A new bill to prosecute drink-drivers was introduced into Parliament this week.

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson's Land Transport (Admissibility of Evidential Breath Tests) Amendment Bill to aid the prosecution of drink-drivers was introduced on Friday.A new bill to prosecute drink-drivers was introduced to paliament on Friday.

'My bill seeks to broaden the circumstances where a positive evidential breath test is admissible evidence in a prosecution under the Act.

'The support of MPs across the House to broaden the law would show a commitment by our politicians to get behind combatting drink-driving.”

Under the current law a positive evidential breath test is not admissible in evidence if the suspect has elected to have a blood test.

If a suspected drink-driver blows a positive breath test before electing to have a blood test, if for some reason a medical officer is unable to draw blood, the breath test cannot be used in evidence.

'The bill arose from a number of cases where prosecution of a suspect has been hindered by evidential breath test evidence not being admissible.

'Evidential breath tests are admissible in evidence in some circumstances under the current law, and this needs to be widened to ensure we are doing everything we can to prosecute those people who choose to drink and drive.”