IN THE NEWS
MORE THAN FORTY MERSEYSIDE DRIVERS ARRESTED FOR DRUG DRIVING SINCE THE START OF 2018
More than forty taxi and private hire drivers have been arrested for drug driving on Mersey- side since the start of 2018, police have revealed. A spate of recent incidents has prompt- ed
Merseyside
Police to issue a stark warning to taxi and private hire drivers about taking drugs and driving. According to the Liverpool Echo, the force’s Roads Polic- ing Unit has re- cently tweeted six times about specific instances of
this
crime, and Insp Keith Kellett told the Echo that it was a “disap- pointing” trend. He said: “Drug driv- ing is a serious offence and leaves our
communities
vulnerable. It is par- ticularly important that taxi drivers and private hire compa- nies consider the risks they may be putting themselves and others in if they’re found driving whilst using drugs. “A minority of Mer- seyside’s taxi and private hire drivers have broken their position of trust by driving whilst taking drugs,
something
that cannot be taken lightly. “Drug driving could result in job loss, loss of
dence, a criminal record,
insurance
indepen- increased
costs,
imprisonment and even fatality.” It’s councils that make the decisions
46 prosecution are
high. Our message to those drivers would be don’t risk it. The
conse-
on whether to issue or revoke licences for drivers, and Wirral council policy governing conduct of drivers is very clear on the matter. It says: “Licence holders who commit an act of, or are being investigated for an allegation of, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or where a licence holder has been disqualified from driving as a result of such an offence will general- ly have their licence revoked with imme- diate effect.” Insp Kellett added: “It is disappointing that there has been a recent increase in taxi drivers and pri- vate hire drivers being found to be driving whilst under the influence of drugs. While those caught using drugs still represent a small minority of drivers, I cannot stress enough the dangers that this
presents. “Any driver involved in a road traffic colli- sion, or who com- mits a traffic of- fence, can expect to be breathalysed, and may be required to perform an impairment test. “The current drug driving legislation makes the process of prosecuting drug drivers much sim- pler and our rates of
quences of being caught can be long- lasting and life- changing.” Following the reve- lations from the police, it was then disclosed that an eighth private hire driver in as many days had tested positive for cocaine on Merseyside's roads - prompting police to issue a stern warning. Tweeting about the latest incident the force’s Roads Polic- ing Unit warned: “Please get the mes- sage that it’s not acceptable, you will be caught, you will be arrested and we will take you off the road.” The account also revealed how a driv- er had tested pos- itive and over the limit for three drugs while he had a pay-
ing customer in the vehicle. A report from the courts
said the
unnamed driver had cocaine, Benzoylec- gonine (a com- pound tested for in cocaine urinalyses), and Delta-9-Tetrahy- drocannabinol
(a
compound common in cannabis) in his
system when he was stopped back in June. The amount of Ben- zoylecgonine in his blood was 16 times above the “specified limit” It added: “He has now lost his driving licence be- fore being involved in a serious colli- sion’, the tweet said.
DRUG DRIVING - THE FACTS Why is drug driving so dangerous?
Aside from being illegal, the influence of drugs can “seriously affect your driving”, and increase the danger of having an accident. It can mean many effects including slower reaction times, blurred vision, increased risk-taking and not being able to judge speeds or distances. Police have warned that taking drugs and driving could result in people losing their job, being imprisoned and even them or someone else dying.
What are the consequences? Driving, or attempting to drive, whilst over
the limit or while under the influence of drugs will result in loss of your licence and a ban, a fine of up to £5,000, a criminal record for a minimum 20 years, an offence which stays on your licence for 11 years and the potential loss of your vehicle. Causing death by dangerous driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs will result in a maximum 14-year jail sentence and a minimum two-year driving ban.
What happens to taxi and private hire drivers caught drug driving?
For taxi and private hire drivers, councils decide whether to issue or revoke licences.
JANUARY 2019
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