This year’s annual Splendour in the Grass music festival at North Byron Parklands attracted a young crowd from not only NSW and Queensland, but across the nation and even abroad.
The line-up featured dozens of star musicians and DJs including The Cure, James Blake and The Strokes, who had revellers partying from Friday through to Sunday.
But as usual, police and sniffer dogs were out in force to control the use of illegal drugs.
A total of 323 were allegedly caught in possession of cannabis, ecstacy, cocaine and ice – with 80 cannabis cautions issued and 200 facing court for drug possession and supply.
Despite the number of arrests, police say the crowd was generally well-behaved.
“Once again police worked closely with Splendour organisers to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival, so it was positive to see that the majority of attendees heeded police warnings and behaved themselves,” a police representative said.
“Our officers were even approached by music fans who thanked them for being there to keep everyone safe – it was tremendous to see such great support from the event community.”
Police once again warned of the dangers of taking illegal drugs, saying:
“We cannot reiterate enough how dangerous these substances can be”, Det. Sterling said.
“They are not only illegal but they can incredibly harmful to your health and, tragically at times, fatal…. We were not there to spoil the fun, but those who choose to break the law or threaten the safety of other festival goers will be stopped in their tracks and dealt with accordingly.”
However, as noted by junkee.com “Police and law-makers are never going to stop young people smoking a joint or taking MDMA at a music festival. They can’t even explain why those drugs are illegal while consumption of alcohol, a drug that kills thousands every year, is incredibly prevalent.”
There is a strong argument that introducing harm-minimisation measures like pill testing is a far more effective way of preventing overdoses and fatalities than simply arresting and charging people.
Most of those charged at Splendour are required to attend Byron Bay Local Court on 15th August.
Penalty for Drug Possession
The maximum penalty for drug possession is 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200.
A fine comes with a criminal conviction, which is also known as a criminal record.
Help – I’m Facing Drug Charges!
In spite of the maximum penalties, a good lawyer may be able to convince the magistrate not to record a conviction against your name, even if you wish to plead guilty to drug possession or a minor drug supply.
In order to maximise your chances of avoiding a conviction, it is a good idea to prepare up to 3 character references and a letter of apology before your day in court, which can help persuade the magistrate to grant you a non conviction order’.
If you live closer to Sydney than Byron Bay, your lawyer may be able to have your case transferred to Downing Centre Local Court in the Sydney CBD, so you don’t need to travel back up north for your day in court.
If you are going to court and would like an experienced drug lawyer to represent you, call us anytime to arrange a free first conference. We offer fixed fees for all drug possession cases.
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