Suffolk and Norfolk Police Intensify Focus on Drug-Impaired Driving in Winter Campaign

Police departments in Suffolk and Norfolk are focusing on motorists driving under the influence of drugs during their yearly winter enforcement initiative. National Highways has provided additional funding, enabling officers to acquire an increased supply of roadside drug testing kits. In the previous year, a total of 123 individuals were apprehended in Norfolk and 124 in Suffolk for operating vehicles while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Chief Inspector Vicky McParland stated, “The message is simple – do not drive under the influence.” Authorities indicated that every driver pulled over between December 1 and January 1, 2025, will undergo testing. Roadside drug wipes are capable of detecting various types of drugs. Should officers suspect a motorist is impaired and unfit to drive due to drug consumption, an arrest will be made, followed by a blood or urine test conducted at a police station. Drivers found guilty of drug-driving face a mandatory minimum one-year driving disqualification, an unlimited financial penalty, a potential prison sentence of up to six months, and a permanent criminal record. The legal framework establishes specific limits for 17 different substances, with these limits varying based on the particular drug. Acting Inspector Andy Smith commented, “We do have people who consume drugs, three or four days before being stopped by the police, that then come back over (the limit).” According to BBC findings, certain police forces recorded a higher number of arrests for drug-driving compared to drink-driving during December enforcement periods. Regarding the acquisition of additional drug tests, the police forces of Suffolk and Norfolk stated, “This will expand our testing capability and ultimately increase our chances of detecting drug drivers on our roads.”