Gardaí to begin roadside drug-driving tests using special handheld devices

Gardaí are to be issued with handheld devices to conduct roadside tests for drug driving for the first time, under new laws.

Under the current law, gardaí have to be satisfied that a driver with drugs in their bloodstream is ‘impaired’ before they can make an arrest and take a sample of blood or urine afterwards in a garda station.

But new legislation will allow them to conduct roadside checks for drug driving, ...