A new regulatory framework around drink driving has passed through the NSW Government.

In a bid to relieve pressure on our court system, low-range drink drivers will now lose their licence for three months and will instantly incur a $561  on-the-spot fine, circumventing the need for court appearances.

But lawyer John Sutton says removing court from the punishment equation  is conducive to recidivism. Offenders won’t be sufficiently deterred from re-offending.

“ In implementing an infringement notice system, we remove the one anti-recidivism component, which is actually appearing in court before a magistrate to be told you’re doing the wrong thing, to run the risk of receiving a criminal record, to be told that what you’re doing is anti-social behavior and you need to desist.”

“ All that is conducted in a public forum. None of that will exist once the infringement notice is implemented.”

Ultimately, this lack of public scrutiny will amount in a greater repeat offence rate, according to Sutton.

“ (The changes) mean there will be more repeat drink drivers on the roads of NSW. It will have the opposite effect on the road safety campaign.”

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