Twenty-One Motorists To Be Charged With Drink Driving

Twenty-one motorists, aged between 31 and 49, will be charged in court on 22 August 2024 for drink driving offences. These motorists were arrested between June and July 2024 when they failed the breathalyser tests during routine Police checks. One of the motorists is a repeat drink driving offender.

For the case involving a repeated drink driving offender, a 31-year-old man was stopped for checks at a Police roadblock on 6 June 2024, and was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The man had been disqualified for three years in 2019 for a previous drink driving offence. For the current offence, he will be charged under Section 67(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. If convicted, he will serve a mandatory imprisonment sentence.

The offence of driving while under the influence of alcohol under Section 67(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 carries a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000, or an imprisonment term of up to 12 months, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the offence carries a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, and an imprisonment term of up to two years. Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is an extremely dangerous and irresponsible act. All motorists should refrain from driving if they intend to consume alcohol, and should opt for alternative forms of transport, such as taking a taxi or private hire vehicle, public transport, engaging the services of a valet, or designating a sober friend or family member to send them home. All motorists are reminded to abide by traffic rules to keep the roads safe for everyone. The Traffic Police will not hesitate to take firm actions against motorists who choose to drink and drive.