Government is eyeing the UK’s move towards a “Drugalyser” which tests for excessive drug use by motorists.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi confirmed this yesterday in Parliament, hinting at consideration of the UK system. He alluded to the “Drugalyser” while speaking on proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle law.
The legislation, which was passed in the Senate recently, seeks to decriminalise certain traffic offences— converting them to violations in order to free up the judicial system of backlogs and of myriad traffic offence cases. The legislation also provides for red light enforcement via cameras at stop lights. It also involves a demerit point system and fixed penalties.
Al-Rawi noted the UK has a “Drugalyser” system and this experience will inform Government’s moves on the traffic management system.
UK reports describe the “Drugalyser” as using oral swabs which test for chemical compounds in the saliva . It is used to prosecute drivers whose blood samples contain more than the specified limits of certain drugs provided for in the UK’s regulations. Penalties were in synch with drunk driving penalties. But illicit drug limits in the UK were set at the lowest level that rule out accidental exposure to some drugs.
Al-Rawi also said new radio frequency identification license plates will be introduced very soon. These will work in tandem with spot and speed cameras which will be placed at all arches and bridges across T&T to track RF ID tags.
He noted there have already been 4,000 breaches of the red light at the traffic light located outside of the Parliament, “That’s no small event,” Al-Rawi added.
Al-Rawi said the Government had been spending vast amounts to ensure compliance with laws, but in the courts only six per cent of those charged annually are given verdicts. The other 94 per cent go into a backlog of cases.
