A raft of fines relating to 16 road safety offences – some of which have not increased since the government introduced them almost twenty years ago – will double at midnight tonight.
That is according to the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, who made the announcement at the RSA’s annual conference in Croke Park today (Wednesday, October 26th, 2022).
The minister told attendees that increasing fines for road offences will “act as a stronger deterrent to those who choose to break our lifesaving road rules”.
Fines
From tomorrow, the following fines will double:
- Fine for learner permit holder driving a vehicle unaccompanied by a qualified person will increase from €80 to €160;
- Speeding (from €80 to €160);
- Mobile phone use while driving (€60 to €120);
- Non-wearing of seatbelts (€60 to €120) – Includes driver of car or goods vehicle not wearing safety belt, failure by a driver to comply with rear seat belt requirements for passengers under 17 years and driver of car or goods vehicle not wearing safety belt;
- Failing to ensure that a child is properly restrained (€60 to €120) (covers driver of car or goods vehicle permitting child under 3 years of age to travel in it without being restrained by appropriate child restraint, driver of car or goods vehicle permitting child over 3 years of age to travel in it without being restrained by appropriate child restraint and driver of car or goods vehicle permitting child to be restrained by rearward facing child restraint fitted to a seat protected by active frontal air-bag);
- Fine for novice and learner drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates, or tabards in the case of motorcyclists, will double to €120;
- Using vehicle not equipped with a speed limitation device or using a vehicle equipped with a speed limitation device not complying with requirements specified in regulation (€60 to €120);
- Failure to leave appropriate distance between you and the vehicle in front (€60 to €120);
- Failure to stop for school warden sign (€80 to €160).
Further increases
While the fine for 16 road traffic-related offences will increase to either €120 or €160 on October 27th, 2022, it should be noted that if a driver fails to pay the fine within a 28-day period, it increases to €180 or €240.
Fail to pay after a further 28-day period, and the fine increases to €240 or €320.
The RSA has reminded the public that in addition to the fines, it is worth remembering that the choice to speed, use a mobile phone while driving or not properly restrain a child could lead to you losing your licence.
Losing your licence
If you are detected speeding, you will receive three penalty points on your licence; if you get 12 penalty points in three years, you will be disqualified for six months.
Readers should also note that a lower threshold of 7 points applies to learner and novice drivers.
New fixed charge notices relating to the following will come into force in 2023:
- The misuse of a disabled parking permit – fixed charge penalty of €200;
- The offence of breaching an HGV ban and entering a specified public road without a valid permit – fixed charge penalty of €200;
- Parking in an electric charging bay for anything other than the intended purpose of charging a vehicle battery – fixed charge penalty of €80.
