03.24 pm, Wednesday May 23 2012

Qld 0.02 limit would be BBQ stopper: LNP

16:19 AEDT Sun Mar 14 2010
By Kym Agius
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Anna Bligh
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the state government is considering a drink-drive limit of .02.

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Mums and dads wanting just one quiet drink will be turned into criminals under proposed new drink driving laws being considered in Queensland, the opposition says.

The state government has released the Drink Driving in Queensland Discussion Paper, which canvasses dropping the general alcohol limit from 0.05 to 0.02 in a bid to cut the state's shocking road toll.

"In 2009, there were 71 fatalities involving alcohol on our roads, which equated to 21.5 per cent of the entire road toll in Queensland," Premier Anna Bligh said in a statement.

"These people are not only risking their own lives, but selfishly the lives of their passengers and other road users."

Ms Bligh is calling for the legislation to be adopted around Australia, but said she'll listen to Queenslanders' views before bringing in any change.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the laws target the wrong people.

"You don't want to criminalise someone who isn't drunk and who isn't dangerous on the roads, it potentially puts mums and dads beyond the law for having one drink," Ms Simpson told reporters in Brisbane.

"It will stop friends and families having a beer or a glass of wine at a Sunday barbecue or a glass of champagne at a Christening."

Ms Simpson said existing laws aren't being fully enforced and the focus should be on cracking down on people who repeatedly drink drive.

But she said she supports other aspects of the legislation, including tougher rules around the impoundment of cars.

Under the proposal, cars could be impounded for up to 28 days, an increase from the current 48-hour penalty, and drink drivers who commit two or more drink-driving offences will have their cars impounded.

Meanwhile, the discussion paper also recommends compulsory blood tests for drivers taken to hospital as a result of a car crash and immediate licence suspension for drink-driving offenders with a blood alcohol level of 0.10, down from 0.15.

Motoring group the RACQ said it would take a close look at the legislation but it doesn't support the lowering of the drink-driving limit.

External relations manager Gary Fites said it could spark a negative response towards drink-driving campaigns and a rebellion among people who do the right thing.

"There is a very real chance of getting an unintended reverse consequence, and that is it will make people more resistant to what they see as an unreasonable rule," Mr Fites told AAP.

"The problem lies with repeat or high-end offenders, they're the ones pushing up the road toll."

The discussion paper will be available at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au.

Community consultation on the discussion paper closes at 9am on May 17.

 

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