Review of penalty point payments

THE GOVERNMENT is set to reform the current penalty point system to deal with the problem of drivers appearing before the courts for non-payment of penalty point fines.

The issue was initially brought to the attention of the Department of Transport by the Courts Service last autumn when it called for an urgent reform of legislation that was "failing to keep 'fixed penalty' offences out of court".

Drivers who receive a penalty point fine are given four weeks to pay and if they fail to do so the fine increases by 50 per cent and they are given a further four weeks to settle. However, the problem is what happens after this 56-day period elapses.

The legislation prevents any payment after this period, with the result that all unpaid fines result in a summons and a case in the District Court.

Only half of motorists are paying their fines on time with the result that in the first six months of last year, 88,000 summonses for fixed charge offences were listed before the courts, with a further 31,000 due to be sent to the courts by gardaí.

Head of the Garda Traffic Corps, assistant commissioner Eddie Rock, said work was underway to devise a new system that would increase the payment rate. He believes that many motorists are forgetting to pay their fines and only give the matter proper attention after a summons is served.

One option being examined would see motorists given a third opportunity to pay - most likely another seven to 10 days - after the 56 days has expired.

The Courts Service has also put forward a number of suggestions including that unpaid fines be collected as part of the next vehicle tax renewal.

The secretary general of the Department of Justice, Seán Aylward, said the system was likely to be reformed ahead of the introduction of privatised speed cameras, which are due to appear on the roads by the end of this year.

Mr Aylward said a system of graduated penalties for "people who frivolously either refuse to par or contest the penalty" was under consideration.