A just released report advises that reforms to New South Wales drink- and drug-driving laws, which have seen penalty notices, triggering licence suspensions and fines, issued to first-time low-level drink drivers and drivers with the presence of drugs in their system, has resulted in less court appearances.
Released on 24 January 2024, the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Use of Penalty Notices for First Time Drink- and Drug-Driving Offences report outlines that the reforms did see a significant drop in court attendance notices (CANs) issued for drink driving offences but not so much in regard to drug driving.
Part of the government’s Road Safety Plan 2021, the May 2019 first-time offender reforms replaced a system that saw drivers testing positive being arrested, issued with a CAN and in the interim before court licences were kept, whereas now a fine and immediate licence suspension apply.