Alcohol ignition interlocks set for high risk drink drivers

By the end of the year, high-risk drink drivers will be made to install an alcohol ignition interlock device or be prohibited from driving for two years under new legislation passed by Parliament tonight.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said new laws within the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill had the potential to affect more than 12,000 drink driving offenders each year.

“In 2009 there were 71 road crash fatalities involving drink drivers or riders, making up 20.8% of the state’s road toll (331),” Ms Nolan said.

“This amendment is another milestone for the Queensland Government’s commitment to ridding our roads of drink drivers.

“These changes target drink drivers who pose a particular risk either due to the severity of an offence they’ve committed or because they have a history of repeat drink driving offences.”

Under the changes that come into effect later this year, high-risk drink drivers will have an ‘I’ condition attached to their licence for a minimum of 12 months.

In order to be allowed back behind the wheel, drivers will be able to choose to install an interlock, at their own expense, for the 12-month period.

A breath alcohol ignition interlock device is an in-vehicle breath test instrument connected to the ignition, in which the driver must blow into the breath test unit and register a BAC limit registers below the predetermined level or the device prevents the car from starting.

If a driver chooses not to install an interlock, the “I” condition will remain on their licence for two years, prohibiting them from driving during that period.

Further penalties including fines and a licence disqualification will apply for those who do not comply with the interlock (“I”) licence condition.

Ms Nolan said the ‘I’ licence condition would be mandatory for high risk drink drivers including:

·first time offenders with a blood alcohol reading more than 0.150 percent

·those who have repeatedly been caught for drink driving within a five-year period

·offenders charged with dangerous driving while adversely affected by alcohol

·or drivers who fail to provide a specimen of blood or breath for analysis.

“This device will force known drink drivers to take responsibility for their behaviour and not drink and drive,” Ms Nolan said.

“Random breath testing was introduced in Queensland in 1988 and alcohol ignition interlocks are the next step in reducing the number of drink drivers on our roads.”

It is estimated that an alcohol ignition interlock will cost an offender about six dollars per day. In other Australian jurisdictions the total annual fee for an alcohol ignition interlock is between $1500 and $2200, which can be paid in instalments.

Another change also passed by Parliament today will require all Learner, Provisional and Probationary licence holders and novice motorcycle riders (RE) to have a zero BAC regardless of their age.

Other recent legislation changes which address the dangers of drink driving include:

·Since 1 July 2008, high-level drink drivers may be subject to a tough sanction and have their vehicle impounded.

·On 18 May 2008 new laws introduced cumulative disqualification periods for multiple drink or drug driving or related offences. This means that every disqualification period is added onto the end of the other period/s so offenders lose their licence for a longer period of time.

Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654