28 Oct 2010

AA calls for specialist courts for drink-drivers

8:22 pm on 28 October 2010

The Automobile Association has told Parliament drink-drivers are blocking up the court system and specialist courts should be established to deal with offenders.

The Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee on Thursday heard submissions on the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Bill.

AA general manager of motoring affairs Mike Noon says specialist courts are successful in the United States because recidivist offenders go before the same judge each time they are charged.

He says appearing before different judges means there are different sanctions for the same crime and punitive measures are not followed up.

Mr Noon says drink driving cases prevent courts from being efficient because they are full every Monday with people charged over the weekend. He says 100 people are caught drink-driving every day.