Peadar Tóibín
Question:123. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if she plans to include drugs found in the car of a driver as a reason to impose a driving ban on a driver. [27585/22]
View answerTuesday, 31 May 2022
Questions (123)
Written answers
As a general rule, the Road Traffic Acts impose penalties for traffic offences rather than other offences, such as possession of illegal substances. They do of course provide for driving disqualifications where a person is actually under the influence of an intoxicant.
However, I would draw the Deputy's attention to section 27 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Under this section, a person may receive a driving disqualification in the case of a 'crime or offence in the commission of which a mechanically propelled vehicle was used.' If for example a person was dealing drugs and using a car as part of that crime, it would be open to the court to issue a driving disqualification.
I have no plans to amend this legislation.