Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if on the spot fines are no longer issued following the introduction of the new hand held devices to issue fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15840/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that prior to the rollout of the fixed charge processing system on 3 April 2006 a number of non-penalty point offences were dealt with by the fines on the spot system. Since 3 April the use of hand-held devices and notepads replaced the fines on the spot system and all offences are being dealt with under the fixed charge processing system.

This system involves the detecting Garda recording the offences on either a hand-held terminal or a notepad. A fixed charge notice is then issued and posted from the national processing office to the owner of the vehicle as recorded on the national vehicle file.