless motorists allegedly caught hundreds of motorists with drugs or excessive alcohol in their system.
The main focus of the police operation was on motorists driving fatigued and motorists committing the criminal offence of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These three factors are proven to contribute to the annual road toll in NSW and it is on this basis that police attention is focused on such motorists.
Operation Raid saw 88,524 breath tests conducted. Of these, 192 alleged drink driving offences were detected. NSW Police conducted 8,806 drug tests and allegedly detected 460 drug driving offences. 6,633 Traffic Infringement Notices were issued, which included 1,613 for speed related offences, 279 for mobile phone usage, and 115 for seat belt or helmet related offences.
One of the motorists charged involved a vehicle driven by a 37-year-old man that had allegedly been speeding at 94 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in Marsden Park. Police conducted a random breath test on the driver and a positive result was returned. He was arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station, where a breath analysis was conducted. The analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.149. The man was charged with the criminal offence of drive with middle range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA), and had his driver licence suspended. He was granted bail and is scheduled to appear before Mt Druitt Local Court on 20 January 2025.
During Operation Raid, Police officers attended 349 major crashes, with four fatalities, three of those being in regional locations.
NRMA CALLS FOR INCREASED ROADSIDE DRUG TESTING
A report released by NRMA in late November 2024 titled ‘Driving High’ revealed that 1 in 10 NSW motorists who were pulled over for random drug tests in 2023 tested positive for illicit drugs. The report calls for the NSW Government to increase roadside drug testing from 160,000 per year to 200,000 per year.
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury stated that motorists who combined illicit drugs with alcohol were 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL?
Section 112 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) states that a person must not, while under the influence of alcohol or any other drug, drive a vehicle, or occupy the driving seat of a vehicle and attempt to put the vehicle in motion.
A person under the influence of alcohol or any other drug and is the holder of an applicable driver licence (other than an applicable provisional licence or applicable learner licence) must not occupy the seat in or on a motor vehicle next to a learner driver who is driving the vehicle.
The maximum penalty for these criminal offences is 18 months imprisonment in the case of a first offence, and two years imprisonment in the case of a second or subsequent offence.
Monetary penalties and a suspension of licence also apply.
Â
CONTACT CRIMINAL LAWYERS GROUP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
If you or someone you know have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the ramifications can be severe. Our specialised driving lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group have proven results in securing the best outcomes and avoiding convictions for our clients. Contact us immediately for a free consultation.