Brennan unveils new penalty points system

A new penalty points system has been unveiled today that will seedrivers caught speeding from this Thursday facing fixed fines, licence endorsements and possible disqualification.

Speaking this afternoon, theMinister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said he hoped itwould have a significant impact on the number of road fatalities each year. He described the number of deaths on Irish roads, at over 4,500 in the last ten years, as "a slaughter".

Under the new rules, any motorist stopped for speeding will face an automatic fine of €80, up from €65, and two penalty points on their licence. Should they fail to pay within 28 days, the fine will rise to €120.

If the driver decides to challenge the fine in court, they face having their penalty increased to four points on their licence and a fine of €800 - up from €190 - if they fail in their case. This Fixed Charge System, as it is called, replaces the on-the-spot fines method employed by gardaí.

Drivers who receive 12 points on their licence over three years will be disqualified from driving for six months.

The Minister said the system would only apply to speeding offences initially, but that a further 61 offences - including running red lights, careless driving, driving while disqualified, failure to observe road signs and various other safety and vehicle registration breaches - will be added early next year. Mr Brennan said he hoped to add the offence of not wearing seatbelts to this list.

It was also announced that from January 1st, 2003, drivers face fines if they fail to carry their licence with them at all times.

The Minister dismissed claims from Garda representatives that they had not been properly trained in the new system, saying he had been in contact with the Association of Garda Sergeants in Ireland (AGSI) and the Garda Representative Association (GRA), and "their fears have now been allayed."

Both the AGSI and the GRA had argued that the plan was "unworkable", as their members had not been trained properly. "Postponement on those grounds is not an option," Mr Brennan said.

Mr Michael Kirby, president of the GRA, described the plan as "ham-fisted". He said:"My members can't introduce something they know nothing about. They don't know how it's going to work when they have not been told. We have no idea what's going to happen on Thursday".

However, Assistant Garda Commissioner Mr Tony Hickey said this afternoon there was a "minimum of paperwork" involved over and above the current levels under the on-the-spot fines system, and promised all regional Garda forces would be fully briefed by Thursday. "It will be business as usual, but we'll have an extra weapon in our armoury," he said.

There were over 345,000 on-the-spot fines for speeding handed out in 2001.