Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
184. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will point to the legislative provision that permits the use of fixed cameras to detect and penalise motoring offences that are not defined as exceeding existing speed limits. [21513/24]
View answerSection 81 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the use of cameras, radar guns or other electronic apparatus by An Garda Síochána to obtain evidence to assist in the detection of specific traffic offences. Section 81 requires electronic apparatus used to capture this type of evidence to be approved in advance by An Garda Síochána or Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
As well as the detection of speed limit infringements, Section 81 also provides for camera enforcement of other road traffic offences, including careless driving, dangerous driving, dangerous parking, and bridge strikes. It also covers any contravention of traffic and parking regulations under Section 35 of the 1994 Road Traffic Act, which includes offences as breaking red lights, dangerous overtaking, and driving or parking on a bus lane, cycle track or footpath.
Section 81 powers have been successfully used by TII, working with An Garda Síochána, for detecting speeding offences and it is available to other road authorities on a similar basis for other offences.
TII is currently leading the development of a National Safety Camera Enforcement Strategy, which is expected to be finalised before the end of 2024.
