Photo: ODT filesThe Government will give police new powers to conduct random roadside drug testing, and to prosecute drugged drivers in a bid to save lives on the road. The new rules - which will go through Parliament next year - mean the police will be able to conduct oral fluid drug testing on drivers. Any drivers who test positive for the presence of drugs will be fined and immediately suspended from driving for a minimum of 12 hours. He said there had been some issues in the past with tests producing a false positive reading. "National wants a proper roadside drug testing regime in place as soon as possible and before any of the Government's law changes liberalising access to drugs takes effect," he said in a May press release.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 18, 2019 05:03 UTC