Drunk motorists will be slapped with huge fines and lose their licences for at least three months under strict new drink-driving laws that come into effect TODAY
- NSW motorists to lose licence immediately if caught drink or drug driving
- Tough new laws that came into effect also include an on-the-spot fine of $561
- It’s part of the NSW Government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ to drink and drug-driving
Drivers caught drunk behind the wheel will lose their licences immediately for at least three months under strict new laws that come into effect from today.
Motorists will also be slapped with an on-the-spot fine of $561, even for first time offences under the new reforms introduced in New South Wales on Monday.
Those caught behind the wheel under the influence of illicit drugs will also cop the same punishment.
The tough crackdown was announced by the NSW Government earlier this month as part of its ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to drink and drug-driving and save lives on the state’s roads.
Anyone caught drink driving on NSW roads will immediately lose their licence and hefty on the spot fine under tough new laws which came into effect on May 20 (stock photo)
Around 68 people died in alcohol-related crashes on NSW roads in 2018, which accounted for almost one in five road deaths.
The reforms have been hailed as the biggest overhaul since the introduction of the blood-alcohol limit of 0.05 almost four decades ago in 1980.
‘This means anyone caught drink-driving in NSW, at any level, including low-range, can now lose their licence immediately,’ roads minister Andrew Constance said.
‘This reform makes it clear if you break the law, you will pay the price.’
NSW Police now have a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to drink and drug-driving under new reforms
Under the previous laws, drivers charged with low-range drink drinking offences did not lose their licence immediately and could continue to drive until they appeared in court.
The reforms are part of The Roads Safety Plan 2021, which aims to reduce road fatalities by at least 30 per cent in the next two years.
‘Our aspirational long-term goal is zero trauma on the NSW road network,’ the plan states.
NSW Police Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Corboy said the reform will protect all road users.
‘Alcohol is one of the major factors in crashes that kill or injure people on NSW roads,’ he said.
‘The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. There are no more excuses.’
The new laws were slammed by legal experts when they were first proposed last year.
One claimed on-the-spot fines would do little to deter people from drink driving.
The crackdown on drink driving is part of The Roads Safety Plan 2021, which aims to reduce road fatalities on NSW roads by at least 30 per cent in the next two years
‘Infringement notices as more or less a taxation rather than a punishment,’ Sydney lawyer John Sutton told The Daily Telegraph at the time.
‘The humiliation and embarrassment of having to collect references and admit criminal conduct, culminating in the experience of appearing before a judicial officer is what is necessary to cause offenders to modify their behaviour.’