Young driver who pulled into ‘random house’ to avoid gardaí with no tax, NCT or insurance tests positive for cocaine

The incident happened today in Co Westmeath after the car “pinged” on the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System as it passed by a Roads Policing Unit.

“As he saw us approach, the young driver pulled into the driveway of a random house to try convince us he was going in home,” gardai posted on X.

"It all became apparent once we checked the reg on our Mobility app.”

The Garda patrol added that not only did the driver have no insurance, NCT, or tax, the car also had no working front or rear lights and a dangerously defective tyre.

“Oh, and he tested positive for cocaine,” gardaí added.

Many garda cars are now fitted with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system that can read number plates at a rate of six per second on vehicles travelling up to 180km/h.

All vehicles fitted with ANPR camera systems can identify vehicles that are stolen, untaxed, uninsured and those involved in persistent offending.

The gardaí’s new oral fluid preliminary drug test, which can be conducted at the roadside or in a Garda station, can test for cannabis, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines.