NEW: Drug Driving in Ireland: Essential Facts You Need to Know for 2025

Facing drug driving charges in Ireland? Here's what you need to know right now about drug driving laws, testing, and consequences.

This is a short article on the topic. A longer, more in-depth article will be published afterwards, that will give greater detail.

Key Facts About Drug Driving Tests

The Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) conducts roadside testing for five main substances:

• Cannabis (THC)

• Cocaine

• Opiates

• Benzodiazepines

• Amphetamines

• 
  

Important: You can test positive long after using substances. Cannabis, in particular, can remain detectable for days or even weeks after use.

What You Need to Know About Penalties

If convicted of drug driving in Ireland, you face:

• Mandatory driving ban (minimum 1 year)

• Potential fines up to €5,000

• Significantly higher insurance costs

  
  

Critical Information for Prescription Medication

Taking prescription drugs? Some medicines can impair your driving because they are psychoactive e.g. opiates, methadone, benzodiazepines.

You can still face charges if:

• The medication impairs your driving

• Levels exceed legal limits

• You can't provide valid prescription documentation

  
  

Immediate Steps if Charged

1. Document everything about your stop and testing

2. Don't discuss your case with anyone except your solicitor

3. Gather medical documentation if relevant

4. Seek immediate legal advice

Making an Informed Choice

There over 160 detailed articles and dozens of videos explaining every nuance of Irish road traffic law on this website.

If nothing else, you should read them to help you understand the process. When you're ready to move forward, you'll find that expertise matters more than ever.

These resources help you understand the procedures through extensive legal commentary and analysis.

Explore Further

Want to understand every aspect of your case? Take a look at some of these case notes below. There are also links to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and Road Safety Authority websites:

•  https://www.phoransolicitors.com/post/new-drug-driving-case-dismissed

•  https://www.phoransolicitors.com/post/drug-driving-case-withdrawn

•  https://www.phoransolicitors.com/post/new-can-drug-driving-charges-be-dropped#:~:text=A%20DRUG%20DRIVING%20prosecution%20was,instructed%20by%20Patrick%20Horan%2C%20Solicitor.

• https://www.ucd.ie/mbrs/faqs/

• https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/campaign-docs/170825-rsa-driving-under-the-influence_31may_web_hr.pdf?sfvrsn=1a58c36c_3

  
  

This guide is part of one of Ireland's largest online resources of road traffic law expertise, regularly cited by legal professionals nationwide.

Sources: Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS), Road Safety Authority (RSA).