Drug-driving figures up significantly as cannabis and cocaine the main cause

Several councillors and Joint Policing Committee members spoke out at the latest Leitrim JPC meeting held last Monday about a sharp increase in drug-driving in the county.
They were speaking after Inspector Mick Collins gave a report on crime figures in the county.
In his report, he noted that the figures for drug driving were 27 in the second half of 2022 and went up to 47 in second half of 2023.
The figures for the same period for those caught drunk driving rose by just one from 63 to 64.
He said a “day of action” took place in January with high visibility check points and patrols around Leitrim and this resulted in two drug-drivers being arrested.
He also revealed there is a high level of detection for drug-driving and “we have quite a capacity on the road with regards to our drug unit and our regular units and that's consistent around the country that drug-driving is increasing.”
JPC member Janice Raine-Conick noted the increase in incidents of drug-driving with Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock noting that the number of people prosecuted for possession of controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply has decreased by over 50 per cent.
“I'd be worried that there is not enough people being prosecuted for the sale of drugs; they are not buying them in shops,” he said.
Inspector Collins said that those drug-driving could be detected at any time through the day saying “we're finding people at 9am that are testing positive in the Garda station” and said they are generally being detected through “our observation of how they are driving.”
He said regarding the sale of drugs, “we do have our drugs unit here and they are operating with Sligo” and they are improving all the time.
“There are drugs operations ongoing and the unit has been here for the past two years; they will be moving more towards prosecutions and some matters will be coming before the courts as well,” he said.
Insp Collins added that convictions may take time because “we have to wait for a certificate of analysis and then depending on the drug, we might be going into the circuit court.”
He stressed that people are being targeted and the Gardai have “a good grasp of who's involved.”
Cllr Sean McGowan also commented about the significant increase in drug-driving incidents and described it as “worrying.”
Inspector Collins said they test for cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis on the side of the road.
“Then a blood sample is taken at the station and we get back the levels.”
He added, “Cannabis and cocaine are the two drugs we are seeing 95% of the time, and sometimes together.”
Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire said that while people are familiar with drink-driving, she questioned how difficult it is to identify someone who is driving under the influence of drugs.
Inspector Collins said that “we find that these people are speeding and don't have the same attention to detail with regards to having the car taxed and insured and are taking more chances.”
He said, up close, there “is a nervousness about them” and in terms of cannabis, “there is a smell and it is strong.”