JUST two out of 462 motorists breathalysed in a weekend blitz on drink drinking failed the test.
Around 1,100 vehicles that passed through gardai checkpoints as part of a co-ordinated Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) operation focused around Dublin.
Gardai set up checkpoints at four locations around the city at 12.30am yesterday.
Six vehicles were seized for offences such as no tax or no current NCT disc. One seizure involved an unregistered taxi. There were also 21 offences detected involving fixed-charge penalty points.
The four checkpoints were set up under Operation Artery and operated simultaneously for one hour. They involved 60 gardai from traffic units coordinated from Dublin Castle.
The emphasis of these ‘Super MAT’ checkpoints was to target intoxicated driving.
They were set up at Ballymun Avenue, N11 Stillorgan Road, N7 Clondalkin, and in the N81 Spawell/R136 Ballyowen Road area.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, said: “We ran a series of highly visible checkpoints around the Dublin area targeting intoxicated driving.
“As the figures show, the vast majority of people tested were compliant with the legislation.
ENFORCEMENT
“I want to also send a very strong message to all drivers and remind them that members of An Garda Siochana are out all around the country, day and night, targeting intoxicated driving. The message is clear, Never, ever, drink and drive.”
He added: “There was considerable garda enforcement activity over the Christmas Campaign. I want to stress that our enforcement will continue throughout the year. It is totally unacceptable that some people continue to drink and drive.”
