2019-03-12
NSW Greens MP and spokesperson on drug law reform Cate Faehrmann has today declared the current roadside drug testing regime in NSW has nothing to do with improving road safety and is simply an extension of the failed war on drugs. The Greens have called for an end to roadside drug testing until an evidence based roadside drug testing programme is introduced that actually tests for impairment, rather than simply presence of drugs. This announcement is in contrast to Roads Minister Melinda Pavey’s recent announcement that the Liberals and Nationals will double mobile drug testing.
Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reveals that NSW Police are disproportionately targeting the Northern Rivers, Sydney’s outer west, the Riverina and Southern Highlands. The rate of drug driving convictions in the Richmond - Tweed area are the highest in the state, at 470 per 100,000 population - more than five times the NSW average of 92.9. By contrast in Sydney’s wealthy northern and eastern suburbs the rates of conviction are 10-14 times lower than the state average. This reflects lower levels of policing rather than lower levels of drug consumption.
The Greens call to repeal and reform roadside drug testing does not apply to roadside breath testing for alcohol which is evidence-based and effective.
NSW Greens MP and spokesperson on drug law reform Cate Faehrmann said:
“Roadside drug testing in NSW is arbitrary and unreliable. The regime in NSW has nothing to do with improving road safety and is simply an extension of the failed war on drugs.
“We know that drugs like marijuana will stay in people’s system for days, or even weeks, after consumption. This means drivers are being convicted despite no evidence of impairment or threat to road safety.
“That is why the Greens are calling for an end to roadside drug testing until an evidence based roadside drug testing programme is introduced that actually tests for impairment, rather than simply presence of drugs.”
“Imagine losing your license for driving after having a beer a couple of days ago. It sounds ridiculous, but this is exactly what is happening to people who might smoke a joint and drive a few days later.
“It is telling that rates of convictions in Sydney’s west and in regional areas are 20 to 30 times higher than in Sydney’s wealthy northern and eastern suburbs. This does not reflect lower rates of drug taking, but rather unfair police targeting of certain communities.”
“The current regime is unfairly wrecking people’s lives, clogging up our courts, costing enormous amounts of money and wasting police resources,” Ms Faehrmann concluded.