It's easier than you think.
Some things to bear in mind when it comes to drugs.
Firstly, drugs act differently to alcohol.
When it comes to alcohol, after a certain period of hours, the alcohol will have left your system, and it is safe to drive again.
In other words, the alcohol level in your system has dropped below the legal limit.
Drugs are different, and many people don’t understand that.
"So, you will be disqualified from driving today
for something you might have done 3 weeks ago.
Seems unfair doesn’t it?
That’s what drugs do"
They treat drugs the same way that they treat alcohol: they assume that if you ‘sleep it off’ or leave a number of hours since you consumed drugs before you drive, that things will be fine.
They won’t.
Drugs are stubborn. They stay in your system for days and sometimes weeks.
By far the most common illegal drug is cannabis.
While it is fairly benign (and certainly far less dangerous than the likes of cocaine and heroin) it can linger in your system for up to 3 weeks.
What does this mean?
It means that you could be stopped at a mandatory Garda checkpoint (one of those special checkpoints where the Garda can demand a specimen of your saliva or breath even if they don’t suspect you of being impaired) three weeks after having consumed a joint and find that you’re now over the limit.
You will be arrested and be required to provide a blood sample in the station.
If that sample shows that you are over the limit, then you will be prosecuted for drug driving.
If you’re convicted in court you will be disqualified from driving for 1 year.
So, you will be disqualified from driving today for something you might have done 3 weeks ago.
Seems unfair doesn’t it? That’s what drugs do.
It’s because cannabis is a long-lasting drug: it stays at above legal limits in your blood for weeks.
Almost nobody who takes drugs knows this.
Which brings me to the next question: when can a driver be tested for drugs?
Well, you can be tested for drugs if you encounter a mandatory checkpoint.
Remember, those checkpoints don’t require the Garda to suspect that you are impaired before they can demand a specimen.
"if you’ve taken drugs in recent days,
you’re in trouble"
But there is another way that Gardai can demand a roadside drug test.
And its very common, maybe the most common reason that drug testing is done: speeding.
Yes, you read that right, speeding.
The law allows Gardai to conduct a roadside drug test of any driver that breaks the law while driving.
As speeding is a breach of the law, if the Gardai pull you over for breaking the speed limit, they can require you to undergo a roadside drug test.
And if you’ve taken drugs in recent days, you’re in trouble.
This method (drug testing motorists who have been stopped speeding) is by far the most common method by which drivers end up being prosecuted for drug driving.
There are other ways too e.g. if you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident you may be tested for alcohol and drugs, or both.
But arrests due to motorists being stopped for speeding, is still the most common method.
Now you’ve got another reason to slow down.
Comments