Fines for a range of road safety offences from speeding to not wearing a seatbelt have doubled in Ireland.
Fines for speeding have increased to €160 from €80. Fines for mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and failing to ensure that a child is properly restrained have increased from €60 to €120.
Certain fines relating to safety offences committed by learner and novice drivers have also doubled. The fine for a learner permit holder driving a vehicle unaccompanied by a qualified person has increased from €80 to €160. The fine for novice and learner drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates, or tabards in the case of motorcyclists, is now €120.
Three new Fixed Charge Notices will also come into force in the new year. These relate to the misuse of a disabled parking permit. Illegally parking in an electric charging bay and breaching a HGV ban and entering a specified public road without a valid permit.
The changes came in force on 27 October.
“These fines have not increased since they were introduced, in some cases almost 20 years ago,” said Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton.
“Increasing fines for road offences will act as a stronger deterrent to those who choose to break our lifesaving rules of the road.”
