All drink driving in NSW to result in immediate loss of licence from 20 May 2019

NSW Transport for NSW, media release, 6 May 2019:

Immediate loss of licence for all drink drivers

All drink driving offenders can now immediately lose their licence under tough new penalties announced by the Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance today.

From May 20 drink drivers who are first-time, lower range offenders will receive an immediate three month licence suspension and fine of $561.

“This means anyone caught drink‐driving in NSW, at any level, including low-range, can now lose their licence immediately,” Mr Constance said.

“This reform makes it clear if you break the law, you will pay the price. We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving.”

Under the new laws, simpler and more certain penalties will also apply for drug drivers.

Offenders who drive with the presence of illicit drugs for the first time will receive a $561 fine and a three month licence suspension if the offence is confirmed by laboratory analysis.

Alcohol related crashes claimed the lives of at least 68 people on NSW roads last year, accounting for nearly one in five road deaths, including 55 lives lost on country roads.

Fatalities from crashes involving a drug driver accounted for similar numbers of deaths.

“Drivers who have an illegal level of alcohol in their blood or have used illegal drugs have no place on the road,” Mr Constance said.

Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Corboy said this reform will protect all road users by ensuring swift and certain penalties.

“Alcohol is one of the major factors in crashes that kill or injure people on NSW roads.The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. There are no more excuses,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

Catholic priest really blew it! One of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police

 
Message for drivers: Don't try to keep up with the Joneses

NSW Police reported last week that a 58-year-old male driver returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.341 after driving on the Pacific Highway near Maclean.
The driver is reported to be a Saint Patrick's South Grafton priest.
A case of too much alter altar wine?

Today's Daily Examiner reports:
Saint Patrick's South Grafton parish priest, Father Peter Jones, earned himself the dubious honour of returning one of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police.
An off-the-chart +.5 roadside reading was followed by registering .341, almost seven times the legal limit, on Wednesday when the 58-year-old Catholic priest was pulled over on the Pacific Highway at Maclean.
A concerned motorist allegedly saw the white Toyota Camry being driven by Father Jones crossing lanes at Harwood and reported the incident to police. 
Police caught up with Father Jones as he turned off the highway onto Yamba Rd and pulled him over for a roadside breath test. 
The hand-held breathalyser used by police was unable to accurately measure Fr Jones' blood-alcohol content, only indicating it was more than .5 – ten times the legal limit. 
Fr Jones was then taken by police to Maclean police station where he recorded the high-range blood-alcohol reading of .341. 
Police immediately cancelled Fr Jones' driver's licence and issued him with a court attendance notice ordering him to appear in Maclean Local Court on December 13. 
A senior police source told the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper Fr Jones' reading was one of the highest recorded in recent times in NSW. 
Fr Jones was bailed by police into the custody of St Mary's Grafton parish priest Fr Rex Hackett due to his level of intoxication. 
The Telegraph reported Fr Jones' car, which is owned by the Catholic Church, was confiscated by police and Fr Hackett transported his colleague home. 
Drug and Alcohol educator Paul Dillon told the Telegraph Fr Jones' reading could not have been reached by drinking beer, but would have required sustained prolonged drinking of hard liquor. 
“Generally speaking it would be very hard to imagine someone could get to a level about 0.3 with beer, which is between three to five per cent alcohol,” he told the Telegraph. 
“You really would be looking at significant amounts of spirits, which are 35 to 50 per cent alcohol – over a period of time.” 
Two standard drinks in an hour can see a man reach the legal limit for drivers of .05, with women only needing one standard drink.