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2.5 Senator B.E. Shenton of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the current penalties for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or without insurance:
This question is prompted by constituents who have suffered financial loss or significant stress as a result of the actions of others. Does the Minister consider that the current penalties for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or without insurance, are sufficient and, if not, what measures, if any, does he plan to implement to address this matter?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand (The Minister for Home Affairs):
This question is not strictly in my area. I think it is in the area of T.T.S. but as it is a very good question and as I know a few things, I will answer it anyway. The answer is no, I do not think the penalties are sufficient. I could go into more detail but I think that is a sufficient answer for this moment. In terms of implementing matters, there was a complete review of Road Traffic Law penalties which began about 8 years ago but unfortunately got lost in the midst of time. I am going to urge the Attorney General to look deep in his desk to find the necessary paperwork on that because I think we should go ahead with that now.
2.5.1 Senator S. Syvret:
Does the Minister for Home Affairs agree with me that there needs to be frankly a
stringent increase in the criminal penalties for hit and run driving so that the penalty
incurred for people who cause accidents and leave the scene is severer than that which would be incurred for drunk driving or driving without insurance? This is because by seeking to leave the scene of such a collision, people fail to help those who may be seriously injured and indeed whose lives may be in danger. I understand that this is the legal position in France.
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
Yes, I do agree with that. The last Magistrate worked on a complete rewrite of the penalties currently used by the Magistrate's Court and included in that was a recognition that offences of hit and run, of failure to stop and report an accident, should be treated much more seriously.