12 July 2013

More than half of drink drivers caught were recidivists

| johnboy
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Twenty-two people were caught drink-driving on ACT roads last week (July 1-7), with 13 of those drivers being repeat offenders.

Six of the drink-drivers were subject to a zero Alcohol Content reading, and 10 had their licences seized through the issuance of Immediate Suspension Notices.

The highest reading for the week was recorded around 3am on Saturday, July 6 in Gladstone Street, Fyshwick. The driver, a 24-year-old Palmerston man returned a positive roadside screening test and was taken to City Police Station where he recorded a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) reading of 0.183.

Officer-in-Charge of Traffic Operations Sergeant Mark Steel said the message does not seem to be getting through to some Canberra motorists and it is clear these drivers have a complete disregard for other road users.

“We are still seeing similar numbers each month of those who continue to drink and drive, and those who are repeat offenders. The message is not getting through. While we are seeing short term benefits during our targeted campaigns, what we really want is a long-term culture change,” Sergeant Steel said.

“As a community we need to say that drink-driving is not acceptable, it’s appalling that these 22 drink drivers have shown such disregard for the law and are clearly willing to put not only their own lives at risk but also those of their passenger and other road users.

“If you breach the road rules and place your own life or the lives of others in danger, we will catch you.

“Every police car is fitted with breath-testing equipment so if you chose to ignore the message to drink or drive, you could be caught anywhere, anytime.”

ACT Policing is targeting speeding during the month of July as part of its multi-agency road safety strategy.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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Tooks said :

Sorry, 3 post nutbag…

I think a pro-arrest policy for drink drivers would be a good idea. As Irish Pete says, almost instant justice that way. The legislation would need to be re-jigged though.

Also mandatory weekend detention for repeat offenders I think would have an effect.

It makes sense particularly given that they will be detained in the Watch House if they’re busted driving shortly after being charged and released which has occurred to at least two idiots in the last year who thought bugger spending money on a taxi i’ll just drive home.

Sorry, 3 post nutbag…

I think a pro-arrest policy for drink drivers would be a good idea. As Irish Pete says, almost instant justice that way. The legislation would need to be re-jigged though.

Also mandatory weekend detention for repeat offenders I think would have an effect.

IrishPete said :

A night in the cells would probably help, but as we’ve seen before, police generally release the driver, and sometimes they go and get their car and get caught again (presumably many don’t get caught again, even though they went and got their car).

I do not agree with the view that police don’t have the power to keep them in custody – there are many potential grounds for it.

If they were kept overnight, they could be fronted up to a Magistrate the next morning, for almost instant justice, instead of being summonsed to appear months later. But swift justice is not the ACT way.

IP

You’re right, police do have the power under some circumstances to keep them in custody, which is why they do when those circumstances apply. If they don’t have grounds to arrest a drink driver (S212 Crimes Act 1900), then they can’t. If they can’t detain the driver under the Intoxicated Persons Act, then they can’t.

Most drink drivers aren’t “drunk” per se. You can return a fairly high reading and be quite lucid and in control.

Genie said :

Why do they impound the car if they are caught speeding excessively, but not for repeat drink driving ?

1) Cars can’t be impounded for speeding in the ACT.
2) Cars can’t be impounded for repeat drink driving.

IrishPete said :

A night in the cells would probably help, but as we’ve seen before, police generally release the driver, and sometimes they go and get their car and get caught again (presumably many don’t get caught again, even though they went and got their car).

I have seen Police take the spark plugs out of vehicles to make sure that doesn’t happen, though only on television and for interstate Police. Wonder if they ever do it in Canberra, if not, they should.

A night in the cells would probably help, but as we’ve seen before, police generally release the driver, and sometimes they go and get their car and get caught again (presumably many don’t get caught again, even though they went and got their car).

I do not agree with the view that police don’t have the power to keep them in custody – there are many potential grounds for it.

If they were kept overnight, they could be fronted up to a Magistrate the next morning, for almost instant justice, instead of being summonsed to appear months later. But swift justice is not the ACT way.

IP

Genie said :

Why do they impound the car if they are caught speeding excessively, but not for repeat drink driving ?

because we can’t have top of the line cars owned by the rich being impounded. The rich would sue the gov if something happened to their BMW or Mercs.

LSWCHP said :

bundah said :

Like I keep saying let’s give the Swedish model a run(no pun intended)!

I think if you want to give a Swedish model a run you need to head over to Holder or Lyons, preferably not while intoxicated. 🙂

Now that that avenue is closed it’s back to Fyshwick where one is spoilt for choice 🙂

Why do they impound the car if they are caught speeding excessively, but not for repeat drink driving ?

Anyone else thinking that Canberra Policing have finally changed their operations?
They do seem to be catching more drunk driver’s lately.

Message not getting through to recidivist drunk drivers? Shoot every third one of the f*ckers. That’d encourage the rest of them to mend their ways. I’ve got no time for these mongrels at all.

Brianna said :

Obviously the ‘system’ isn’t working. Perhaps time for fines. $1000 for the first offence and then up by $1000 each time after. The fines can be paid by compulsory deductions from wage or Centrelink benefits.

Increasing fines will do nothing to change the mindset of recidivist offenders who obviously have nothing but contempt for the law which is hardly surprising given the sentences,or lack of,handed down by the judiciary The most effective method would be to incarcerate and attempt to rehabilitate repeat offenders.

Obviously the ‘system’ isn’t working. Perhaps time for fines. $1000 for the first offence and then up by $1000 each time after. The fines can be paid by compulsory deductions from wage or Centrelink benefits.

I’m so sick and tired of this effing issue. Screw these selfish negligent pricks. Screw their jobs, screw their mortgages, screw their families. Screw the judicial compassion, the relativism, the character references.

LOCK THEM UP.

It is better that they bear the outcome of their actions, than they (predictably) crash into a random stranger and kill or seriously disable an innocent person. To have 60% of DUI arrests being repeat offenders is RIDICULOUS.

bundah said :

Like I keep saying let’s give the Swedish model a run(no pun intended)!

I think if you want to give a Swedish model a run you need to head over to Holder or Lyons, preferably not while intoxicated. 🙂

I’d be interested to know how many of those recidivists were fined and, of those, how many paid their fines.

If the fine/s were substantial, providing they were paid of course, you’d think they’d act as a deterrent, which license cancellation clearly doesn’t.

Like I keep saying let’s give the Swedish model a run(no pun intended)!

Random breath testing legislation was introduced in the mid 70’s and in the 80’s mass RBT legislation was passed. Government agencies have spent millions of dollars on advertising over the years, so it’s not like people don’t know it’s wrong to drink and drive. Stupidity and ignorance is not a defence for people’s behavior in getting behind the wheel when drunk.

Mandatory sentencing should be introduced nationally for repeat offenders as I have seen a Magistrate hand back a person’s license who has been caught 3 times in 10 years for high range drink driving offenses. Whilst the Magistrates Court continually show leniency in their court, repeat offenders will continue to show contempt for the courts.

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