Motorists caught parking on footpaths, cycle tracks and bus lanes now face a fixed charge penalty of €80.
Earlier this year, Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, signed regulations doubling the illegal parking fine from €40.
The new €80 penalties came into operation in Ireland on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022.
The minister believes the increased penalties which will both promote active travel and encourage a more “considerate” use of road space.
Illegal parking fine
In a statement, he said: “Parking on footpaths puts vulnerable pedestrians, such as wheelchair users and those pushing buggies, at significant risk by forcing them off the footpath and into traffic.”
“Parking in bus and cycle lanes endangers cyclists and undermines State investment in sustainable public transport infrastructure.”
“These increases should help improve the safety of all vulnerable road and footpath users, by creating a more effective deterrent to these specific forms of illegal parking.”
Encourage people to walk and cycle
Meanwhile, Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety Hildegarde Naughton, believes the new penalties will “safeguard” families and communities.
She is of the view they will “encourage more people to walk and cycle” as government invests almost €1 million per day on projects across the country.
She said obstructing footpaths, bus lanes and cycle tracks can confront vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, with particularly dangerous obstacles on busy roads.
“This can also force tricky manoeuvres upon buses and cars who may be attempting to overtake such careless parking,” she added.
Court for tractor driver with slurry tanker missing wheel
A tractor driver is set for a day before the courts after Gardaí brought them to a halt last week.
Templemore Roads Policing Unit detected numerous road-related offences whilst carrying out a checkpoint on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022.
In a statement, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said:
“Earlier, a tractor was stopped driving in darkness hours with no lights. His slurry tanker was missing a wheel.”
“Two of the remaining three wheels were bald with wire protruding. Proceedings to follow,” the spokesperson added.
Later that evening, Gardaí arrested a motorist – with no licence, tax, insurance or NCT – for drug driving and seized his car.
