Seanad debates

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Photo of Denis LandyDenis Landy (Labour)

Yes. My question relates to people being fined for not displaying national car test, NCT, certificates on their cars. If a traffic warden places a ticket on a car in respect of the non-display of an NCT certificate, he or she is doing so without knowing whether the owner of the vehicle has actually applied to have the test carried out. Traffic wardens are not in a position to check computer records in order to discover whether a test has been applied for. As a result, people are being fined in respect of the non-display of NCT certificates when some of them have evidence - either written or in the form of a mobile phone text - that they have applied to have their vehicles tested. When these cases go to court, they are thrown out by judges. This means that the time of traffic wardens, the courts and judges is being wasted. Under the Road Traffic Act 2010, road traffic wardens were given responsibility for checking whether people are displaying NCT certificates on their cars. However, they lack the equipment necessary to allow them to do the job properly. I request, therefore, that the legislation be amended.

I am also seeking that the provisions of this legislation which relate to the imposition of fines for road traffic offences be amended. What happens at present is that a fine is issued, then a reminder is sent out and then a registered letter is dispatched. If the latter is not signed for - there are many serial offenders in this country who do not pay fines - it is returned to the relevant local authority. Literally thousands of these letters are being stored in boxes in local authority offices throughout the country. There is a need for a new system to be put in place in order to ensure that these fines are paid. I ask that the relevant Minister re-examine the parts of the Road Traffic Act 2010 which relate to the matters to which I refer.

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