Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 1973

What is this act about?

This law amends the Road Traffic Act, 1968, primarily by clarifying and updating procedures related to taking specimens (breath, blood, or urine) from arrested persons for alcohol concentration testing.

Who it applies to: Members of the Garda Síochána; Persons arrested under specific sections of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, related to driving offences.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Procedural law
Articles: 8
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The definition of "designated" in relation to Garda Síochána members.
The authority of a member of the Garda Síochána to require specimens from arrested persons.
The conditions under which a defense can be made in prosecutions for refusing to provide a blood specimen.
The evidential weight of certificates related to specimen analysis in legal proceedings.

Who does this act apply to?

Members of the Garda Síochána.
Persons arrested under specific sections of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, related to driving offences.
Designated registered medical practitioners involved in taking specimens.

What are the key points?

A "designated" person is now specifically defined as designated by a member of the Garda Síochána.
Any member of the Garda Síochána at a Garda station can require an arrested person to provide breath, blood, or urine specimens.
A defense against refusing a blood specimen can be made if the arrested person was not offered a breath test opportunity by a Garda member upon request.
Certificates of specimen analysis are considered "sufficient evidence until the contrary is shown" in legal proceedings, rather than "conclusive evidence."

Procedural law

Licensing (Renewal of Licences) Act, 1923

Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984

Children Act, 1997

Courts (No. 2) Act, 1986

Animals Act, 1985

Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act, 1994

Irish Legal Terms Act, 1945

Industrial Development (Encouragement of External Investment) Act, 1958

Procedural law

Legal text

Contents (8)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8

Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 1973 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1973 Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 1973 Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 1973 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 15 of 1973 ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1973 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definition.

Section 2

Amendment of section 27 of Act of 1968.

Section 3

Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1968.

Section 4

Amendment of section 33 of Act of 1968.

Section 5

Amendment of section 36 of Act of 1968.

Section 6

Amendment of section 43 of Act of 1968.

Section 7

Amendment of section 44 of Act of 1968.

Section 8

Short title and collective citation.

Act Referred to Road Traffic Act, 1968 1968, No. 25 Number 15 of 1973 ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1973 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT, 1968 . [26th July, 1973] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Definition.

1.—In this Act “the Act of 1968” means the Road Traffic Act, 1968 .

Amendment of section 27 of Act of 1968.

2.—Section 27 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following for the definition of “designated”: “‘designated’ means designated by a member of the Garda Síochána;”.

Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1968.

3.—Section 30 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution in subsection (1) of “a member of the Garda Síochána” for “the member of the Garda Síochána then in charge there”, and (b) by the substitution in subsection (2) of “a member of the Garda Síochána” for “the member of the Garda Síochána in charge of the station”, and, accordingly, the said subsections shall have effect as set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE

(1)Where a person (in this section referred to as the arrested person) arrested under section 49 (4) of the Principal Act or section 28 (3) (a) of this Act has been brought to a Garda station a member of the Garda Síochána may do either or both of the following— (a) require the arrested person to provide in the prescribed manner a specimen of his breath by exhaling into an apparatus designed for showing the concentration of alcohol in the breath or blood or into a receptacle designed for preserving the specimen for subsequent analysis, (b) require the arrested person either to permit a designated registered medical practitioner to take from the arrested person a specimen of his blood or, if the arrested person so opts, to provide for the designated registered medical practitioner a specimen of the arrested person's urine in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), when an arrested person who opted to provide in accordance with the prescribed procedure a specimen of urine fails to do so, he may be required by a member of the Garda Síochána to permit the designated registered medical practitioner to take from the arrested person a specimen of his blood.

Amendment of section 33 of Act of 1968.

4.—Section 33 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution in subsection (1) of “a member of the Garda Síochána” for “the member of the Garda Síochána then in charge there”, and (b) by the substitution in subsection (2) of “a member of the Garda Síochána” for “the member of the Garda Síochána in charge of the station”, and, accordingly, the said subsections shall have effect as set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE

(1)Where a person (in this section referred to as the arrested person) arrested under section 50 (6) of the Principal Act or section 28 (3) (b) of this Act has been brought to a Garda station, a member of the Garda Síochána may do either or both of the following— (a) require the arrested person to provide in the prescribed manner a specimen of his breath by exhaling into an apparatus designed for showing the concentration of alcohol in the breath or blood or into a receptacle designed for preserving the specimen for subsequent analysis, (b) require the arrested person either to permit a designated registered medical practitioner to take from the arrested person a specimen of his blood or, if the arrested person so opts, to provide for the designated registered medical practitioner a specimen of the arrested person's urine in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), when an arrested person who opted to provide in accordance with the prescribed procedure a specimen of urine fails to do so, he may be required by a member of die Garda Síochána to permit the designated registered medical practitioner to take from the arrested person a specimen of his blood.

