Kildare Gardaí warn drug detecting device can land you in jail

Kildare Gardaí have warned that drug detecting devices are being rolled out to checkpoints across the county.

The device can detect all types of drugs in a driver's system.

A drug driving conviction could mean:

- A driving disqualification for at least one year

- A €5,000 fine

- Up to six months in prison

- A criminal record

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Garda will conduct an oral fluid test using the small hand-held device.

This device can analyse a saliva sample to detect the presence of four different types of drugs:

- opiates

- cocaine

- benzodiazepines

- cannabis

If an oral fluid test is positive for cannabis or cocaine you will be arrested and brought to a Garda station where you will be obliged to provide a blood specimen which will be sent to the Medical Bureau for Road Safety (MBRS) for analysis.

The MBRS test for cannabis, benzodiazepines, opiates, methadone, amphetamines (including methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA,) and cocaine.

The penalty for drug driving is the same as for drink driving – a maximum of €5,000 fine and up to 6 months imprisonment on summary conviction.

In terms of disqualification periods, for those convicted of the new offence of being above the threshold for cannabis, cocaine and heroin with no proof of impairment necessary by the Gardaí, the disqualification period is not less than 1 year for the first offence and not less than 2 years for the second or subsequent offence.