Gardai have issued a warning to Irish road users after an incident at a checkpoint overnight in Tipperary.
Officers were conducting standard checks when a driver tried to evade them.
After failing to stop, he was intercepted by gardai and was arrested in the town of Cahir.
Upon further investigation, it was found that the vehicle owner was driving under the influence of drugs.
Officers conducted a roadside drug test which showed up positive for the presence of Cocaine.
In a post on social media, gardai wrote: “Cahir Gardaí intercepted this car after it failed to stop at a checkpoint in the town.
“The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside. Never ever DUI.”
The driver will now face charges in relation to the drug driving provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2016 that came into effect in 2017.
These laws gave Gardaí the power to conduct preliminary drug tests at the roadside or in Garda stations.
The drug testing devices use saliva to test for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates (for example, heroin and morphine) and benzodiazepines (for example, valium).
If convicted of this offence, the minimum disqualification from driving - on a first offence - is 4 years and 6 years for a second or subsequent offence.
For certain drugs – cannabis, cocaine and heroin – it is illegal to drive if you are over the specified limit, even if your driving is not impaired.
If you are convicted of being over this limit, you will be disqualified for at least one year on a first offence and at least 2 years for a second or subsequent offence.
