Cocaine drivers avoiding being caught in Victoria Police swab tests
COCAINE-fuelled drivers are avoiding detection through Victoria’s limited drug-drive test kits, but the snort rort may end with support for an overhaul of drug-drive laws and tougher roadside testing growing among police.
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THE snort rort, in which cocaine-fuelled drivers avoid detection, may end with support for an overhaul of drug-drive laws and tougher roadside testing growing among police.
The only way cocaine drivers can be caught is by the “walk in a straight line” and “balance on one leg” test.
Drivers in NSW will be swabbed for cocaine after the state government this month added the drug to mobile tests.
The drug-drive test kits now available to Victoria Police allow drugs including ice, speed, MDMA, ecstasy and cannabis to be detected, but not cocaine.
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Police sources say roadside cocaine tests would save lives, but the cost of the testing equipment is stopping Victoria Police from having the capability. The Police Association says it is open to cocaine tests.
Figures show almost a third of all drivers and motorcycle riders who died on our roads had drugs in their system.
In a further frustration, a loophole in the law prevents magistrates jailing drug drivers regardless of how many times they are caught. But Victoria Police stood by its testing regimen, vowing its practices allowed drivers under the influence to be caught.
The concern about cocaine has not moved the state government, although the Herald Sun understands it is considering funding more drug-driving tests — up from the current 100,000 — to catch those consuming high-impact drugs.
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said while drugs such as MDMA and amphetamine were more represented in fatal accidents, there was support to broaden how many drugs should be tested.
“The use of any drug, including cocaine, that impairs driving is of obvious concern to us,” he said.
“We are open to increased drug-type testing, but the first priority of our members is to see an increase in the overall number of tests conduced each year and to arrive at a point where all patrol vehicles have the capacity to conduct oral drug tests, as is the case with alcohol.”
Asked if the state government would provide funding to enable cocaine to be tested, Acting Police Minister Martin Pakula said: “As always, we will continue to take advice from police on what they need to prevent road trauma and reduce the number of lives lost across Victoria.”
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Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue demanded that roadside tests included cocaine.
“Before you can catch drug drivers, you have to be able to test them, and Daniel Andrews should copy NSW and commit to significantly expanding the number of drug-driver tests undertaken, the police who can administer the test, and the drugs that can be tested.”
Road Policing Command Superintendent John Fitzpatrick said the force was confident it had the best tools to catch drug drivers.
In a crackdown on drug driving, this year, the mandatory disqualification period for drug drivers will be doubled to six months.
Police will also be able to seize the cars of repeat drug drivers.
Victoria Police figures show 2453 of the 8941 drug drivers detected in 2016 were repeat offenders.