The introduction of the breathalyser

1969 of course was the year that man first stepped on the moon. A historic moment beamed over the world. Some historical events pass without much notice, much like the introduction of the breathalyser on this day in 1969.

The Irish Press reported on 4 November 1969 -

The introduction of the breathalyser is perhaps the greatest milestone in the history of Law as it affects the motorist. The motorist, ever conscious that Ignorance of the law is no defence, is now scurrying to educate himself on the finer points of the breathalyser- regulations. The only point made clear is that if one fails the test, one is, in trouble - serious trouble. The somewhat ‘terse' pronouncements which informed the motorist that the regulations were coming into force, failed entirely to give him any guidance as to when, he might reach the forbidden blood alcohol level of 12.5 mg.

News of the amendment to the law had been published some days previous when the Irish Press reported:

The breathalyser test will not be enforced with iron-fisted authority, it was learned last night in fact, it will only be used when patrolling gardai see a badly-driven car and suspect that the driver is under the influence of drink. This method of enforcing the regulations, which come into operation on Sunday at midnight will allay many, of the suspicion; of motorists, who fear that they will be hounded by gardai lying in wait. But no public official assurance has been given on this question, and many motorists will still be suspicious of garda techniques, pointing out that the regulations allow more than a comfortable degree" of latitude from their point of view. ….The public outcry against the use, and possible abuse, of the breathalyser has not reached the hysterical proportions it reached in Britain when the breath test was introduced there, when the speed limit regulations were-made law.

Mr. Raymond O'Donoghue, head of the AA in Ireland, said yesterday that very few people had voiced criticism of the new laws. "I am at a loss to think of more than four or five people who have written to us about this as a direct subject," he said.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )