Legislation to stiffen the penalties for drink-driving offences will be tabled for lawmakers' scrutiny on May 12, but it is not clear if the bill will complete all three readings before the legislature goes into recess in July.
The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, which will toughen penalties for drink-drivers under a three-tier scheme, will be gazetted for public consultation tomorrow.
Dates for the second and third readings of the bill have yet to be set.
The proposed legislation will increase the minimum disqualification period for first-time drink-driving offenders from three months to two years if their blood-alcohol level is three times over the limit. Repeat offenders will be banned from driving for five years.
With a second offence, the driving ban will be carried out after any jail term is served, unless the courts find reasons to do otherwise.
The minimum disqualification period for dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing death will also be toughened in line with the new penalty scheme.
