Roads and Ports Minister Duncan Gay has announced alcohol interlocks are to be made mandatory for high range and repeat drink drive offenders, in a bid to reduce the number of drink-driving offences.
High range drink driving is anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.150 or above. A repeat drink driver is some-one who has committed two PCA offences within 5 years.
Alcohol interlocks are an electronic device connected to the ignition of a vehicle preventing it from starting if the driver has been drinking, providing an effective physical barrier between drinking and driving.
Legislation will be introduced into Parliament next year, which also will provide for additional penalties for drivers who exceed their demerit point limit.
The decision to introduce alcohol interlocks follows a suggestion from NRMA Motoring & Services.
