Laois gardaí catch 47 drivers using mobile phones in one day of safety campaign
Gardaí issue 63 fixed charge notices within hours-long period
Within a few hours of a recent road safety campaign, Laois gardaí apprehended 47 motorists using their mobile phones while driving.
Laois gardaí have recently rolled out Operation Iompar, a road safety campaign that has gradually moved through counties across the country.
“Keep on scrolling and you'll be strolling... Operation Iompar rolled into County Laois recently as part of our ongoing road safety campaign,” gardaí said.
“Our discreet arctic didn't have to wait long....within just a few hours, 63 Fixed Charge Notices had been issued. 47 of these for drivers using a mobile phone,” they stated.
“The message couldn't be any clearer... Put the phone down... or you'll have to get used to counting your steps instead of your kilometres,” gardaí finished.
Operation Iompair is an initiative by An Garda Síochána’s Roads Policing Division to tackle distracted driving on our roads.
This initiative uses an unmarked truck, crewed by two gardaí, who patrol the motorways and dual carriageways to detect drivers committing offences such as holding their mobile phone while driving, watching films on laptops or tablets or any other conduct that distracts from their driving.
The operation uses the unmarked truck, followed closely behind by a number of unmarked “interceptor” garda vehicles who stop vehicles over who have committed an offence.
The most common offence is holding a mobile phone while driving, which comes with a fixed charge notice of €120 and three penalty points.
There have been two road deaths in Laois since January of 2026. You are four times more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision when holding your phone while driving.