The changes extend the maximum prison term for driving while above the legal alcohol limit, or failing to produce a specimen, from six to 12 months.
Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel lodged the proposition to ‘rectify a number of anomalies’ that came to light since amendments to the law were made in 2015.
The 2015 legislation introduced a series of new offences into Jersey law, namely causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, causing serious injury by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
The regulations were introduced in response to the death of Latvian Dita Paverniece (27), who died after the Lotus sports car she was travelling in crashed on the St Clement’s Coast Road in 2011.
The latest proposition, which was approved unanimously by Members, also include provisions to make disqualification from driving discretionary instead of mandatory for an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving and increases the powers of judges to order offenders to remain disqualified from driving until they pass a new driving test.
It was approved by 36 votes to 0.
