Police may remove driving licences on the spot from motorists who test positive for alcohol or drugs, the Road Safety Council decided today.
The council met to discuss the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both, and approved giving police the power to suspend licences immediately during roadside checks.
The move follows legislation passed by parliament last December that allows police officers to temporarily remove driving licences from motorists found driving drunk or under the influence of drugs.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades will delegate his authority to the Police Chief through a letter to be sent immediately, according to philenews sources, enabling officers to suspend licences for drivers testing positive.
Traffic police conducting roadside checks will be able to issue a suspension notice to any driver testing positive for drugs or alcohol. The driver will be arrested and taken to the nearest police station, where they will receive formal notification of the suspension.
For drivers testing positive for drugs, the suspension will remain in force until they present a medical certificate proving they are drug-free. For drunk drivers, depending on how far they exceed the legal limit, the suspension will last either until their court hearing or for one to two months.
The Road Transport Department will be notified immediately of all suspensions so the information can be entered into electronic systems, ensuring that anyone caught driving whilst suspended faces consequences.
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