MardiGrass is calling for drug free drivers to help locals and visitors during MardiGrass travel safely to and from their accommodation and Nimbin.

If you’re not yet a fully licensed and insured Point to Point [PTP] driver, and interested in joining the crew as a driver in your own vehicle, contact Steve 0400 615 288 and he will:

1. Guide you through the steps to become an authorized PTP driver

2. Guide you though the steps to ensure your vehicle can be used for PTP use

3. Enable you to do be authorized to conduct PTP jobs via Nimbin Limousine PTP authorized provider license.

The latest weapon in prohibition’s arsenal is the roadside saliva test. A grossly unfair approach to road safety, the saliva test simply finds “traces” of THC in saliva, rather than testing for actual driver impairment. We’re able to drive with a designated amount of alcohol in our system, but for other drugs it is zero tolerance. This means that not just hours, but days or even weeks, after consuming cannabis, traces of THC could be discovered in your saliva.

It is an offence to drive a vehicle with the presence of THC (or methamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine) in your saliva.  It does not matter how much or how little. The penalty is a fine and probably what’s worse, disqualification of your licence for a period of 3 months.

The police do not have to prove that you were impaired by the drug, only that the drug was present. (There is a separate offence of driving under influence.) THC can be detected in saliva for days after using it.

The police can legally stop and drug test drivers randomly- that is, without having any particular reason. If the saliva swab shows positive, you are required to undergo a second test. The police take a saliva sample and use a machine for preliminary analysis. If the machine shows positive, the police give you a notice not to drive for 24 hours. If negative, you are simply free to go.  But either way, that sample is sent to the government laboratory for analysis – and almost always comes back as positive.

Offenders with good driving records might have no conviction recorded, and so keep their licences. However, you can only receive the benefit of that provision once every 5 years.

If the result is positive to THC, police will issue an on the spot fine and 3 month disqualification.  You then have to elect to take the matter to court if you want to challenge the penalty or guilt. Offenders with good driving records might have no conviction recorded, and so keep their licences. However, you can only receive the benefit of that provision once every 5 years.

It is a defence to this charge if the Court accepts that you had an honest belief that you did not have THC present in your saliva at the time you were driving, and that belief was held on reasonable grounds.