Senior law enforcement officials favor harsher penalties, such as possible murder charges, for drivers who kill while intoxicated in addition to roadside bans.
They claim that the additional authority would provide police the ability to “immediately” pull over vehicles who endanger other people.
Currently, after a magistrates’ court sentencing hearing, drivers accused of drug or alcohol-related driving offenses are prohibited from operating a vehicle.
However, it may take several weeks for these proceedings to be heard by the court; in the interim, drivers are free to resume driving.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) lead for road policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, stated: “Being able to disqualify people for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the scene would allow us to take that action right away.
