Roads Policing - Christmas Enforcement and New Drug Testing Device  

Garda Adrian Corcoran was in studio to discuss An Garda Síochána’s Christmas and New Year Enforcement Campaign 2022 commenced on the 1 December and will continue right through to  3 January 2023.

The operation will focus on driving while intoxicated - drink driving and drug driving. It will see an increase in enforcement in terms of mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints-where Gardaí have power to test drivers for the presence of alcohol and drugs.

During the Enforcement Campaign for the Christmas period in 2021 there were 533 people arrested for drink driving and 277 people arrested for drug driving. This included a number of arrests for both drink and drug driving on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Our Roads Policing Gardaí will be out every day over the Christmas period posting checkpoints throughout the country.

Gardaí ask people going out socialising this Christmas to plan ahead. Leave the car at home. Over the years they’ve seen where people drive out with the intention of leaving the car behind and getting a taxi or public transport home. When they are leaving its raining and there are no taxis and suddenly they are behind the wheel driving home. Leave the car at home and it removes the temptation to drive home.

People should also be mindful of driving the next morning after a night out. Make sure enough time has elapsed to allow the alcohol to pass through your system.( 4,990 arrests to date 2022 drink driving and 2,595 for drug driving.) 

Appeal

• Never, ever Drink/Drug drive
• Book a taxi or use public transport
• Nominate a Designated Driver
• Make sure you are Alcohol free the next morning

Since April 2017 Gardaí have the power to carry out roadside drug testing, by analysing an oral fluid sample at the roadside. If it shows the presence of drugs the person will then be arrested and taken to a Garda station where they will be required to provide a blood sample. This is then sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety where it is analysed, with the result of the examination being used by Gardaí as evidence in court. 

Prior to the April 2017 (Road Traffic Act 2016) a Garda had to have a specific reason to stop an individual under suspicion of driving under the influence of an illicit drug before they could take further action. The introduction of this legislation gave Gardaí the power to conduct roadside drug testing and the previous requirement to prove impairment or incapacitation no longer applied for cannabis and cocaine use.

Since April 2017 Gardaí conducted roadside drug testing using a device called the Drager Drug Test 5000. This device analysed a sample of Oral Fluid to detect the presence of four different drugs: 

• Opiates
• Cocaine
• Benzodiazepines
• Cannabis

Drager Drugtest 5000 

Requires regular checks and maintenance

Securetec DrugWipe 6S 

Detects all the drugs the DT5000 detects but also includes detection of Amphetamine, Methamphetamine and Ecstasy

Oral fluid collection is very rapid

Test time 2-8 minutes

Only validated for 4 drugs

On December 1st 2022 An Garda Síochána rolled out the Securetec DrugWipe 6S across the country. This device has replaced the Drager DT5000. Similar to a Covid 19 antigen test, the DrugWipe 6S is a portable unit which delivers faster results than its predecessor. 

Like the Drager DT5000 it tests for the presence of Cannabis, Cocaine, Benzodiazepines and Opiates but the DrugWipe 6S also tests for Amphetamine and Methamphetamine.

Drug Driving Penalties 

l A minimum 1 year driving disqualification if you are found to be above the legal threshold for cocaine, cannabis or heroin (since April 2017)

l A minimum of 4 years driving disqualification if you are found to have drugs in your body and are impaired to such an extent that you do not have proper control of a vehicle

l Up to €5,000 fine

l Up to 6 months in prison 

Penalties for drink driving range from 3 months to 6 years’ disqualification, a fine of up to €5000 or 6 months imprisonment. 

Gardaí will be on the roads on a 24/7 basis over the Christmas period. They will focus on all lifesaver offences but particularly driving while intoxicated. They will intercept drink and drug drivers, please don’t be one of them. 

In the first two weeks of the Christmas Campaign (Dec 1st-14th) there have been 1,647 MIT Checkpoints carried out. There were 5,976 roadside breath tests (22 positive) and 145 roadside oral fluid tests (5 positive) performed at these checkpoints. 

In the same time period there were 173 drink-driving and 71 drug-driving arrests.