Cross-Border penalty points system to go ahead by April 2007

A plan to allocate penalty points to motorists breaking road traffic laws after crossing the Border is being developed by the Irish and British governments ahead of its possible introduction next April.

A team of officials from both departments was formed following correspondence between Dr Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport in Britain and the Minister for Transport last month.

Dr Ladyman said the departments should be able to "initiate such mutual recognition . . . in the early part of 2007," and added that his officials were working towards introducing such a system.

In a letter to Mr Cullen, Dr Ladyman indicated that the earliest all necessary arrangements could be completed would be April 2007.

Currently, motorists from the Republic caught speeding on fixed cameras in the North won't incur penalty points and the same applies for Northern drivers caught speeding in this State.

Up until the end of March, 57,489 drivers had incurred penalty points in this State which were not imposed because "no driver number" was available.

More than 260,000 drivers in Ireland have been allocated penalty points, according to the latest information available from the Department of Transport.

Not all "no driver number" motorists are from Northern Ireland.

This category also includes tourists, holders of other European licences driving in the Republic and Irish citizens driving under a licence gained in Britain or another country.

A reciprocal system of penalty points for motorists who cross the Border and incur penalty points has been under consideration for more than two years. The project was significantly advanced in February during a British-Irish Council meeting which closed a loophole allowing motorists banned from driving in the Republic to keep driving in Northern Ireland, Britain or the Isle of Man.

This was then legislated for in the Road Safety Authority Bill which established the Road Safety Authority and this is expected to come into effect as early as the New Year.

At this council meeting British and Irish ministers also agreed to study the practicality of greater co-operation in dealing with lesser road traffic infringements, in particular speeding, and this process is now underway.

Mr Cullen is keen to resolve the issue and has sought agreement among European transport ministers for a pan-European penalty points system.