The 19-year-old allegedly returned a second positive test for cocaine at the City Police Station. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The start of 2025 means police can now issue charges to drivers for allegedly driving under the influence of cocaine.
It took only eight hours before the first driver was allegedly caught with the drug in their system.
“Each roadside drug test is now able to detect cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
“While penalties for possession of certain illicit drugs have changed and cannabis possession has been decriminalised, it remains an offence to have any of those drugs present in your system while driving.”
Police did not have to wait long before coming across the first person to be issued a charge under these changes.
Officers were conducting random drug and alcohol testing on Fairbairn Avenue in Campbell at around 8 am on New Year’s Day (1 January) when they stopped a Mitsubishi Magna.
The 19-year-old male driver, who was on a provisional licence, underwent a roadside drug test that allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine.
He was taken to City Police Station where a secondary test also allegedly returned a positive result to cocaine.
The man was issued with a court attendance notice and is expected to face court at a later date.
The incident follows what had been a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve (31 December 2024) in Canberra.
An ACT Policing spokesperson said police were generally pleased with the behaviour of the crowds on the last day of 2024.
They said about 40,000 to 50,000 people attended the celebrations at Lake Burley Griffin. During this event, one person was taken into custody for breach of bail.
“In the city, four people were taken into protective custody as a result of intoxication,” the spokesperson said.
“Five people were arrested for various offences, including assaulting police, assault, and possessing a knife.
“Police are also pleased no drivers were detected under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
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