Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Claire Trevett

DRIVERS ON DRUGS FACE BEING ASKED TO WALK A STRAIGHT LINE

Drugged-driving could be illegal by the end of the year, with a 
Government bill making it an offence to drive while impaired by drugs 
due for introduction to Parliament over the next few weeks.

The intention to introduce drugged-driving as an offence akin to 
drink-driving was announced in December last year.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven told the transport select 
committee of the pending Land Transport Amendment Bill yesterday 
during a briefing on driver behaviour.

He said the bill was with small parties for consultation, but should 
be introduced within a few weeks.

National road policing manager Superintendent Dave Cliff welcomed the 
proposed law, saying under the present law it was only illegal to 
drive while "incapable" because of drugs or alcohol.

The new, separate offence for drugs, as with alcohol, would have a 
lower threshold, requiring a driver to be "impaired". "It's another 
tool for us to get people who shouldn't be on the road off the road."

People suspected of being on drugs will be tested on the side of the 
road by an "impairment" test, in which people are asked to do 
co-ordination exercises such as walk in a straight line and undergo 
eye examinations.

If police believed they were on drugs, a blood test would be done to 
confirm it. Similar punishments would apply as for speeding drivers.

The Green Party has opposed the measure, saying requiring someone to 
do a blood test based on an officer's perception of whether they were 
"impaired" was effectively a search.

However, Mr Cliff said it was dangerous for someone to drive while 
impaired regardless of the cause of impairment. The offence would 
include party pills when new laws making them illegal came into force.

NZ First MP Peter Brown, who had asked for the briefing, said his 
party had sought harsher penalties on recidivist drink-drivers to be 
included in the upcoming bill.

"They are a menace and we can't stop them drinking, but we can stop 
them driving."

He said a first offence should get a warning letter; for a second 
offence, the driver's car should be put outside their house with a 
wheelclamp on it while they were disqualified from driving, "so he 
walks out and sees it every day".

He said the car should be confiscated for any subsequent offences.

Ministry of Transport officials said further measures could be 
considered for a second bill, due to be introduced late next year, 
for which policy and drafting were still being worked on, rather than 
delay the present bill.

Mr Duynhoven said changes to the graduated drivers' licensing system 
for young or novice drivers would also be taken to the Cabinet soon.

The Government's aim was to reduce the road toll to under 300 deaths 
a year by 2010. Last year's toll of 391 was the lowest in 50 years 
and Mr Duynhoven said on a per-10,000-vehicle-basis the road toll had 
halved since 1998.

Mr Duynhoven said that while it was not yet Government policy, he 
also supported compulsory third party insurance and was under growing 
pressure from the public to introduce it.

Ministry officials were looking at international examples of it.

He said insurance companies estimated about one-quarter of cars were 
uninsured, but had told him introducing compulsory insurance would 
raise insurance premiums.

Mr Duynhoven said one way to deal with the problem of irresponsible 
young drivers who broke the conditions of a restricted licence was to 
make them return to the very beginning of a learner's licence and 
resit the whole process again.

There would also be changes to the motor vehicle licensing register, 
to better protect personal information on it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake