Overview

The Drugs (Roadside Testing) Bill aims to introduce roadside drug testing in England and Wales. It amends existing road traffic legislation to allow for preliminary drug tests at the roadside and increases driving bans for drug-related offences.

Description

This bill modifies the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. Key changes include:

• Roadside Drug Tests: The Secretary of State must approve a device for administering preliminary drug tests within 12 months of the bill passing.
• Increased Penalties: Driving bans for drug-related offenses are significantly increased. A first offense within three years of a previous drug-related driving offense will result in a minimum 12-month ban, and subsequent offenses will result in a minimum two-year ban.

The bill will come into effect three months after it receives Royal Assent and will not apply to Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't explicitly state the cost of implementing roadside drug testing. The financial implications will likely include the cost of purchasing and maintaining testing equipment, training law enforcement personnel, and potentially increased court costs due to prosecutions.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Drivers: Drivers who use illegal drugs face stricter penalties, including longer driving bans.
• Law enforcement: Police officers will require training and equipment to administer the roadside tests.
• The Courts: Increased prosecutions will likely increase the workload of the courts.

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