24 January 2011

Drink drive drop

| johnboy
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ACT Policing apprehended sixteen (16) drink drivers for the week of Monday January 10 to Sunday January 16.

Although this is a decrease from previous weeks (police were averaging over 36 positive tests per week for Nov/Dec 2010), ACT Policing is still concerned that repeat offenders make up about 30 per cent of all people apprehended for this offence.

Six out of the 16 have previous convictions for drink driving.

Of the 16 people apprehended, 7 were on 0.00 licences. The highest recording for a 0.00 licence was 0.189.

During this period, the highest recording for a 0.05 licence was 0.207 by a 28-year-old man with four previous convictions and one matter currently before the court. A 52-year-old man with five previous convictions was apprehended with a BAC reading of 0.204.

While numbers are down for that week, Traffic Operations Superintendent Mark Colbran is still concerned about the high rate of recidivist offenders.

“Drink driving is still the main causal factor of fatal and serious collisions in the ACT. In 2010 approximately 30 per cent of all people apprehended for drink driving had at least one previous conviction for this offence. It is extremely concerning that this trend appears to be continuing and that so many people are prepared to continue this dangerous behaviour with complete disregard for their own safety and the safety of all road users,” Supt Colbran said.

[Courtesy of ACT Policing]

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JustThinking3:52 pm 26 Jan 11

Mystery2Me said :

This is what they do in NSW,

An habitual offender driving suspension can be imposed for accumulating three convictions for serious offences within a period of five years. This is usually done by the RTA.

The list of serious offences includes:

* Driving at a dangerous speed or in a dangerous manner;
* furious driving;
* reckless driving;
* negligent driving where death or grievous bodily harm is occasioned;
* drink and drug driving offences; an
* driving whilst disqualified

Generally a habitual traffic offender suspension is imposed for five years. The suspension is imposed on top of any penalty for the final of the three convictions which lead to the declaration of a habitual traffic offender. There can be five year suspensions added for each offence, therefore, 3 offences can result in a 15 year suspension by the RTA on top of whatever the court has given them.

Makes me wonder how serious the ACT is about repeat offenders when across the border this is what they do.

Should read “this is what they CAN do in NSW”
They don’t always do it.
**********************************

I don’t know what it is with repeat offenders of ANYTHING just walking off with a fine and a smack on the wrist.
Whether it is drink driving/speeding/dangerous driving it all boils down to you taking extra risks that may harm or kill someone.
Start charging them with “intent to harm/kill”

GottaLoveCanberra said :

So they can crush cars for people who street race but guys like this can get away with 4-5 DUI CONVICTIONS?

Fooking pathetic, crush his car with him in it.

Cars aren’t crushed for street racing in the ACT.

georgesgenitals5:54 pm 25 Jan 11

Mystery2Me said :

Makes me wonder how serious the ACT is about repeat offenders when across the border this is what they do.

ACT justice is not particularly serious.

GottaLoveCanberra5:26 pm 25 Jan 11

So they can crush cars for people who street race but guys like this can get away with 4-5 DUI CONVICTIONS?

Fooking pathetic, crush his car with him in it.

This is what they do in NSW,

An habitual offender driving suspension can be imposed for accumulating three convictions for serious offences within a period of five years. This is usually done by the RTA.

The list of serious offences includes:

* Driving at a dangerous speed or in a dangerous manner;
* furious driving;
* reckless driving;
* negligent driving where death or grievous bodily harm is occasioned;
* drink and drug driving offences; an
* driving whilst disqualified

Generally a habitual traffic offender suspension is imposed for five years. The suspension is imposed on top of any penalty for the final of the three convictions which lead to the declaration of a habitual traffic offender. There can be five year suspensions added for each offence, therefore, 3 offences can result in a 15 year suspension by the RTA on top of whatever the court has given them.

Makes me wonder how serious the ACT is about repeat offenders when across the border this is what they do.

Ian said :

None of them should get the chance to drink drive repeatedly. Fine them heavily and suspend them for at least a year first time, confiscate and crush their car second time, and permanently revoke their license.

Disqualifying their licence isn’t necessarily a deterrant to a repeat offender.

Surely the high number of repeat offenders indicates sentences aren’t tough enough? I know the problem is more complex than simply handing out tougher sentences, but it’s definitely a factor.

Start using periodic detention for repeat offenders and maybe they’ll think twice before doing it.

People like this will just get another car and get caught again and again. Unless they’re given custodial sentences, there’s no real deterrent. As for fines, they’ve probably no money so how do you get blood from a stone?

None of them should get the chance to drink drive repeatedly. Fine them heavily and suspend them for at least a year first time, confiscate and crush their car second time, and permanently revoke their license.

“During this period, the highest recording for a 0.05 licence was 0.207 by a 28-year-old man with four previous convictions and one matter currently before the court. A 52-year-old man with five previous convictions was apprehended with a BAC reading of 0.204.”

How, in gods name, do these people rack up 4 or 5 DUI convictions and still retain their licences? Remembering of course, that they’re not busted every time they drive drunk.

The police reckon targeting and jailing recidivist property criminals has lowered the burglary rate. I reckon doing the same for drunk drivers would lower the road fatality rate.

Oh boy! More $50 fines to swell the ACT’s coffers!

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