Motorists are warned not to get behind the wheel of their car - or any others - too soon after a night of drinking or drug taking.
One driver learned the hard way on Tuesday night that unless you allow enough time for substances to make their way out of your system, you’ll fail any roadside test.
The Roads Policing Unit in Kilkenny were on patrol when they pulled over a vehicle. Although they did not confirm the reason for original concern on the driver, they opted to carry out a roadside drug test.
Read More: Gardai warn over common road rule break that could see driver and passengers fined on the spot
The driver provided officers with a Oral Fluid Sample, which then tested positive for cocaine.
It is understood that the driver was unaware the drugs would still be in his system after a previous night of partying - and was fined for the offence.
Taking to Facebook, gardai confirmed: “Our Roads Policing Unit were conducting a checkpoint last night in Urlingford when they met a driver of a car who provided an Oral Fluid Sample that proved positive for Cocaine.
“The motorist didn’t know that his consumption from the previous night would still be in his system the following evening.
“He now knows.”
According to Irish law, the maximum penalty for drink or drug driving is a €5000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months.
Drivers also face disqualification for drug driving. For those convicted of a new offence of being above the threshold for cannabis, cocaine and heroin, the disqualification period "is not less than 1 year for the first offence and not less than 2 years for the second or subsequent offence," according to drugs.ie.
Anyone who drinks alcohol or uses drugs is warned that they can be detected in your blood for days after use. Some timelines according to drugs.ie include:
- Alcohol: 3-5 days in urine, 10-12 hours in blood
- Amphetamines: 1-3 days in urine and around 12 hours in blood
- Cannabis: 7-30 days in urine and up to 2 weeks in blood
- Cocaine: 3-4 days in urine and 1-2 days in blood
- Codeine: 1 day in urine and up to 12 hours in blood
- Heroin: 3-4 days in urine and up to 12 hours in blood
- LSD: 1-3 days in urine and up to 2-3 hours in blood
- MDMA (ecstasy): 3-4 days in urine and 1-2 days in blood
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