Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to :

• provide for a reduction in the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers;
• revise associated penalties, including driver disqualifications;
• provide for the mandatory alcohol testing of drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles involved in road traffic collisions;
• clarify the minimum disqualification period that must be served before a driver may apply to the courts for the restoration of their licence, following the imposition of a disqualification order;
• provide powers to assist the Gardaí in forming the opinion that the driver is or is not under the influence of an intoxicant (drug or drugs) and to carry out a Preliminary Impairment Test on such drivers;
• provide a consolidation and restatement of the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts relating to intoxicated driving
• provide for amendments to certain fixed charge and penalty point matters;
• improve certain provisions relating to driving licences;
• provide for a number of minor amendments to the Road Traffic Acts.

Provisions of the Bill

PART 1 PRELIMINARY & GENERAL

Section 1 contains standard provisions regarding the short title of this Act, commencement and citation.

Section 2 sets out definitions of various terms used in the Act.

PART 2 INTOXICATED DRIVING OFFENCES

This Part, while introducing some new provisions relating to a reduction in the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and preliminary roadside breath testing at the scene of collisions, restates the core intoxicated driving provisions of the Road Traffic Acts and restates them in consolidated and clearer format.

Chapter 1

General

Section 3 provides for certain interpretations in respect of this Part.