Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

New Drug Driving Laws To Be Introduced

14th October 2019

Motorists face roadside drugs test.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed Police Scotland's preparations for the introduction of new drug driving laws on 21 October.

Police will carry out testing using ‘mouth swabs for any motorist they suspect of drug driving or who has been involved in an accident or stopped for a traffic offence. This will make it easier to hold drug drivers to account as there will no longer be a requirement to prove that someone was driving in an impaired manner.

There will be a zero tolerance approach to the eight drugs most associated with illegal use, including cannabis, heroin and cocaine. Drugs associated with medical use will have limits based on impairment and road safety.

Mr Yousaf said:"Driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs is simply not acceptable. The consequences of causing a collision while under the influence can be devastating.

“I am grateful to Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for their hard work to prepare for the new laws coming into force.

“Alongside our stringent drink driving limits, these new curbs will ensure Scotland’s law enforcement agencies have the most robust powers in the UK to tackle impaired and unsafe driving in order to keep people safe."

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: "With our partners, we are committed to reducing road casualties and deplore the devastating consequences of drug driving on victims, their families and communities.

"This new legislation gives the police powers to detect, at the roadside, those selfish motorists who risk the lives of others and themselves by driving after taking illegal substances.

"Over and above our priorities for road safety, there will be wider benefits for improved public safety as these powers and new equipment will help us disrupt illegal drugs supply by dealers, and organised crime groups by deterring and detecting drug drivers."

The drugs which have a near zero limit (zero tolerance limit) are benzoylecgonine; cocaine; delta-9–tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis and cannabinol); ketamine; lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); methylamphetamine; methylenedioxymethaphetamine (MDMA – ecstasy) and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM – heroin and diamorphine). The limits are not zero to allow for minor accidental exposure to such drugs.

The medicinal drugs which will have limits based on scientific evidence are clonazepam; diazepam; flunitrazepam; lorazepam; methadone; morphine; oxazepam; and temazepam.

A separate approach has been taken to amphetamine, balancing its legitimate use for medical purposes against its abuse.

Any person taking medication in line with the prescription they have can claim the medical defence to the new offence. However, they can still be prosecuted under the existing impairment offence if they are demonstrating impairment. If the prescription indicates that they should not drive while taking the medication then they are unable to claim the medical defence.

Existing law makes it an offence to be in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, with the penalties – reserved to Westminster – being a minimum 12-month driving ban, up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000. The new offence of driving while above specified drug limits will operate alongside the current offence and carry with it the same maximum penalties.

The specific details of the new limits can be found at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/83/contents/made

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Visiting relatives and friends this Christmas? Make sure your home is safe AFTER DARKThumbnail for article : Visiting relatives and friends this Christmas? Make sure your home is safe AFTER DARK
Consider carefully what you are putting on social media, especially if you are staying away to visit friends and relatives this Christmas.  Be wary of posting photographs of Christmas parties that contain images of high value jewellery.  
POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT - CAITHNESS AREAThumbnail for article : POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT - CAITHNESS AREA
Would you like to join the Police? Would you like to live and work in the Caithness area? Police Scotland is actively recruiting good quality and eligible candidates specifically for the Caithness area.   We are taking applications now for Police Constable / Special Constable Entry for future intakes during 2023/2024.  
£74m Police Budget Cut Will Make Communities Less Safe
UNISON, the union for police staff, says Scotland's police budget cut will see even more crime going unreported and crimes not being fully investigated.   The union says around 230 police staff could be cut, including fingerprint examiners, forensic examiners, 999 call handlers, custody staff, high-speed driving instructors, cybercrime experts, payroll, HR and IT staff.  
New Police Commander For Highland And Islands Division Takes OathThumbnail for article : New Police Commander For Highland And Islands Division Takes Oath
The new Highland and Islands divisional commander will take up post having been sworn in as a Police Scotland officer.   Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone welcomed and thanked Chief Superintendent Rob Shepherd during a ceremony at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan, on Monday, 16 January 2023, overseen by Justice of the Peace Gillian Thomson.  
Police Complaints, Investigations And Misconduct To Continue After Resignations
Gross misconduct proceedings against police officers should be allowed to continue after they resign from the force to promote transparency and maintain public confidence, according to a public consultation.   The move, which would see proceedings continue even if an officer leaves during the course of an investigation into their conduct, was among the recommendations of Dame Elish Angiolini's independent review into how police complaints and allegations of misconduct should be handled.  
Criminal Proceedings In Scotland 2020-21
The total number of people proceeded against in Scottish courts fell by 46% to 46,497 in the year to 2020-21, according to National Statistics published by Scotland's Chief Statistician today.  The number of people convicted fell at a similar rate, down 44% to 42,532.  
15 Further Call Handling Jobs For Police Centre In Inverness
Cllr Matthew Reiss, Highland Council's Strategic Lead for Police and Fire has welcomed Police Scotland's announcement that it has created fifteen new posts to further enhance the development of call handling services, based in Inverness.   He said: "We were delighted in October last year to welcome 25 new jobs in Inverness with the creation of a specialist call handling service team and these fifteen additional new posts based in the Highlands are great news.  
Changes to criminal court businessThumbnail for article : Changes to criminal court business
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has responded to the Lord President's decision to reduce the number of criminal trials as part of efforts to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).   The Justice Secretary said:"I welcome the Lord President's decisive action, which balances the interests of justice with the very serious public health challenges presented by the new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19).  
Agreement urgently needed on police authority's functionsThumbnail for article : Agreement urgently needed on police authority's functions
Greater clarity is needed around the core functions and finances of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) so that it can build a modern and financially stable police service.   A report on 17 December 2019 from the Auditor General highlights some progress over the last year amid a raft of new appointments to Police Scotland, including a new chief constable and three deputies, and seven new members to the SPA Board.  
Mobile devices introduced for Highland & Islands officers
Police officers in the Highlands and Islands will start using mobile devices as part of their operational duties which will increase their visibility within local communities.   Officers will be able to access a wide range of police systems while out on duty without the requirement to return to a police station and log on to a computer.