DRIVERS ON DRUGS WILL FACE POLICE CLAMPDOWN

Rotorua police warn they'll come down hard on drug users who put lives
at risk by driving stoned when new powers to test and charge drugged
drivers come into force.

By the end of this year police will have powers to deal with drivers
on drugs under new legislation passed by Parliament this week.

Under the Land Transport Amendment Bill, police can determine if a
driver is under the influence of drugs by carrying out a compulsory
impairment test. It includes walking in a straight line, standing on
one leg and an eye test.

Drivers who fail will get a blood test to determine whether drugs are
present. The Bill creates an offence of "driving while impaired".

The new legislation has been welcomed by Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes
of the Rotorua police Strategic Traffic Unit who said police felt
frustrated when drivers passed a breath alcohol test but were
obviously under the influence of drugs.

Mr Grimes, who for several years led Rotorua's Traffic Alcohol Group
(TAG), which carries out checkpoints, said he had dealt with several
drivers who passed a breath alcohol test but were obviously under the
influence of drugs because of their behaviour and reactions. "They
were slow-moving, speech was slurred, [they were] slow to react to any
instructions and had telltale signs such as bloodshot eyes."

Mr Grimes said the new law should be a wake-up call for those who used
drugs regularly and drove.

While the new powers would create more work for officers, it would be
worth it to get drugged drivers off the roads.

"It will ensure our roads are safer."

New research has shown that 257 of 826 drivers killed on New Zealand
roads between 2004 and 2008 had cannabis in their systems.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the "very disturbing statistics"
showed how important it was to bring in the new traffic laws. "Many
reported driving too fast, losing concentration, losing their temper
at another driver, driving through a red light and nearly hitting
something while driving under the influence of a drug."

The bill was drafted by the previous government in 2007 and was taken
over by the new government.

But the new test has copped criticism from people with disabilities.
Northland's Tiaho Trust chief executive officer Jonny Wilkinson, who
suffers from cerebral palsy, said if he was asked to stand on one leg
he "definitely would fail". It had always been possible for physically
disabled people to be perceived as being drunk or on drugs, he said.

National road policing manager Superintendent Paula Rose said police
dealt with a range of backgrounds, abilities and disabilities every
day.

"As part of that officers take into consideration a range of
factors."

Hearing impaired people identified themselves by wearing a badge, and
others carried medical certificates, she said.

"Police make a judgment on the training and experience they have."