Today the Sentencing Council is launching guidance for sentencing cases of ‘drug driving’. The guidance is to assist those sentencing offences of driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle with a concentration of a specified controlled drug in the body above the specified limit (Section 5A Road Traffic Act 1988). It is important to note that this guidance does not carry the same authority as a sentencing guideline, and sentencers are not obliged to follow it. However, it is hoped that the majority of sentencers will find it useful in assisting them to deal with these cases.
A copy of the guidance is available here.