Having presented this world with countless useful inventions, the scope of a human brain is immeasurably spectacular. There are a few occasions at which the same phenomenal brain makes us want to combine two different stimuli with each other, leading to unfavorable consequences. One of the most valuable contributions of mankind include the vast variety available for different modes of transportation, and this positive stimulus becomes dangerous when combined with drinking. While both these stimuli are not so harmful separately, their combination itself is a deadly one.
At Glorious Driving School, we strongly believe in prioritizing the safety of every driver, which is why our team has outlined several tips and useful information to help you stay safe on the road. In order to prevent the unwanted consequences of this deadly combination from coming to life, New South Wales (NSW) has drafted a set of drink driving laws that are vigilantly enforced on a regular basis by the Australian government. Discover more about these laws in detail down below.
BAC Restrictions for Drivers
In Australia, the legal age for an alcohol consumer should be at least 18 years of age. While underage alcohol consumption is an offense, high levels of BAC in an adult driver's body is also a serious offense. As the name suggests, Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is used to measure the amount of alcohol that is present in an individual’s bloodstream. BAC is used to determine how drunk the driver is or was, in the form of a percentage. This percentage can further be used to convert the amount of alcohol into grams. Categorized standard BAC limit that is set by NSW is mentioned below:
- 0.00 for Learner, Provisional P1, or P2 License drivers, is regarded as the ‘Novice Range’.
- 0.02 to 0.049 for Learner, P1, or P2 drivers, or drivers of buses and taxis, is regarded as the ‘Special Range’.
- 0.05 to 0.079 is considered to be ‘Low Range’.
- 0.08 to 0.149 is considered to be the ‘Mid Range’.
- 0.15 and above is considered to be ‘High Range’.
Drinking before driving can severely impair a person's ability to drive, and is considered to be a serious offense according to the NSW law of drunk driving. Full license holders are only permitted to have a legal BAC limit of 0.05%. Whereas, the BAC limit for commercial drivers is approximated to be 0.02%. Once charged, the offenders are supposed to pay as per the seriousness of the offense.
BAC Offense: Legal Repercussions
After alcohol has been detected inside your system via blood, urine or breath test, the BAC level and its defined category decides the penalty that the driver will have to pay.
First-time Offenders
Drunk driving laws in NSW state that if a beginner-level driver has committed an offense for the first time, there are higher chances that he will be charged with an immediate fine right there and then. Oftentimes, it is also possible that the learner driver's license might be suspended for a limited time period, ranging from three to six months. For mid range BAC levels, these penalties can range up to $2,200 or a temporary imprisonment for a period of 9 months, along with license disqualification that varies between 6 to 12 months. Lastly, the high range offenders can be fined for $3,300, along with temporary imprisonment for up to 18 months.
Repeat Offenders
According to NSW drunk driving laws, low range repeat offenses are charged with fines up to $3,300, and can result in a license disqualification for up to 12 months. As far as mid range repeat offenders are concerned, they are charged with fines up to $3,300 and can also lead to 12 months in prison. For high range offenders, NSW doesn't let them off the hook easily. 12 Months? 18 months? A whole 2 years old imprisonment is what high range offenders are sentenced to! Plus, $5,500 are also supposed to be paid to the relevant authority.
Repeat offenders often meet with greater fines and longer imprisonment time periods, when compared with first-time offenders. Additionally, NSW police have the authority to suspend the license of every offender who refuses to give the breath test, effective immediately. This license suspension can range from a few months and can go up to a few years. Don't forget to take notes!
What is the “Alcohol Interlock Program”?
The Alcohol Interlock Program (AIP) is a program that efficiently monitors the sobriety of the person who is driving. Once initiated, this program can be extremely useful in preventing drunk driving in NSW. Upon participation, a person's vehicle gets installed with an interlock device that will strictly not allow the vehicle to start as long as the interlock device detects alcohol in the driver's breath. This particular interlock program is highly effective in eradicating drunk driving among mid range and high range offenders who refrain from the idea of drunk driving due to the fear of being caught by the vehicle. The main problem is not that the vehicle would detect alcohol in the person's breath, but instead, it is the fact that the vehicle would not start as long as the breath stinks of alcohol.
Compulsory Intervention and Education Initiatives
The real reason behind punishing a wrongdoer is to make them realize that their conduct was inappropriate and harmful to others. Taking the same idea into consideration, NSW law emphasizes on the need to educate every offender with the help of mandatory education programs that reinforce the driving laws to the offender, in order to prevent them from repeating the same mistakes in the future. These awareness programs also highlight the negative side of excessive drinking, and how drunk driving leads to unfavorable consequences. While most offenders consider such educational programs to be a waste of time, Glorious Driving School believes that it is a golden opportunity to gain more knowledge, and simultaneously make ourselves aware of how harmful our actions can become for those around us. Drive safe!