KEEPING Tonga's roads safe by reducing the level of injury and trauma caused by drunken drivers, is the aim of a new Drink Drive Law that gives the police the power to breath test all motorists on any road at any time in Tonga, starting next week on Monday December 6, 2010.

Police Commander Chris Kelley said on November 30, the new law is part of the Traffic Amendment Act 2010. Police staff were currently being trained in the use of the equipment, including 30 breath-testing units worth $40,000 pa'anga, which were funded under the tripartite Tonga Police Development Program.

He said the breath testing is effective, and the equipment had been thoroughly tested in the courts Australia and New Zealand and he believed it is the best available equipment for Tonga.

"All people should welcome this change as the roads will be safer and the reason for enforcing this in December is because the period before and after Christmas are very high risk times for crashes involving drunken drivers," he said.

"I want everyone to enjoy the festive season not be worried or concerned for a family member who has been involved in a crash with a drunk driver."

Breath testing will be introduced on outer island roads as well as Tongatapu road.

Offence

Commander Kelley said if the alcohol level of a motorist exceeded 250 micrograms per litre of breath it is an offence, with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both. In addition a driver may be disqualified from driving for two years.

An infringement fee of $200 would be issued to motorists who were breath tested to have a level between 150 to 250 micrograms per litre of breath.

He said that under the new law all drivers must stop when signalled. "It is an offence to refuse to undergo a road side breath test, it is an offence to refuse to accompany a police officer for the purpose of a breath test," he said.

"It does not take a lot of alcohol for a person's breath to exceed 150 micrograms per litre of breath so my advice is if you are going to drink don't drive. Make other arrangements to get home safely not only will this save you getting prosecuted it may also save someone's life," he said.

Inspector Burns a New Zealand Police advisor demonstrated the use of equipment, which is a handheld device where on speaks and breathes into a tube that detects any alcohol intake.

Liquor licences

The Intoxication Amendment Act 2010 has been gazetted and is now law.

Commander Kelley said liquor license holders are given December to renew their liquor licenses before the new law is enforced on January 1, 2011 implementing new tougher measures for sale of alcohol in retail shops, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.