FROM THE ARCHIVES:The breathalyser, or "breathanalyser" as it was called initially, came into force at midnight on November 2nd, 1969, and was The Irish Times lead story under the sub-heading "Many pubs serve their last 'one for the road' ".
THE BREATHALYSER test came into operation at midnight, but the Garda authorities reported that no tests had been taken by 2 o’clock this morning. Traffic on the roads was lighter than usual following a Sunday night.
Publicans and hoteliers in the Dublin area reported no change in drinking patterns and city-centre public houses were busy right up to closing time. Taxi firms in the city found that there was no appreciable rise in their number of calls.
There were a number of minor traffic accidents in the Dublin area but Garda Control ventured the opinion that these might be attributed to the misty rain which began to fall in the city at abut 10 p. m., making road surfaces greasy and obscuring vision.
Gardai in Cork, Limerick, Drogheda and other main centres around the country didn’t report any serious accidents up to 1.15 a.m. Gardai in Cork in particular reported that their roads were quieter than normal.
From midnight, under the Road Traffic Act, 1968, it became an offence to drive or attempt to drive any mechanically propelled vehicle while the alcohol level in the bloodstream exceeds 125 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood.
Twenty-four Garda centres throughout the country went on breathanalyser duty at midnight, though with the 10 p.m. closing of public houses last night gardai were not expecting a particularly heavy night. “The real fun will start next weekend,” said a member of the Garda Traffic Section attached to Dublin Castle. In the Dublin Metropolitan Area only three stations were operating the equipment last night. These were at Pearse Street, the Bridewell and Bray.
Under the new legislation a garda may stop a driver whom he suspects to have been drinking. He may then ask him to take the “breath test.” If, when the driver blows into the apparatus given him by the garda, a set of crystals turn green, he will be taken to the local garda station, where he will be required to give either a specimen of blood or urine.
If analysis of the specimens shows his alcohol level to have exceeded 125 milligrammes, he is guilt of an offence which will carry the penalty of a possible jail sentence, a heavy fine and disqualification from driving for a year.
The general reaction of gardai throughout the country has been one of caution. Many gardai appear to be unsure of the exact procedure in relation to the test and are particularly confused in stations to which the equipment has not been issued.
It is understood that a circular was issued shortly before the weekend instructing gardai in stations not equipped for blood and urine tests to continue prosecutions under Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act of 1961, which makes it an offence to drive under the influence of alcohol.
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