Breath Tests Opposed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30941, 23 December 1965, Page 13

Breath Tests Opposed

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Coptiriaht) LONDON, Dec. 22. Britain’s two biggest motoring organisations and the Police Federation last night attacked the proposed legislation instituting breath tests for suspected drunken drivers.

The Automobile Association said it would strongly resist the police being given sweeping powers to make spot checks on motorists.

The Royal Automobile Club said the random checks were an unjustifiable interference with the rights of drivers who ‘did not drink heavily. A Bill is to be introduced in Parliament in the New Year to legalis" new drunken driving tests. The White Paper outlining the proposals aimed at lowering road casualties was presented in the House of Commons yesterday. Later the Police Federation said the police force was already short of men and asked where the extra police I would come from to make the i tests.

On a television programme, a Conservative member of Parliament, M.- Enoch Powell, said that the proposals introduced a new element into British law—that the suspect would have to prove himself guilty. Under the new legislation, it will be an offence for drivers to consume alcohol to the equivalent of 80 milligrams to 100 millilitres of blood.

It will also be an offence to refuse to-take the test. If a breath test indicated that the driver had taken an above-the-limit amount of alcohol he would be taken to the police station for a blood test and a more accurate measure of his drink intake. Even if the drink intake proved to be lower than the legal maximum limit the driver could still be charged with drunken driving if he failed any of the present tests in force such as walking a straight line, picking up a small coin from the floor, speaking distinctly and others.

The Home Secretary, Sir Frank Soskice, said that the

breath test would be only an indication to the police and would not be given as evidence against a motorist.