RANDOM ROADSIDE DRUG TESTING

Drug driving, like drink driving, is a serious offence.

Roadside drug testing allows police to conduct saliva testing in conjunction with random breath testing (RBT) or as a stand-alone check.

The roadside drug testing process operates in a similar way to RBTs. Saliva tests are able to detect the active ingredients in cannabis (THC), speed and ice (methylamphetamine) and ecstasy (MDMA).

There is no legal limit for these drugs - you must not have these drugs in your system when driving. The preliminary saliva test is simple and painless and takes between three and five minutes.

If a negative result is returned, you are free to go. If the test is positive (which means a drug has been detected), you will be taken to a police vehicle or police station for a second saliva test. .

If the second saliva test is positive for drugs, your driver licence will be suspended for 24 hours and the remainder of the saliva sample will be sent for laboratory analysis.

If this test also comes back positive, you will be charged and required to appear in court.

VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT

Police have the power to impound vehicles.

Your vehicle can be impounded if you commit any of the following offences:

• dangerous driving involving a speed trial, race or burn out

• careless driving involving a speed trial, race or burn out

• starting or driving a vehicle in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke, involving a speed trial, race or burn out

• organising or promoting a speed trial, race, or attempt to set or break a speed record. Your vehicle can also be impounded if you are caught more than once for the following offences:

• driving a vehicle that is both unregistered and uninsured

• driving while unlicensed or disqualified

• driving with a BAC of 0.15 or higher

• failing to supply a specimen of breath, saliva or blood

• driving while under a 24 hour suspension

• driving an illegally modified or non-compliant vehicle.

Vehicle impoundment laws apply to the driver and the vehicle that is used while committing the offence. Even if you don't own the car you are driving, it will still be impounded and you will be responsible for the cost of the impoundment.

As an owner of a vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy and drivers of your vehicle are licensed and drive safely.

Even if you are not the driver that committed the offence, your vehicle can still be impounded. The only exception is where the vehicle was stolen. In this case, it will be returned to the owner as soon as possible.