Busy weekend on roads for Donegal gardai as vehicles seized and drug-drivers arrested

A motorist whose tax was expired for almost 20 months was detected drug-driving in Letterkenny on Sunday night.

The motorist was stopped at a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoint in Letterkenny town by officers from the Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit.

The driver tested positive for the presence of cocaine.

The tax on the vehicle was out for some 591 days and the driver did not have insurance or a driving licence.

Gardai seized the vehicle and will now receive Court summonses and fixed charge penalty notices.

A driver who tested positive for cannabis in Ballyshannon was also arrested on Sunday. The test showed on the Drugwipe 6S roadside drug testing device and gardai say that further test results are now awaited.

Two vehicles which were out of tax for over two years were seized by Ballyshannon gardai on Friday evening.

Gardai in Donegal took part in a national day of action in relation to the use of mobile phones by drivers on Friday.

One motorist was clocked using a mobile phone while driving on Friday. After the vehicle was stopped, gardai were able to determine, via the active mobility device, that it hadn't been taxed for 954 days.

The vehicle's tax expired over two-and-a-half years ago. The vehicle was seized and a fixed charge penalty notice issued to the driver.

Another vehicle was detected and, also via the active mobility device, its tax was expired by 773 days. Gardai seized the vehicle and issued a fixed charge penalty notice to the driver.

Gardai from the Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit issued 21 FCPNs on Friday to motorists for using their mobile phones while driving.

A garda spokesperson said: “Switch off before you drive off. Please place your phone into the glove box or out of reach so you will not be tempted to look at it or to use it while driving.”

A car was seized by Buncrana gardai on Friday after it flagged on the active mobility device as having no car tax.

The tax on the vehicle was expired for 224 days. Officers further established that the insurance policy was inactive and the vehicle was seized.

That motorist also faces a court appearance and will receive a fixed charge penalty notice.