asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons charged on evidence of excess blood alcohol content as determined by the breathalyser test since its inception.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Breathalyser Tests.
110.
Statistics of this kind would not normally be compiled until after the year ended 30th September and accordingly full details are not available in Garda Headquarters. However, I am informed by the Garda, on the basis of a special check recently made by them, that, up to 30th April, 1971, 558 persons had been brought to court, following on their reacting positively to a breathalyser test, in respect of the offence of driving while the blood-alcohol content exceeds the prescribed limit or the separate offence of driving while drunk or both these offences. In addition, it can be taken that there was a number of cases where drivers were prosecuted for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle, that is to say, cases where evidence of actual driving or attempting to drive was not available.