Gardai in Waterford say there is a greater emphasis on the detection of drug driving in Waterford at the moment.

They are advising motorists that checkpoints will be in place throughout Waterford for the Christmas period and to avoid drink and drug driving.

The newly updated drink driving provisions are now in effect which increase the penalty for drivers from a fine and three penalty points to three months disqualification from driving
plus a 200 euro fine.

Sergeant James Twomey is from the Roads Policing Unit in Waterford.

He says it’s not just illegal drugs, but those on some prescription drugs could find themselves over the limit. Gardai have new apparatus which will be used at roadside checkpoints and this new system means they can get a person tested and come up with a specific reading regarding three classes of drugs.

Sergeant Twomey says a lot of prescribed painkillers do carry opiate or codeine derivative aspects to the drug that would show up on the system. A lot of people buy stuff on the internet that
may not be available over the counter and they may be buying prescription drugs that would put them at risk as regards drug testing.

He says codeine is one of the drugs that can impair driving.