PSNI gets random breath test powers for drink-driving crackdown

New legislation will give police powers to perform random breath tests here.

It's been introduced in time for the festive season as part of an annual winter crackdown.
Previously officers needed reasonable suspicion before breathalysing a driver. 

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd explained, “Our basic message remains the same; there is no safe limit, so never EVER drink and drive. This new legislation gives police another tool that will hopefully help us to prevent people taking life-threatening, unacceptable, simply stupid risks.

"The new legislation means we can now establish vehicle checkpoints solely for the purpose of carrying out random breath tests, something which we hope will act as an even more visible, physical deterrent.

“During last year’s operation, we detected 375 people who’d decided to risk killing or injuring themselves, their family, friends or other innocent road users by deciding to drive after drinking. 

“Just one drink can impair ability to drive. Considering that in some instances, we have stopped drivers who were so drunk, they could barely stand when they got out of their vehicle, just beggars belief. 

“At the other end of the spectrum, we detected some drivers who had gone out socialising and not intended to drive, but their circumstances changed and they decided to take a risk. A risk which inevitably results in a driving ban,” he said.