Today is the first day of Operation Freeflow, the annual Garda campaign to ease the flow of traffic through Dublin city.
The first day of the campaign also coincides with a change in law that will allow gardaí to request random breath tests of drivers if they believe the driver has committed a road traffic offence or been involved in a collision.
The project, which is now in its eighth year, aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the Dublin area in the run-up to Christmas and includes the deferral and rescheduling of building including some LUAS works that may interfere with traffic.
Freeflow - which runs from 1st December, 2003, to 5th January, 2004 - is intended to cater for pre-Christmas shopping, increased traffic congestion, Christmas Festivities and the post-Christmas sales. It also takes into account traffic congestion relating to LUAS works and the Dublin Port Tunnel.
There will be an increased garda presence around the city. Gardaí on Mountain Bikes will be used for traffic management in the City Centre.
Garda air support will also be available to monitor the situation and identify the sources of obstruction.