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Tuesday, October 1, 2013
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AA backs lower limit
BY MYLES HUME
grammes,” he said. “We know you can make a better judgment at 0.05 (50mg) than at 0.08 (80mg) when driving and that’s the biggest thing. We think this will save lives.” AA’s proposals would also vouch for heavier enforcement of the alcohol interlock system, reduce the availability of limited licences and encourage roadside drug testing. With 1.38 million members nationwide and 170,000 in the Canterbury/West Coast District, Mr Skevington was confident AA lobbying would prompt a law change. He said about 65 per cent of members backed the AA’s proposal. Ashburton Community Alcohol and Drug Service (ACADS) manager Chris Clark called the proposed changes a “win, win”, saying it would benefit programmes such as that held for recidivist drink drivers that has prevented 75-95 per cent of local people from reoffending. “I think it’s a good thing if people have to pay fines and it’s put to good use rather than going into Government funds, I think the more we can provide education the better it is for everyone.”
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
The Automobile Association (AA) has revealed plans to support dropping the drink driving limit, but wants low-level offenders to be slapped with fines and demerit points instead of “clogging up” the courts. AA Canterbury/West Coast District chairperson John Skevington, of Ashburton, released proposals the motoring lobby group presented to Government ministers on Sunday night that supported a move to lower the drink driving limit to 50mg per 100ml of blood from 80mg. But Mr Skevington said AA wants lighter punishments inflicted on drivers caught with a blood alcohol level between 50mg and 80mg, who would be fined and penalised up to 50 demerit points. It would see some drink drivers avoid the courts, while those with a level more than 80mg would stand before a district court judge. “The reasons for this is to avoid extra loading on the court system and also the money from the fines would go back into the system to deal with problems caused by alcohol, such as recidivist drink driving pro-
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