QPS increase roadside drug testing capability
Today Police Commissioner Ian Stewart and Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jo-Ann Miller announced an increase to our ability to conduct roadside drug testing.
In December 2014 the Road Policing Command commenced the Statewide Roadside Drug Testing Deployment Project to increase the QPS’ ability to perform the tests.
Commissioner Stewart said the project has been a success with an additional 238 Road Policing Unit Officers certified to undertake the test.
“Prior to the Statewide Roadside Drug Testing Deployment Project, the QPS had 53 officers trained in roadside drug testing. By the end of March there will be 291.
“This expansion gives us the ability to test even more drivers, right across the state,” Commissioner Stewart said.
A total of 130,144 roadside drug tests have been conducted by the QPS since it was introduced in Queensland in 2007.
From July 2013 to June 2014, 23,997 roadside drug tests were conducted resulting in 1,873 drivers testing positive for a relevant drug. This is a detection rate of one offender per 13 tests.
Minister Miller said common sense tells us that drugs can significantly affect someone’s skill and reaction time behind the wheel.
“Put simply – it reduces your ability to drive safely.
“The community doesn’t accept people getting behind the wheel after a big night out drinking – so we need to ensure we adopt the same attitude towards people driving under the influence of drugs.
“If you get behind the wheel while on drugs, you’re not only putting your own life at risk, you’re also putting the lives of innocent Queenslanders at risk – and that is completely unacceptable,” Minister Miller said.
