You may have heard the phrase ‘Drug testing in Queensland can catch you anytime, anywhere’. This refers to the fact that if you take drugs and operate a vehicle, police can catch you at any time of the day and anywhere. But surely you’re okay on the water?
As it happens, no. Just as Queensland Police can catch you with drug testing anytime, anywhere on the roads, the same goes on the water with the Water Police.
One example of this was reported recently on the Queensland Police website.
It involved a 48-year-old man who was stopped by Brisbane Water Police at Ningi, a small town in the City of Moreton Bay. He underwent drug testing and it’s alleged he returned a positive test for methamphetamines.
Queensland Water Police now conduct drug testing
Providing Queensland Water Police with the equipment, training and capacity to undertake their own drug testing is relatively new. Before 2019, on-water drug testing was only carried out in conjunction with road policing units.
Giving the water police the ability to carry out their own drug testing has increased the number of tests, the effectiveness of the testing program and safety on Queensland’s waterways.
As part of their drug testing, like their road counterparts, Queensland’s Water Police use the incredibly accurate and reliable Drager DrugTest 5000. This is the same analysis equipment that Integrity Sampling uses for all its workplace drug testing.
The Dräger DrugTest 5000 has been independently verified by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, a NATA accredited organisation, and found to be compliant with AS/NZS 4760:2019. The Dräger DrugTest 5000 was one of the first products to be found to be compliant, when the new standard was released in 2019.
Don’t take drugs and operate a watercraft. It’s not worth the risk
The message for watercraft users in Queensland – and in fact all across the country – is don’t take the risk. Don’t take drugs and then take to the water.
Apart from the obvious safety risks – to you and other water users – the consequences are essentially the same as for road users. The same applies for alcohol.
These consequences can include disqualification of your driving license for significant lengths of time, large fines and potentially a court appearance.
The risks are simply not worth it.
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You can be caught by Queensland Police with drug testing anytime and anywhere. Even on the water. Credit Brisbane Local Marketing https://unsplash.com/photos/city-skyline-under-clear-blue-sky-during-daytime-RJII3O7CTeo