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Buzzby

Drug Testing For SA Drivers From July
National 9 News | 06/09/2006

The South Australian government says random drug testing of drivers will begin in July.

Premier Mike Rann warned on Friday the government would hit drugged drivers hard with specially-trained police to conduct random tests.

They will use an absorbent pad to take a saliva sample which will be screened at the roadside to check for cannabis and methamphetamine.

The process will take about five minutes and if a positive result is recorded a second sample will be taken.

Drivers with drugs in their system face a $300 fine and three licence demerit points.

"This government is determined to ensure that drivers get the message, that they must stop and think and act to defend their safety and the safety of other road users," Mr Rann said in a ministerial statement.

"Driving under the influence of drugs, especially cannabis and methamphetamines has been as insidious as it has been deadly on our roads."

The state opposition accused the government of costing lives after a two-year delay in introducing the new measures.

Opposition MP Ivan Venning said he introduced legislation in 2004 to allow for random drug testing.

But he said his bill was killed off by the Labor government.

"As a direct result our community has had to endure a further two years of drugged drivers on our roads," Mr Venning said.

Official figures for 2005 show that a quarter of drivers who died on SA roads were affected by cannabis or methamphetamines.

Mr Venning said that considering those statistics, the government could hardly claim to be getting tough on drug users with the penalties less than those imposed for drink driving.

"Even a drunk driver faces automatic suspension of their licence but if you smoke a couple of joints and follow it with a nose full of cocaine, the penalty is a slap from Labor's limp wrist," he said.

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nerphroll

But no random testing for alcohol??!?!?

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HELP ME IVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 13 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
PURIFY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buzzby

From other stories I've read, Australia already has random alcohol testing with checkpoints on roads.