Police will have new powers to deal with drivers on drugs under legislation passed by Parliament tonight.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said "very disturbing statistics" showed how important it was to bring in the new laws.
He told Parliament Massey University drug researchers carried out surveys which found that 90 per cent of `P' users and 62 per cent of Ecstasy users had driven under the influence of a drug other than alcohol during a six month period.
"Many reported driving too fast, losing concentration, losing their temper at another driver, driving through a red light and nearly hitting something while driving under the influence of a drug," he said.
Mr Joyce said another survey carried out by Environmental Science and Research between 2004 and 2008 found that 257 of 826 deceased drivers had cannabis in their system.
"People who drive while their judgment and reactions are impaired by drugs, and by that I mean both controlled drugs and prescription medicines, are a danger to themselves and other," he said.
"This bill aims to reduce this risk by creating an offence of driving while impaired and with evidence in the bloodstream of a controlled drug or a prescription medicine."
Under the Land Transport Amendment Bill ( No 4 ), which comes into force on December 1, police can decide whether a driver is impaired through a compulsory impairment test.
If the test shows a driver is impaired, it will be followed by a blood test to determine whether drugs are present.
"This bill will provide police with additional tools to get drivers impaired by drugs off the roads before they add to the road toll and injury toll on our roads," Mr Joyce said.
He described the legislation as "just the first step" in dealing with the problem.
"When a practical, affordable drug testing device becomes available that can produce results which can stand up in court, I will be happy to bring legislation to this House to enable it to be used as an enforcement tool," he said.
The bill was drafted by the previous government in 2007 and was taken over by the new government.
Mr Joyce said that when it was drafted, professional advice was that the group of drugs which include valium should not be covered by it.
"Based on evidence I have seen. . .I believe these drugs should have been considered for inclusion," he said.
"I have officials working on this now."
Mr Joyce said if he decided to include that group of drugs he would introduce a special amendment which would change the law before it came into force.
The bill was passed on a unanimous vote.
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n655/a06.html
Newshawk: http://www.norml.org.nz
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jun 2009
Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2009 The Dominion Post
Contact: letters@dompost.co.nz
Website: http://www.dompost.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550
Author: NZPA
