{"id":17075,"date":"2017-04-25T16:22:37","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T15:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/?p=17075"},"modified":"2017-04-25T16:26:09","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T15:26:09","slug":"ten-things-know-new-drug-driving-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/index.php\/ten-things-know-new-drug-driving-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten things to know about the new drug driving laws"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>New laws to tackle drug driving are now in place for over a week writes Geraldine Herbert but there is still much confusion surrounding them<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. In some respects the law is not new as it has long been an offence to drive under the influence of an intoxicant i.e. Alcohol, Drugs or a combination of both.<\/li>\n
  2. Since November 2014 Gardai have been conducting \u201cRoadside Impairment Tests\u201d to determine if someone is under the influence of drugs.<\/li>\n
  3. The Roadside Impairment Tests consists of testing for pupil dilation, asking motorists to touch their nose with their finger, assessing balance, a walking test, and standing on one foot for a count of eight<\/li>\n
  4. The new law extends the powers of the Gardai and gives them a new means to determine whether a motorist has taken drugs by using a device known as the Drager DrugTest 5000 at the side of the road.<\/li>\n
  5. It works by analysing a saliva sample.<\/li>\n
  6. The new device specifically checks for 4 types of drugs, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines\u00a0<\/em>(Valium-like drugs) and Opiates.<\/li>\n
  7. Essentially these fall into two broad categories of drugs; those that slow you down and those that speed you up \u2013 but they all potentially can influence your driving by altering your reaction times and judgement.<\/li>\n
  8. If you are found to be taking cannabis, cocaine and heroin above the specified limits, you can be prosecuted for drug driving even if your driving is not impaired.<\/li>\n
  9. If you test positive for benzodiazepines or opiates and the Garda will decide by speaking to you and if necessary by conducting a Roadside Impairment Test as to whether in his\/her opinion your driving is impaired.<\/li>\n
  10. The Road test is NOT evidence, it is only a preliminary test so a further specimen of blood or urine will be required and will be taken in the Garda station.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    For more information watch a discussion on the Claire Byrne Live programme on RTE about the subject<\/p>\n