In NSW, it is against the law to drive with the presence of any illegal drug in your system. Penalties can include heavy fines, licence suspension, licence disqualification and imprisonment.
As of this month, NSW police can issue up to two on the spot Criminal Infringement Notices (CINs), resulting in $400 fines, to adults for personal drug use and small quantity drug possession offences (source). The scheme is aimed at encouraging people to complete a tailored drug and alcohol intervention and, once completed the fine is considered paid. If not completed then the penalty will be enforced by Revenue NSW.
These changes will not apply to large-scale production and manufacturing of drugs, and it will not apply to convicted drug suppliers or traffickers, or people who have already incurred two CINs for drug possession.
Under the new changes, NSW police conducted a four-day operation targeting impaired motorists, resulting in 6,653 traffic offences with 470 road users returning a positive test for drugs. Operation Remove All Impaired Drivers (RAID) targeted drink driving, drug driving, and fatigue – three factors’ police identified as major contributors to NSW’s annual road toll.
During the operation, police conducted 120,093 random breath tests resulting in 211 charges and 10,885 random drug tests resulting in 470 positive results. In addition police detected 1,895 speeding offences, 261 mobile phone/ distraction offences and over 4,200 other driving offences (source).
This change will bring NSW into line with all other Australian states and territories, which operate drug diversion programs for low level illicit drug offences. This reform seeks to ease the burden on police and courts, allowing resources to be reprioritised to focus on the suppliers and manufacturers of illegal drugs in NSW. To see current NSW drink and driving penalties click here.
What about in your workplace? Drug and alcohol test kits are simple to use, highly sensitive, fast, and reliable. At Alcolizer Technology we are an established, Australian company at the forefront of accurate and reliable Drug and Alcohol testing and a preferred partner to a wide range of organisations and law enforcement agencies globally for over 35 years.
Our Oral Detect single use drug test is one of the very few available certified by an independent laboratory to AS/NZA 4760:2019 with a simple, clear, visual indication for the presence/absence of illicit substances. Improving your accuracy and result confirmation Oral Detect provides negative results as early as two minutes and tests for seven drug types including Amphetamines, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, THC, Opiates, Oxycodone & Methamphetamines.
The consequences of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace are significant. It not only endangers employee safety but also exposes businesses to risks of accidents, decreased productivity, and legal liabilities. Therefore, taking proactive measures to address this issue is crucial.
By implementing robust testing solutions, you can:
- Safeguard Workplace Safety – reduce the risk of accidents and injuries by ensuring your employees are fit for duty and free from impairment.
- Boost Productivity – identify and address performance issues related to substance abuse, leading to enhanced productivity and efficiency across your organisation.
- Mitigate Legal Risks – demonstrate compliance with workplace safety regulations and minimise the risk of costly litigation associated with drug and alcohol-related incidents.
