Gardaí stopped a tractor driver in Scarriff, Co. Clare for a number of reasons, including issues with the windscreen, which had been replaced with timber and some glass tied together with cord.
The tractor was seized by An Garda Síochána yesterday morning (Wednesday, December 4) as part of its Christmas and New Year operation. The driver will receive a date for court in the post prior to Christmas.
The tractor also had what gardaí described as a “dangerously” bald tyre and no working lights. The vehicle was also carrying an unsecured load, according to An Garda Síochána.
In conjunction with ‘Open City’, the gardaí road safety Christmas and New Year enforcement operation aims to prevent fatal and serious injury collisions on roads, as well as prevention and detection of crime and public order incidents.
During this period, members of An Garda Síochána’s Roads Policing Units, supported by their colleagues from regular and community policing units across the country will be mounting checkpoints and conducting high visibility and covert patrols.
Gardaí
On social media, assistant commissioner for roads policing, Paula Hilman said: “We want everyone to have a really safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Part of that means that we all stay safe on our roads.
“So for those out driving, please never speed, drive within the speed limit and within the road and weather conditions that you’re seeing. Never get behind the wheel if you’ve taken a drink or drugs and wear your seatbelt.”
The operation will focus on lifesaver and intoxicated driving offences over the holiday period, with 3940 drivers arrested for drug driving this year, and 2463 arrested for drink driving.
Gardaí working nationwide have already carried out over 100,000 checkpoints to date, issued 184,000 on-the-spot fines and seized more than 29,000 vehicles for road traffic offences.