Penalty Points

[Gwyn]

A friend of mine.........received speeding fine and 2 penalty points in the post this week - first time, for doing 81 in a 60 zone (Cloghran roundabout area - old airport road). My friend really does not want points on his license - so is wondering:

(a) is it true that if your license is non Irish - penalty points cannot be applied. If so - he may need to locate a friend or colleague with one who was driving his car at the time

(b) What if my friend's sister was driving the car at the time, as she was home from the US, driving on her US license ?? Will the good people in the Gardai be seeking proof that she was even in the country at the time ?
Or will they just take his word for it ?

I'll be happy to pass on any tips or advice you may have

[colm_mcm]

bits from the irish times 2 weeks ago:

440,000 drivers have received points since their introduction in 2002, but 108,000 of these drivers do not hold an Irish driving licence and so the points cannot be applied.

The AA has called on the Government to introduce a new "non-national driver file" to maintain a record of penalty points for those producing foreign licences following motoring offences here.

The move follows clarification by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that mutual recognition of penalty points between the Republic and Northern Ireland - as well as the wider EU community - is still some years away.

[CJ]

Disclaimer: FTO-Ireland does not condone efforts to cheat the penalty points system, forum users views on this topic are there own and do not constitute the views of forum admins or administartors.

A foreign friend of mine was caught speeding in an Irish reg car, the owner of the car informed the gardai of this when he received the fine in teh post. A new fine was sent to the address of the driver overseas. Assuming that the address is valid (and the fine did not come back undelivered), there was nothing more for the licenced owner to worry about.

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

(a) is it true that if your license is non Irish - penalty points cannot be applied. If so - he may need to locate a friend or colleague with one who was driving his car at the time

No - I have 2 points on my license.. they record your license number..
if you go to pay your fine in the post office afterwards they will ask to see the license to verify that you've entered the number correctly.

2 point prolly wont affect your insurance.. didn't affect mine at all.

[Gwyn]

A foreign friend of mine was caught speeding in an Irish reg car, the owner of the car informed the gardai of this when he received the fine in teh post. A new fine was sent to the address of the driver overseas. Assuming that the address is valid (and the fine did not come back undelivered), there was nothing more for the licenced owner to worry about.

CJ

Worth a shot - cheers

[colm_mcm]

No - I have 2 points on my license.. they record your license number..
.

In this case I think it was a gatso, rather than being pulled over.

[Dragonheart]

few questions, firt of all been doing well with avoiding the points, but i have a sneaky suspession ((susspecion?) (suspesion?), crap, how do you spell that bloody word!! ), anyway, that I might have picked up twice last week, just wanted to know how you know you've been done. I always thought that you had to be stopped but I think now they can just take a picture cant they? The other thing is, is there a chance the plate mightnt have been picked up if there was a car in front of me? Also, how far over the limit can you be going, the first time i was doing prob 60 in a 50, the second time it was prob 65-70 in a 60.

[Daz]

how far over the limit can you be going, the first time i was doing prob 60 in a 50, the second time it was prob 65-70 in a 60.

not sure how it works for a fixed camera but on a mobile one they usually allow 2+10% for example if your driving in a 50 zone they they would probably leave you alone at 57 (2 +((10% of 50=5)) total 7) but anything over that they would do you, thou the 2 + 10% is given for wear and tear on the speedo(not everyone calibrates theirs only traffic police) and thou most police follow it , its still at the discretion of the individual police officer it's not a solid rule.

Daz...

[mcgon1979]

Sorry to get back to this lads.... but...

Was late for a wedding (not my own thankfully) on saturday and was going pretty quick. Well, there is a section of road just before "Kentstown" near the school where the speed limit goes form 100 to 50kph!!! I was doing about 80kph when I came over the brow and saw some guy flashing me. Alas it was too late.... two gardai with a roadside tripod speed camera job. They didn't flag me down but I was DEFO doing 60ish when I passed by them, so I reckno they got me at 70kph anyways. in a 50kph zone.
Do they just photo the reg and thats it? Its my GFs punto so I might just say nothing. pay her to accept the points. God knows I don't need them with an FTO to insure. Shes estonian, but has an irish license now which is a shame.
anyway, I don't mind paying the fine, just wanna avoid the points. I'd say they got 90% of cars going over the limit. It was just over the brow of a hill, they were not in vis vests either and were standing one behind the other in a ditch. swear to god. even when your man flashed me I could not see the cops till I was 100m from them.

[Myfeckin FTO]

.... two gardai with a roadside tripod speed camera job. They didn't flag me down ......... they were not in vis vests either and were standing one behind the other in a ditch. .

If there was Gardai manning a roadside tripod then they would have to stop you to issue you with points and a fine - Its just the Gatso' - mobile vans and roadside cameras that automatically issue fines.

A lot of the Garda manned speed check positions will have a certain speed in their head for you to be doing before they stop you. I'm on the road quite a lot and usually come across a couple a week and I've yet to be stopped - I approached a manned speed checkpoint last week on an empty dual carriageway (100kmh zone) at circa 140kmh - they were well hidden - saw them at approx 60-80m and slowed to around 120kmh - and they didn't bother to stop me. I haven't been stopped for speeding in 4years and have frequently passed speed checkpoints at 10-20kmh over the limit.

With the mileage I do I had resigned myself to getting 2 points per year (so I'd have a max of 6 after 3 years and then they'd stay level as they'd drop by 2 and gain by 2 per year). But so far I'm on zero points - IMHO if you stay vigilant on the roads for all dangers and you'll have no problems seeing the telltale signs of an unmarked traffic car or an upcoming speed check.

[Muad_dib77]

I haven't been stopped for speeding in 4years and have frequently passed speed checkpoints at 10-20kmh over the limit.

With the mileage I do I had resigned myself to getting 2 points per year (so I'd have a max of 6 after 3 years and then they'd stay level as they'd drop by 2 and gain by 2 per year). But so far I'm on zero points

Better find some wood and give it a few taps - u should be carefull not to jinx that 0 points there.