30% increase in arrests for drink driving

MORE than 400 motorists were arrested for drink driving in Limerick city and county up to the middle of September - a 30% increase on the same period last year.

Gardaí will continue to utilise a special strategy to catch offenders who drink alcohol and drive.

A spokesman for the Traffic Unit at Henry Street Garda station said drink driving was on the increase in Limerick.

“It is up by 100 people arrested for this time last year - about 30%. There were around 300 arrested for drink driving up to mid-September in 2004.”

Unmarked squad cars, mobile checkpoints and roving patrol units will all used as part of Operation Surround in the crackdown on drink driving.

“On this operation we will take a small area or village and target it on a particular night. It could be anywhere ... We will put all available resources on every approach road, laneway and street to that area.”

A total of 513 people were arrested in the Limerick Division for drink-driving during 2004 compared to 474 in 2003.