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Councils Road Safety Unit supports new Drug Driving Law

Published: 05/03/2015

Flintshire County Councils Road Safety Unit is supporting the New Drug Driving Law which came into effect on 2 March 1015, aimed at catching those who risk the lives of others whilst driving under the influence of drugs. The new legislation for England and Wales sets legal limits for how much of a substance – both illegal drugs and prescription medication – motorists can have in their system whilst driving. Officers from North Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit will carry a new device that will allow them to carry out a roadside test to see if a motorist has taken cannabis or cocaine. The ‘DrugWipe’ system will allow officers to determine in less than ten minutes if a motorist has an illegal substance in their body, by using a swab from the driver’s mouth. Any drivers who fail the test will be arrested and taken to police custody where a sample of their blood will be taken. The blood will then be sent away to be examined and if illegal levels of a drug are found, that motorist faces being prosecuted for drug driving. If the driver refuses to give consent, they face being prosecuted for the offence of failing to provide a sample of blood for analysis. The penalty under the new offence will be a 12-month ban, disqualification, a fine up to £5,000 and up to six months in prison or both. Further information is available via the Government website - www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law or via Think! - http://think.direct.gov.uk/ Anybody who may have information regarding drug drivers should contact North Wales Police on 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Full details can also be found on the North Wales Police website: http://www.north-wales.police.uk/