Written answers

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Road Traffic Offences

8:00 pm

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the level of payment and collection of fines issued in respect of road traffic offences; the penalties which are applied to offenders who default on the payment of an on-the-spot fine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10518/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The issue of the level of payment and collection of fines is kept constantly under review. The legislation governing the penalty points and fixed charge system is set out in the Road Traffic Acts 2002 and 2004, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Transport. If payment is not made within 28 days of the date of issue of the fixed charge notice the level of the charge increases by 50%. If payment is not received within a further 28 days a summons issues for the offence for which the fixed charge notice was originally issued. In circumstances where a person elects to go to court instead of paying the fixed charge, and is convicted, the penalties available to the court are set out in section 102(a), (b) and (c) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 2002. They include in the case of a first offence, a fine not exceeding €800; in the case of a second offence under that section or subsection, or of a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph, to a fine not exceeding €1,5000, and in the case of a third or subsequent offence under that section or subsection which is the third or subsequent such offence in any period of 12 consecutive months to a fine not exceeding €1,500 and or three months imprisonment.

The fixed charge processing system, FCPS, was rolled out nationwide with effect from 2 February 2006 having been operating effectively in the Dublin metropolitan region, parts of counties Louth and Meath and Cork city since January 2005. From 3 April the FCPS will handle an expanded range of fixed charge offences which attract penalty points, and additionally current fines for on-the-spot offences will be converted to fixed charge offences. Full integration of the FCPS with the Garda PULSE system is planned for mid-April. The payment collection service for fixed charges will be provided by An Post, and this is being rolled out on a phased basis. By 3 April this service will be operational in all 109 Garda districts, removing the need to pay these fines at the relevant Garda district headquarters.

These changes are designed to streamline administration and will significantly increase Garda time for operational duties.

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