Guernsey Police welcome plans to update drug driving laws

Officers say the proposed changes will bring the laws on drink and drug driving up to date

Guernsey Police are welcoming a proposed overhaul of the island's laws on drug driving.

The plans would enable police to carry out road-side drug tests on motorists with portable testing equipment.

New legal limits would create an offence of "driving whilst over the prescribed limit for specified drugs".

Roads Policing Inspector Tom Marshall said it would bring driving laws up to date.

He said: "It's about making it easier to test.

"The hope is we will be able to use a roadside screening device for drugs, like we've had in place for many years with alcohol.

"It's just really a case of updating the laws.

"We've fallen a little bit behind compared to some of the UK legislation in regard to drug and drink driving, so these changes will bring us up to speed."

The new law is one of several amendments in relation to hazardous driving, being proposed by the Committee for Home Affairs.

A debate on the changes is due to be held in the States in February.

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