A motorist got a rude awakening when gardai found them asleep on the side of one of Ireland's busiest motorways earlier this week.
Officers spotted the van pulled in on the hard shoulder of the M7 in Laois to find that the motorist at the wheel was fast asleep.
It is illegal to stop on the Hard Shoulder unless it is an emergency situation or breakdown.
Gardai issued the driver with a fine and posted the incident to social media as a warning to others.
The Garda Siochana Laois/Offaly page posted on Facebook: "Laois Roads Policing Unit on patrol this evening came across a driver who decided to take a nap on the M7.
"Driver escorted off the motorway and issued with fixed charge notice.
"The only time a vehicle should stop on a motorway is in the case of a breakdown or in an emergency situation."
Gardai up and down the country continue to man checkpoints as part of the Covid-19 public health measures.
Members of the public are currently not allowed to leave their own county, or travel more than 20km from home in a neighbouring county, under the Level Five restrictions.
And a number of rule breakers have been caught on our roads throughout the pandemic thanks to these checkpoints.
A recent incident saw gardai seize a car after discovering that it had not been taxed for a whopping 774 days.
A garda spokesman said: "Naas Roads Policing Unit stopped this vehicle as a result of an #OperationFanacht checkpoint and found via checking the #MobilityApp that it had not been taxed for 774 days.
"The vehicle was seized."
Here is everything you need to know about the current garda checkpoints:
What should you do at a checkpoint?
What gardai will ask you:
- Where are you going? It's against new rules to travel outside your county or more than 20km from your home in a neighbouring county, so the first question is where you are travelling too.
- Do you have a letter from work? All essential workers should have been given a letter from their employer which permits them to travel around - it's important you bring this with you if you have one.
- Where do you live? Gardai will ask where you are travelling from to check if you are within your radius, keep in mind they can check within less than a minute by your reg the address where the car is registered.
- Non-essential workers can only leave their permitted radius for essential reasons, such as caring for a sick or vulnerable loved one.
Exceptions:
Gardai have reiterated that there are a number of exceptions to the current travel ban and have put increased emphasis on supports in place for domestic abuse victims.
They have added that the rules do not apply to victims and have mounted a major operation to support victims of abuse.
A spokesman said: "An Garda Síochána understands that the move to Level 5 may once again increase the anxiety and fear felt by those who may be victims of domestic abuse.
"An Garda Síochána is here to help. Victims of domestic abuse incidents, including coercive control, will continue to receive highest priority response for service.
"Travel restrictions DO NOT APPLY in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person.
"If you are a victim of abuse or you know of a family member or friend who is a victim of such abuse, that information is important to us and I ask that you make contact with An Garda Síochána. If you require urgent assistance or support, please call 999 or 112, we are there to listen to help and to protect.
"If you are unable to make phone contact please approach any member of An Garda Síochána on duty, on patrol, on a checkpoint and look for assistance, we are here to help."
