Drug Drive Campaign Continues

Police continue to crackdown on drug drivers after a man was arrested on the A55 at the weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shortly before 4pm yesterday (Sunday, March 6th) officers from the Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle which was travelling on the westbound carriageway of the A55 near Bangor which had defective lights. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 43-year-old driver subsequently failed the roadside drugswipe test after testing positive for cocaine and he was arrested. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following a search of the vehicle drugs, believed to be Class A were discovered and he was further arrested for drug offences. He has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

New legislation was introduced in March 2015 whereby officers can now test for drugs at the roadside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The legislation sets limits at very low levels for eight drugs commonly associated with illegal use, such as cannabis and cocaine. Eight prescription drugs are also included in the law, including diazepam, methadone and morphine. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police use the ‘DrugWipe’ system which allows officers to determine in less than ten minutes, if a motorist has an illegal substance in their body, by using a swab from the driver’s mouth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Any drivers who fail the test are taken to police custody where a sample of their blood is taken. The blood is then sent away to be examined and if illegal levels of a drug are found, that motorist faces being prosecuted for drug driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Acting Sergeant Trystan Bevan from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “Officers are better equipped than ever before to detect drug drivers at the roadside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Driving under the influence of drugs not only puts the offender and their passengers at risk but everyone else using the roads as well. In the same way that we take a zero tolerance approach to drink driving, we will also not tolerate drug driving.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A woman was also arrested for drink driving in the Bethesda area during the early hours of Saturday morning following a damage only collision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 28-year-old has since been charged with drink driving and driving otherwise that in accordance with a licence and she will appear before Caernarfon Magistrates later this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anybody who may have information regarding drink or drug drivers should contact North Wales Police on 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​