Midlands' Inspector Ollie Baker says the new laws are welcomed by rank and file gardaí.
The Justice Minister says the government isn't trying to catch people out with new fines to enforce Covid-19 rules.
Legislation to introduce the fines is being debated in the Dáil and is expected to go to the Seanad for approval.
Sinn Féin says it's unacceptable that the bill is being rushed through.
But Minister Helen McEntee says they're not trying to punish people:
Inspector Ollie Baker from the Laois Offaly Roads Policing Unit says it'll be up to individual gardaí at checkpoints to make a judgement on each case.
He says the new laws are being welcomed by rank and file gardaí, but will only be used as a last resort:
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