Gardai in Laois have revealed details of two incidents of drug driving that were detected in recent days.
On Monday evening, a car was stopped after being detected speeding at 150km/h on the M7.
The driver tested positive for cocaine and cannabis and both they and the passenger were arrested.
Gardai said: “Laois Roads Policing Unit arrested yet another Drug Driver yesterday evening after a vehicle was stopped travelling at 150kph in a 120kph zone on the M7.
“There was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle when stopped and a search of the vehicle yielded a small quantity of cannabis herb.
“The driver failed then failed the road side drug test for Cocaine and Cannabis. Both the driver and passenger were arrested.
“Court proceedings to follow. Covid fines have also been issued to both persons involved for unnecessary travel.”
On Sunday evening, Gardai on the M7 stopped a car for a speeding offence.
The driver subsequently tested positive for cannabis and all four occupants of the car were in breach of Covid guidelines having travelled from Navan.
They said: “Laois Roads Policing Unit on patrol on Sunday evening stopped a vehicle on the M7 for a speeding offence.
“The vehicle was not insured and the driver tested positive for Cannabis. There were four occupants in total in this vehicle and all were in breach of COVID travel restrictions having travelled from Navan.
“All occupants were issued with fixed charge notices. The driver was arrested and the vehicle seized.”
Meanwhile, Laois Crime Prevention Officer Graham Kavanagh has joined the calls for Gardai to receive the Covid-19 vaccine now.
They are currently down near the bottom of the Covid-19 vaccine priority list but he, like many of his colleagues, are making the case for them to be moved higher.
Posting on Twitter, he said: “#vaccinateourGardaí now.
“Absolutely unbelievable that our colleagues out on the coalface of this pandemic have to even ask for this to happen.
“Get the #vaccinateourGardaí trending.”
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