by Louise Doyle
A DRIVER was found to be 12 times over the drink drive limit when stopped by Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit at the weekend.
The driver had no driving licence or insurance and the vehicle was 837 days out of tax when gardaí stopped the driver on Saturday, September 15.
The vehicle was seized and the driver has been charged to court.
The arrest was just one of a number made by Letterkenny Roads Unit over the weekend, amid what they have described as a “very worrying” trend that drivers are choosing to get behind the wheel of their vehicle when unfit through alcohol or drugs.
Elsewhere, two drivers were detected seven times over the legal limit during a Mandatory Intoxicant Checkpoint (MIT).
In the lastest incident on Sunday night/Monday morning a driver failed a roadside breath test, and was found to be seven times over the drink drive limit.
The driver was charged to appear in court.
On Friday night/ early hours of Saturday morning, September 14, the Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit were alerted to a vehicle being driven erratically.
The driver had no driving licence and was uninsured.
They were arrested on suspicion of drink driving and were found to be seven times over the drink driving limit. They have been charged to appear in court.
On Sunday night, September 15, a driver tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
The driver was arrested and conveyed to the Garda Station, where a blood sample was taken.
A quantity of suspected cocaine was found following a search of the vehicle. A court appearance will follow.
The previous evening, Saturday, September 14, gardaí conducting a MIT checkpoint arrested a driver who failed the roadside breath test.
The driver was three-and-a-half times over the drink driving limit. They have been charged to appear in court.
Speaking after the weekend arrests, a garda spokesperson urged drivers to act responsibly.
“It is extremely worrying that so many drivers are still making the poor decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We continue to urge all drivers not to make that decision as it could have very tragic consequences for them and/or for other road users.
“Please arrange to have a designated driver for your night out or call a taxi or family member to bring you home.
“The consequences of drink/drug driving are very often life altering and irreversible. Nobody can claim ignorance when it comes to the possible consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We appeal to all drivers out there to please think road safety at all times and to help save lives on the roads by always making responsible decisions.”
Gardaí have also appealed to the public to always report suspected instances of drink/drug driving to Gardaí. Gardaí may be contacted on a 24/7 basis at Letterkenny on (074) 9167100, Ballyshannon on (071) 9858530, Milford on (074) 9153060 and Buncrana on (074) 9320540. In the event of an emergency, please call 999 or 112.
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