NCJ Number
167939
Editor(s)
R Sheard
Date Published
1997
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This paper examines some of the issues involved in sentencing traffic offenders in New South Wales; analyzes some magistrates' views on the subject and on road safety issues generally; presents information about drunk driving and speeding; and suggests areas for future research.
Abstract
The study reports findings from semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a wide cross-section of magistrates. The interviews were designed to elicit information about: magistrates' ways of dealing with traffic offenders; the type of information regarding random breath testing that may be of assistance to magistrates; and magistrates' views about some of the more controversial options such as the traffic program and use of dismissals and recognizances. The study focused on drunk driving, because it was the main road safety issue dealt with by magistrates, but also addressed some issues in drug driving and speeding, and sought information about application of certain provisions of New South Wales Crimes Act 1900. The report includes sentencing options for dealing with traffic offenders; project planning and survey design; survey results; and observations and recommendations. Notes, figures, tables, appendixes, bibliography