FIRST-time, low-range drink drivers will be fined an immediate $800 and a six-month loss of licence under a new infringement scheme. 

The ACT government says the Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 will increase the ability of police to act immediately to stop drink and drug-affected drivers by imposing immediate licence suspensions. The legislation will also increase penalty levels to deter drink and drug driving.

For low-range drink drivers who accept responsibility, police will not be required to attend a court hearing, similar to other states including NSW and Victoria.

The government says this increased penalty will provide a strong deterrent while at the same time giving police more time to focus on more serious offences, including higher range drink driving.

The legislation also creates a new combined drink and drug driving offence for which penalties will be significantly higher than for separate drink and drug driving offences.

The government says these laws reflect the research that shows that a fatal crash is 23 times more likely when a person is under the influence of both alcohol and drugs in combination.

Police will also now be able to include cocaine in roadside testing.

Between 2010 and 2020, 40 per cent of all drivers involved in fatal collisions had either alcohol or an illicit drug in their system, or both.