Amendment of section 36 of Act of 1968.

5.—Section 36 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended by the the substitution in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of “a member of the Garda Síochána” for “the member of the Garda Síochána then in charge there” and of “such a member” for “such member”, and, accordingly, the said subsection shall have effect as set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE

(1)In a prosecution for refusing or failing to permit a designated registered medical practitioner to take a specimen of blood, it shall be a good defence for the defendant— (a) to show that, when brought to the Garda station and before a requisition under section 30 (1) (b) or section 33 (1) (b) was made on him, he was not given an opportunity by a member of the Garda Síochána (having requested such an opportunity of such a member) of providing in the prescribed manner a specimen of his breath by exhaling into an apparatus designed for the purpose of indicating the presence’ of alcohol in the breath, or (b) to show that, when required to permit the taking of the specimen, he had not been cautioned in the prescribed terms of the possible effects of his refusal or failure, or (c) to satisfy the court that there was a special and substantial reason for his refusal or failure.

Amendment of section 43 of Act of 1968.

6.—Section 43 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (1) of “the member of the Garda Síochána who made the requisition” for “the member of the Garda Síochána then in charge of the station”, and, accordingly, the said subsection shall have effect as set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE

(1)Whenever a designated registered medical practitioner has, following a requisition under section 30 or section 33, taken a specimen of blood or obtained a specimen of urine from a person, he shall certify the prescribed particulars on a prescribed form which he shall then give to the member of the Garda Síochána who made the requisition, and the specimen and a copy of the certificate shall be forwarded in accordance with the prescribed procedure to the Bureau.

Amendment of section 44 of Act of 1968.

7.—Section 44 of the Act of 1968 is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of “be sufficient evidence until the contrary is shown” for “be conclusive evidence”, (b) by the substitution in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of “facts in relation to which records are required” for “facts obtained from records required”, and (c) by the insertion after subsection (2) of the following new subsection: “(3) In a prosecution for an offence under section 49 or 50 of the Principal Act, it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown that a person who took from a person, referred to in section 30 or 33 of this Act as the arrested person, a specimen of the arrested person's blood, or for whom the arrested person provided a specimen of his urine, is a registered medical practitioner.”, and, accordingly, the said section shall have effect as set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE Provisions relating to evidence.

44.—(1) A certificate expressed to be issued under section 43 (1) shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate or that that person was the proper person so to sign, be sufficient evidence in any legal proceedings of the matters certified in the certificate, until the contrary is shown.

(2)Where a certificate is expressed to have been issued under section 43 (3), the following provisions shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate or that that person was the proper person so to sign, apply: (a) where the certificate states that it has been determined that a specimen of blood contained a specified concentration of alcohol or that a specimen of urine contained a concentration of alcohol equivalent to a specified concentration of alcohol in the blood, the certificate shall, in a prosecution for an offence under section 49 or 50 of the Principal Act, but subject to section 45 (4) of this Act, be sufficient evidence until the contrary is shown that, at the time the specimen was taken or provided, the concentration of alcohol in the blood of the person from whom the specimen was taken or by whom the specimen was provided was the specified concentration of alcohol; (b) where the certificate states other facts in relation to which records are required to be kept under this Part, it shall be sufficient evidence in any legal proceedings of the correctness of those facts until the contrary is shown.

(3)In a prosecution for an offence under section 49 or 50 of the Principal Act, it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown that a person who took from a person, referred to in section 30 or 33 of this Act as the arrested person, a specimen of the arrested person's blood, or for whom the arrested person provided a specimen of his urine, is a registered medical practitioner.

Short title and collective citation.

8.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 1973.

(2)This Act and the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 and 1968, may be cited together as the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1973.

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