Offending motorists had to pay out almost u£15 million in road traffic fines in 1999, writes Kevin Rafter. Provisional figures issued by the Department of Justice indicate that the value of on-the-spot fines for speeding, issued by gardai last year, was u£8.5 million.
The courts imposed another u £6.2 million fines on motorists for a range of offences, including speeding, failure to display motor-tax discs and illegal parking.
The on-the-spot fines for speeding were first introduced in December 1996 and have proved to be an increasing source of income for the Exchequer. In 1997 gardai issued fines to the value of u £2.9 million. This figures increased to u £5.4 million in 1998 and £8.5 million in 1999.
Receipts from road-traffic fines imposed by the courts have also been increasing, although at a slower pace. In 1997 the courts imposed some u £5.5 million in fines. The figure was £6.1 million in 1998 and u £6.2 million in 1999.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice last night said the increased number of gardai had allowed for the implementation of the anti-speeding initiative, Operation Lifesaver.
The introduction of fixed speed-detection cameras along main routes has also helped to increase detection of speeding motorists.