Car loss plan for repeat
drink-drivers
From The West Australian
By Ben Spencer
February 22, 2006
Repeat drink-drivers could have their
vehicle immobilised in the driveway of their home or lose their car
altogether under a radical plan to be put to the State Government.
The Office of Road Safety is working with government
agencies to bring amendments to the Road Traffic Act into State Parliament
by September, with a view to having the laws in place by the middle
of next year.
The changes would include giving police the discretion
to confiscate a driver’s keys for up to 24 hours when they believe
that person is at risk of driving while intoxicated.
An alcohol ignition lock scheme, in which a breath-testing
device is fitted in a car owned by repeat drink-drivers at the order
of a magistrate, is also expected to be included in the laws.
But Office of Road Safety head Iain Cameron said the
changes would be extended to enable a magistrate to impound or immobilise
an offender’s vehicle. The latter is the favoured option.
Details of how a car would be immobilised were still
being worked through but Mr Cameron said there were effective strategies
to immobilise a drink driver’s vehicle in their garage.
It comes after Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announced
a “three strikes and you’re out” plan at the weekend
under which offenders lose their vehicle permanently for a third drink-driving
offence.
“If we immobilise their car they can look at
it, they can wash it and they can keep responsibility for it and pay
the bills on it but they can’t drive it,” Mr Cameron said.
“There are various flash mechanisms that enable
you to do that.
“To keep responsibility for the vehicle with
the person and not load the burden on to the police or other costs
on Government we think is the better option.”
Police Minister John D’Orazio said he would
listen to any measures that would cut the road toll, including those
put forward at a two-day road safety summit in Queensland ending today,
and that would include the confiscation of vehicles.
“Anything that targets a reduction in the road
toll is something I would need to look at,” he said.
Mr Cameron said the alcohol interlock machines would
be the first option for dealing with repeat drink-drivers but said
they were not always adequate in preventing intoxicated people getting
behind the wheel.
Road Safety Council chairman Grant Dorrington called
on Mr D’Orazio to introduce the changes into Parliament as soon
as they had been finalised.
