In Australia, the most recent amendments to drink driving law strikers with fines in excess of $2109, which come into force for September of this year, represent all the changes brought in this year and the most serious of all the previous changes. New regulations appear to take the most aggressive of the stances of the Government on driving under the influence of alcohol. These fines will be bieng leveled, both on the first time and on the repeat offenders, regardless of the reason for the excessive and unprecedented driving under the influence.
Understanding the New Penalty Structure
In Australia, the increase in drink driving offences have been bundled under the new modified penalized system through which all new victims of road rage are not made to pay under the same system. Statastically in Australia, dollars 2109 – is the new threshold crossed and the blender has, from this time onwards, is ever getting more rampant. Definately in this is a calculated aim of the Australian Government to both be seen equitably punishing people and to also take actions in the global fight against climate change.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Categories and Revenue Consequence
Among all the other ranges, offenders who fall in the BAC range of 0.15 and over, which have been aptly termed as drink driving, are differentiated as ‘High range.’ Along with the license suspensions for 21 months which are punitive for repeat offenders, the fines in this category are also the steepest, going well over the base amount of 2109. For all the ranges, offenders with a higher concentration of alcohol in the blood are the ones who have to face the most punitive consequences.
Restrictions on Learner and Professional Drivers
Among all other offenders, professional drivers face the most consequences. Among the worst are drivers of commercial companies, taxi drivers, and those working in public transport. For all of these, the regulations have been made the most, and policies of absolute elimination are put in to place, which do not allow any amount of alcohol on the premises.
Repeat offenders are now subject to automatic penalties with the addition of rexivised rules. Penalties now exceed $3,000 on the second offense within a five-year time frame, which is absolutely outrageous. On top of that, these offenders must now equip their cars with interlock devices. This creates an astonishingly large economic burden that extends way beyond what the fine mandates. Interlock devices must be maintained for a minimum of a year, which skyrockets the total financial penalty burden to offenders.
Public Response and Expectations of Road Safety
The drink driving problems in Australia stems from the statistics of road fatalities and the increasing drink driving incidents, which triggered road safety advocates’ welcoming response regarding the intensified prosecution. There is approximately a 30% of the road fatalities which is directly correlated to the drink driving. All the monetary fines will equate to a significant increase regarding the level of government response to the public safety issue which are the compensatory and punitive damages of 2109 dollars.
There are claims by drivers and a section of the legal profession which is in regard to the disproportionate impact of the penalties, particularly to legal fines, on low income earners. On the other hand, the government point of view is focused on the issue of repetition and claims that the fines are in fact lower, the level will still constitute a place within tiers intentionally designed to incur a level of rational concern and that the fines ought to be framed within the banner of no repeat concern.