The Mijas Town Hall continues to improve the resources of the Local Police with the acquisition of 420 new annual drug tests, with the aim of reinforcing roadside checks and guaranteeing road safety in the municipality. These devices will detect more effectively the presence of narcotic substances in drivers and will reduce the risk of traffic accidents.
The councillor for Public Safety, Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson (Vox), stressed the importance of this measure to protect neighbours. "Our commitment is clear: to provide the Local Police with all the necessary means to keep those who put the lives of others at risk off the roads. The consumption of drugs and alcohol at the wheel cannot continue to be a threat to the safety of the Mijeños".
- Estos test también servirán para intensificar los controles durante las campañas de alcohol y drogas organizadas por la Dirección General de Tráfico.
- BEATRIZ MARTÍN
These tests will also serve to intensify checks during the alcohol and drug campaigns organised by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in which the Mijas Local Police actively participates during key periods such as summer and Christmas. The aim of these measurements is to raise public awareness of the importance of responsible driving, thereby reducing the number of accidents and their consequences.
Procedure
Distractions, speeding and the consumption of drugs and alcohol are the main causes of fatal road accidents. To ensure a rigorous and accurate procedure, the Town Hall has also purchased an additional 300 tests per year. In the event that a driver tests positive in a drug test, officers will carry out a second test with a new saliva sample, which will be sent to a laboratory for the most accurate analysis. "It is essential that the checks are rigorous and accurate. We want this procedure to guarantee maximum reliability and we want those who break the rules to accept the consequences", explained the councillor. If the result of the laboratory analysis confirms the presence of drugs in the driver's system, the DGT will initiate a sanctioning procedure for a very serious offence, with a fine of one thousand euros and the loss of six points from the driver's licence.
It should be remembered that the Penal Code classifies driving a motor vehicle and moped "under the influence of toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances or alcoholic beverages" as a crime. If officers determine that the consumption of these substances has affected the driver's ability, criminal proceedings will be instituted for an offence against road safety, which can lead to the deprivation of the driver's licence for a period of between one and four years, as well as prison sentences, a fine or community service.
In cases where a driver causes an accident under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes damage to third parties, the insurance company of the responsible party must compensate the victim, and the company itself has the right to claim compensation from the penalised driver.
"Mijas continues to make progress in road safety with effective and forceful measures. It is a priority to continue reinforcing the means of the Local Police to prevent accidents and ensure that our roads are safer for everyone", concluded Cuevas Dawson.
Checks
Throughout 2024 the Mijas Local Police carried out checks on more than 25,000 vehicles. Of the total, according to police sources, 306 drivers were reported for exceeding the maximum alcohol limit, 328 for exceeding the maximum speed limit and 92 were investigated as alleged perpetrators of a crime against road safety.
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