Overview

This bill proposes 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 penalties for drug-driving offences.

Description

The bill makes two key amendments to existing legislation:

• Amendment to the Road Traffic Act 1988: It mandates that the Secretary of State approves a device for administering preliminary drug tests within 12 months of the bill passing.
• Amendment to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988: It increases driving bans for drug-driving offences committed within three years of a previous conviction. A first such offence will lead to a minimum 12-month ban, and subsequent offences to a minimum 2-year ban.

The bill will come into force three months after it is passed and does not apply to Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill does not explicitly detail government spending. The costs will likely involve the procurement and implementation of roadside testing devices, and increased costs associated with processing increased convictions. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect several groups:

• Drivers: Increased risk of penalties for drug driving.
• Police: Increased responsibilities and workload related to roadside drug testing.
• Courts: Increased caseload associated with drug driving prosecutions.

Powered by nyModel