New South Wales authorities are cracking down hard on drink drivers from this month, hoping to end the spate of people being caught over the limit on our roads.
The state government has announced from May 20, anyone caught over the legal limit of 0.05 blood alcohol content will lose their licence on the spot and incur a $561 fine.
Previously, losing your licence would depend on how drunk you were, but now it's a rule that applies to everyone.
New South Wales Roads Minister Andrew Constance said: "This means anyone caught drink-driving in NSW, at any level, including low-range, can now lose their licence immediately.
"This reform makes it clear if you break the law, you will pay the price. We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving."
It's certainly going to make people think twice about getting behind the wheel after having a couple of cold ones.
The only annoyance will be getting caught the next day where you might feel fine but your body still has a lot of alcohol.
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Mr Constance said around 56 percent of low-range drink drivers don't receive any punishment when their matter gets to the courts and they reckon that doesn't send the right message.
"Ultimately we want to do anything we can to lower the road toll so the message has to be clear that, as of May 20, if you are breathalysed with a low range, you will have an immediate three-month suspension," he said.
Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Corboy is warning people that once the rule is in place, they won't hold back from taking people's licences.
"Alcohol is one of the major factors in crashes that kill or injure people on NSW roads," Mr Corboy said.
"The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. There are no more excuses."
They're hoping that this new practice will cut down on court related matters because the process is simple: you get caught, you lose your licence and you cop the fine.
Nearly 70 people were killed on the state's roads last year from alcohol-related crashes. Authorities believe if these changes can prevent that number from repeating itself then they're doing a good job.
So you've got two more weeks until you will cop it hard if you get caught drink driving anywhere in New South Wales. Don't say we didn't warn you.
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