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One man is arrested and taken into custody after failing a breath test in Howth
# Drink Driving
One night in Dublin: 1,545 cars, 560 breath tests, 5 arrests
Gardaí set up checkpoints in Dublin last night to catch drink-drivers.
DUBLIN DRIVERS WHO tried to get away with some sneaky drinking on a Saturday night may have had an unpleasant surprise last night.
More than 1,540 cars were stopped at checkpoints set up by Gardaí at Howth on the northside and Stillorgan on the southside overnight to check for drink-drivers.
In the space of one hour, a total of 560 drivers were given breath tests and of these, 5 drivers were arrested. Separately, 10 cars were found to have broken various road traffic offences and one vehicle was seized by Gardaí.
Random breath testing was introduced under 2006 legislation which gave Gardaí the power to breathalyse anyone at a checkpoint. Before it was brought in, there had to be some suspicion that a person had been drinking or had committed an offence before a breathalyser could be used.
Assistant commissioner of An Garda Síochána John Twomey warned drink-drivers not to risk it.
“I want to also send a very strong message to all drivers and remind them that members of An Garda Síochána are out all around the country, day and night, targeting intoxicated driving,” he said.
Gardaí took these photographs from the checkpoints and shared them on Twitter and Facebook today:
Read: Here’s what happens when you’re arrested on suspicion of drink-driving… >
Read: Politicians’ drink-driving privilege ‘should be withdrawn’ >
