Tough penalty for first-time drink drivers

The Victorian government has today announced draconian new legislation targeting drink drivers.

Interviewed by 3AW, Assistant Commissioner of Police Robert Hill and Police Minister Wade Noonan revealed that drivers detected with a blood/alcohol content (BAC) over 0.1 will have their cars impounded, will lose their licences for 10 months and will incur a $627 fine plus towing costs.

And that's irrespective of the offender's record. Each year police in Victoria catch 13,000 drink drivers who record a BAC over 0.1 – and about 3500 of those are first-time offenders.

"Anything between 3500-5000 vehicles could be seized by Victoria Police under this new legislation," the Assistant Commissioner told Neil Mitchell.

Previously first-time offenders were fined and had their licence cancelled; only repeat offenders had their cars impounded also. That will now change under the new legislation, which is due to come into effect from August 1.

For his part, the minister said that drink driving remains a matter for concern in the state, where road toll statistics show the number of fatalities is nine ahead of the same time last year (121 vs. 112).

"Statistics in 2013 had more than 3500 offenders blowing 0.1 or over," the minister said.

"I'm reassured by Victoria Police that the depot out at Preston has the capacity to take the additional anticipated 3500 cars off the road."

Mr Noonan expressed the opinion that few Victorians would feel any sympathy for a drink driver recording a BAC of 0.1, given the legislation has been in place for a long time.

"There's little tolerance for people who are getting behind the wheel; quite frankly they know they are over the limit."

The new legislation has the support of both sides of Parliament, but leaves unanswered the question of fatigue as a factor in the road toll – now considered to be a bigger killer than alcohol.

 Picture courtesy of KOMUnews/Wikimedia Commons