Government to amend law to punish those driving under the influence of drugs the same as drunk driving

Government to amend law to punish those driving under the influence of drugs the same as drunk driving

The government wants to amend Section 45A of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which will see stricter punishment be imposed against those caught driving under the influence of drugs. As reported by Bernama, transport minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said this proposal will be tabled during the third parliament session in October.

Loke explained that the existing law against the offence of driving under the influence of drugs is not as strict and should be punished similarly to the offence of drunk driving. Referring to Section 45A, offenders found guilty of drunk driving can expect to pay a maximum fine of up to RM10,000 and a maximum period of imprisonment of 12 months.

This is in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, while those convicted for the first time can be punished with a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM6,000 and shall also be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months

“For drivers who take drugs, we can only prosecute them if they cause road accidents. For those found driving under the influence of drugs but do not cause an accident, we can only have their licences suspended and (they) cannot be prosecuted,” said Loke.

He added that this matter needed reviewing because it is not appropriate to wait until an accident occurs before strict action is taken against those driving under the influence of drugs. “Such drivers should be taken out of the road system,” he said. During a five-day special operation that started on August 1, 2024, Loke revealed a total of 21 out of 276 commercial vehicle drivers tested positive for drugs. “This means that one in 13 drivers are under the influence of drugs. This is a very worrying situation,” he said.

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Comments

  • newme on Aug 07, 2024 at 10:14 am

    “…can only have their licences suspended and (they) cannot be prosecuted,” said Loke.”

    So next time you take heroin, ganja or ketamin, go take a drive. You risk losing a license only.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Hantu Raya on Aug 07, 2024 at 12:09 pm

      You need to go out and touch grass

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Dah Menang Semua on Aug 07, 2024 at 1:11 pm

        Kapchai no drunk no drugs
        Also make offences laa

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
        • Pingat Mas Olimpik on Aug 07, 2024 at 1:27 pm

          Ketum and glue sniffing riders are best offsprings

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 0
          • PT gpt on Aug 07, 2024 at 6:10 pm

            But ketum intoxication or and glue sniffing hallucination is more lethal to causes road mishaps death serious injuries

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
          • Mak bapak rempit on Aug 11, 2024 at 3:55 pm

            Incoming “anak saya baik orangnya”

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Albert Einstein call this insanity on Aug 07, 2024 at 2:00 pm

      All this while,all these accidents involving dadah drivers have been going on.,why Ahlokekor did nothing from PH to Madani govt?
      Now because 2 innocent lives lost,all the hoo haa,jerit menjerit,hangat hangat tahi ayam,…again trying to fix the issue by doing damage control ke?
      Come on,dont enjoy the rakyat’s sweat earned pension,by offering lip service,trying to do last minute damage control.All these should have been done 3 months upon lantik as menteri.
      Just unacceptable,detestable,vomiting when we see all these “damage control” suggestions when innocent lives r gone.Damage control is not wrong.Prevention is still the best cure..thro non stop enforcement to weed out the rogue drivers.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
    • Lol Whut on Aug 07, 2024 at 3:53 pm

      Meanwhile nons will assert their Rights to drink as much as they please coz these companies sponsor their schools. Its a symbiotic cycle of relying on each other until someone drops dead.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
      • newme on Aug 07, 2024 at 5:36 pm

        Not all alcohol drinker drive.

        But ALL mat rempit race on the roads and endangering others.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 7
        • Logical Deduction on Aug 08, 2024 at 12:20 pm

          Not all mat rempits are endangering others, but ALL drunk drivers are endangering others.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • Rempit B full you be a fool on Aug 07, 2024 at 10:26 pm

        Meanwhile walaun receiving sumbangan tunai rahmah funded by taxes paid by alcohol and gaming companies

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
        • Logical Deduction on Aug 08, 2024 at 12:22 pm

          More taxes paid are coming from Petronas oil revenue from these walaun states you fool

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Lance Chau on Aug 07, 2024 at 11:01 am

    What about those “mat rempit”?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • AkooIm on Aug 07, 2024 at 11:04 am

    What…?!!!
    All this while i thought driving under the drugs influence punished with heavier penalty then drunk driving…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Matsuri Sakai on Aug 07, 2024 at 1:31 pm

      road block law enforcement personnel has apparatus to test ketum or glue sniffing driver and motorcyclist?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1
      • FDA clerk on Aug 07, 2024 at 6:13 pm

        Ketum can be traced via urine test, glue sniffing no idea maybe nostril swabs test?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Gomorrah on Aug 07, 2024 at 1:33 pm

    Finally! About damn time this loophole gets fixed.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Kea Was on Aug 07, 2024 at 2:13 pm

    The power of the Wee loving his ex boss by penalising drink driving 4 years ago only for police to reveal that 2011 to 2021 drink driving is the lowest cause of fatality.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
    • Gomorrah on Aug 08, 2024 at 1:53 pm

      This country got huge problem facing reality la…the stats don’t lie. Deswai stats hardly ever published to back up the crazy decisions.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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