Division 3A of the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 was
inserted and became effective on 15 December, 2006 and gave police power to
carry out "Oral Fluid Testing" of drivers for the purpose of testing for the
presence of illicit drugs. Such test is carried out at the roadside by police
where the driver is required to lick the test pad of the preliminary testing
device in order to detect the presence of a prescribed illicit drug. If this
test proves "positive" the driver will be required to undergo a second screening
test in a police drug testing support vehicle at the scene. If this second DUI
test proves positive, the driver will be prohibited from driving for 24 hours
and the remaining oral fluid sample from the second test will then be sent off
to the Government Analytical Laboratory for analysis. If that result comes back
positive, then the driver can expect a Court Attendance Notice to attend court
and be prosecuted.
The definition of illicit drugs simply means cannabis, speed (amphetamine) and
ecstasy and can be any combination of these.
Section 18B(1) of the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999
permits police to require a driver to undergo one or more oral fluid tests for
prescribed illicit drugs.
Section 18B(2) creates an offence for a driver to "refuse or fail to undergo the
oral fluid test in accordance with the directions of the officer".
It is an offence if an illicit drug is detected as being present (see Driving
with the presence of prescribed illicit drugs) and police can arrest and take
the person to a police station or other prescribed premises in order to carry
out the necessary tests on the person, whether it be obtaining a further oral
sample for analysis (s.18D) or sample of urine or blood.
If a blood or urine test discloses the presence of Heroin or Cocaine, then this
legislation also provides for prosecuting for the presence of these drugs also.
Fatal Road Crashes
Division 4A of the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 was
inserted for the compulsory taking of blood and urine tests of drivers involved
in fatal motor vehicle accidents, or accidents where a person although not
killed, it is more likely than not, that such person will die within 30 days as
a consequence of the accident.
If a driver is involved in a fatal road crash, then such person will be arrested
by police for the purposes of being taken to a hospital and having blood and
urine taken for the purpose of testing for the presence of drugs.
Click here for a comprehensive chart of penalties.