❓ The Minister for Police reports on the initial impact of the Road Traffic Legislation Amendment (Disqualification by Notice) Act 2010, highlighting the number of disqualification notices issued and providing examples of drink-driving offences.
AnsweredQoN 391Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY —
LICENCE DISQUALIFICATION NOTICES
391. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Police:
I refer to
the government's recently announced disqualification notice legislation
that came into effect one week ago. Can the minister advise the house how these
laws are operating and what they mean for the community?
LICENCE DISQUALIFICATION NOTICES
391. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Police:
I refer to
the government's recently announced disqualification notice legislation
that came into effect one week ago. Can the minister advise the house how these
laws are operating and what they mean for the community?
AnswerView source ↗
I would like to thank the member for his question. The Road
Traffic Legislation Amendment (Disqualification by Notice) Act 2010 came into
effect last Wednesday. It has had an amazing impact. Already 188 disqualification
notices have been issued under this act. That is 188 drink-drivers we have
managed to take off the road. It is quite interesting when we drill down and
look at who these people are. I think we will have some pretty fine examples of
the effect alcohol has on brain function when I highlight some of the examples
of these people in just a moment. Before I go there I would like to put on the
record my appreciation of the efforts of the member for Hillarys in bringing
this legislation to cabinet and through the house. It will have a really great
impact in getting drink-drivers off the road.
The following are some examples of
people I referred to before. I was privy to this information because I had a
familiarisation visit at the traffic operation centre and went inside a booze
bus—for the first time, I would like to put on the record. The team
that showed me through the booze bus said that on that night they had
intercepted a fellow who blew .05 per cent blood alcohol content. He had
previously had a .05 offence, so he was issued with a summons rather than an
infringement. But then an hour after blowing .05, he went down the road, got
into his car and drove again. This time, members, his count was .08 per cent.
He was issued with a disqualification notice on that .08 offence, so he now has
two offences to defend when he goes to court down the track. That same police
crew was deployed the next night to Joondalup. The member for Joondalup might
be interested in the effect of this legislation in getting a dangerous driver
off the road in his area. A 46-year-old male was pulled over and blew .08 per
cent BAC at Joondalup and was issued with a disqualification notice.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Is this the subject of proceedings. Do you think it is
appropriate to talk about it?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The person who blew .08 hopped into his car and drove down the road. His blood
alcohol level came down; he blew .05 per cent the second time he was
intercepted. He had his car impounded for contravening a disqualification
notice. Those are two examples of 188 drink-drivers that this legislation has
been effective in getting off the road. I think this demonstrates the Liberal
state government's commitment to improving road safety outcomes for the
state and proves that our legislation is effective in getting repeat
drink-drivers off the road for the safety of the community.
Traffic Legislation Amendment (Disqualification by Notice) Act 2010 came into
effect last Wednesday. It has had an amazing impact. Already 188 disqualification
notices have been issued under this act. That is 188 drink-drivers we have
managed to take off the road. It is quite interesting when we drill down and
look at who these people are. I think we will have some pretty fine examples of
the effect alcohol has on brain function when I highlight some of the examples
of these people in just a moment. Before I go there I would like to put on the
record my appreciation of the efforts of the member for Hillarys in bringing
this legislation to cabinet and through the house. It will have a really great
impact in getting drink-drivers off the road.
The following are some examples of
people I referred to before. I was privy to this information because I had a
familiarisation visit at the traffic operation centre and went inside a booze
bus—for the first time, I would like to put on the record. The team
that showed me through the booze bus said that on that night they had
intercepted a fellow who blew .05 per cent blood alcohol content. He had
previously had a .05 offence, so he was issued with a summons rather than an
infringement. But then an hour after blowing .05, he went down the road, got
into his car and drove again. This time, members, his count was .08 per cent.
He was issued with a disqualification notice on that .08 offence, so he now has
two offences to defend when he goes to court down the track. That same police
crew was deployed the next night to Joondalup. The member for Joondalup might
be interested in the effect of this legislation in getting a dangerous driver
off the road in his area. A 46-year-old male was pulled over and blew .08 per
cent BAC at Joondalup and was issued with a disqualification notice.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Is this the subject of proceedings. Do you think it is
appropriate to talk about it?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The person who blew .08 hopped into his car and drove down the road. His blood
alcohol level came down; he blew .05 per cent the second time he was
intercepted. He had his car impounded for contravening a disqualification
notice. Those are two examples of 188 drink-drivers that this legislation has
been effective in getting off the road. I think this demonstrates the Liberal
state government's commitment to improving road safety outcomes for the
state and proves that our legislation is effective in getting repeat
drink-drivers off the road for the safety of the community.
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