news, local-news,

ARMIDALE has zero tolerance for drugged drivers: that’s the message Magistrate Michael Holmes made loud and clear on Monday. The stance comes after 23 people were brought before Armidale Local Court on Monday charged with driving a vehicle with an illicit drug in their system. Court proceedings were stretched out significantly as Magistrate Holmes dealt with each matter one-by-one. Each time, offenders were told the charge applied regardless of the quantity of drug present in their bloodstream or urine. “It doesn’t matter if you’re impaired,” Magistrate Holmes said. “It’s having it in the bloodstream, that’s the offence.” Legislation prohibits motorists from operating a vehicle with illicit drugs present in their oral fluids, blood or urine. The only defence listed for the charge is if the drug identified was prescribed for medicinal purposes. Claims offenders self-prescribed marijuana for medicinal uses are not included in the defence. Magistrate Holmes said the legislation was clear and put in place to meet public expectations. “The community is concerned about the number of people driving around with these substances in their blood,” he said. The influx of offenders was the result of a New England Local Area Command operation last year. The blitz resulted in 20 of the offenders being handed criminal convictions, fines and driving disqualifications on Monday. One offender pleaded guilty and escaped conviction. Another offender admitted to the offence in writing and had her sentencing transferred to Coffs Harbour Local Court. Clarissa Edwards pleaded not guilty to the offence after police accused her of operating a vehicle with cannabis in her system. Her matter has been listed for February 22 to set a date for a hearing. The majority of offences involved cannabis or methylamphetmine use, while some, such as Jason Steep’s matter, involved both drugs. Steep tested positive to cannabis and ice when pulled over by officers. “You did not just have cannabis, you [also] had ice - you’re mad, absolutely mad,” Magistrate Holmes said. Steep was disqualified from driving for three months, while the majority of offenders were handed the same driving ban as well as a fine of $600.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-HedE2JiNW3PzJH7CqTYen5/01ab6009-32a0-46ed-a6c2-f0fbf4ed18db.jpg/r1_32_623_384_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg