Fines for 16 road offences will double from tomorrow - including speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and other charges affecting learner and novice drivers.
The Government confirmed that the new charges will come into effect from October 27, 2022, with Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton making the announcement at the Road Safety Authority's Annual Conference at Croke Park.
On top of the 16 instances were fines are doubling, three new Fixed Charge Notices will be coming into force from 2023.
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From tomorrow, some of the fines being doubled include:
- Speeding (from €80 to €160)
- Use of a mobile phone while driving (€60 to €120)
- Non-wearing of seatbelts (€60 to €120)
- Not ensuring a child is properly restrained (€60 to €120)
Certain fines relating to safety offences committed by learner and novice drivers, are also increasing.
- The fine for a learner permit holder driving a vehicle unaccompanied by a qualified person will increase from €80 to €160.
- The fine for novice and learner drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates, or tabards in the case of motorcyclists, will double to €120.
The new charges from 2023 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.*
Speaking at the RSA’s Annual Conference, Minister Naughton said: “As of today there have been 122 people killed on the road, an increase of 11 on this day last year, and compared to 2019.
"In response to the increase in road deaths this year, this summer I announced that I was bringing forward the implementation of Action 30 in the Road Safety Strategy to review the penalties for serious road traffic offences and said that I intended to increase the fines for those offences that significantly contribute to road deaths.
"Increasing fines for road offences will act as a stronger deterrent to those who choose to break our lifesaving rules of the road.”
If a driver fails to pay the fine within a 28 day period it increases to €180 or €240. Fail to pay after a further 28 day period and the fine increases to €240 or €320
As of October 26, there have been 123 people killed on Irish roads this is an increase of 12 fatalities compared to the same date last year.
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