Drug-affected drivers escaping conviction

[Jim Goose]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-0...iction/3812032

Drug-affected drivers escaping conviction

Posted February 05, 2012 13:17:21
Map: NSW

The peak motoring body in New South Wales says it is concerned by data that shows one-quarter of drug-affected drivers escape conviction and penalty.

The NRMA says the figures sourced from the Bureau of Crime Statistics found that between 2007 and 2010, 27 per cent of people convicted of drug driving had their convictions dismissed without a penalty under section 10 of the Crimes Act.

Offenders can be let off under section 10 if an offence is considered to be of a trivial nature or if the person is otherwise well behaved.

The NRMA's president Wendy Machin says that is sending the wrong message.

"We just don't think there is anything trivial about driving under the influence of drugs," she said.

"Obviously there are always exceptions, but we feel that 27 per cent of people over the last few years getting off without at penalty is rather high."

She also says there are serious shortfalls in the data surrounding the impact of drugs on the state's road toll.

So again we see how people are let off because they have been good little vegemites despite being caught driving while drugged up...