A review of breath testing in Northern Ireland 1968-1979.

The present legislation in Northern Ireland to control drunken driving was fixed enacted in 1968. It differs from the legislation in other parts of the United Kingdom. Its central feature is a two tier offence as follows 1. a major offence in which the subject is diemed to be incapable of having control of a motor vehicle if the b.a.c. is in excess of 125 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. 2. a minor offence in which a motorist may not drive, or attempt to drive when the b.a.c. is in excess of 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.