Irish motorists face penalty points on their licences for offences under the Road Traffic Bill announced today.
In most cases, penalty points will be applied through acceptance or payment by motorists of fixed-charge penalties, which will replace on-the-spot fines. By paying these, drivers accept their licences will be endorsed by penalty points.
The points will stay on record for three years. After 12 or more points, a six-month disqualification applies.
The Department of the Environment hopes driving habits will improve and the court system will not be tied up with driving offences.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, said the system will become the new "facts of life" for motorists.
A National Road Authority spokesman welcomed the bill and said any initiative targeting driving behaviour was a positive step. He said an NRA survey in 1997 claimed 40 per cent of cars broke the limit in 60 mph zones.
Other aspects of the Road Traffic Bill include using cameras and other electronic equipment to establish proof of an offence. At the moment, they are limited to recording speeding offences. Control of taxi ranks and bus stops will be transferred to the Garda Commissioner.
The bill also allows the Garda to breathalyse drivers in road accidents.