Vol. 423 No. 6
23 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if Garda checkpoints in the past year have been instrumental in reducing the number of uninsured and untaxed motor vehicles being used; if he intends operating a blitz system in the same way as the Garda operate to check on drink driving at Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Garda checkpoints are set up for the purpose, among other things, of detecting road traffic offences, including insurance and motor tax evasion. These checkpoints are not confined to the Christmas period but are a feature of traffic law enforcement throughout the year.
In so far as insurance and motor tax evasion are concerned, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the most recent survey carried out by them showed that evasion levels had fallen since the last survey in 1987. This fall in the level of evasion is, to a large extent, due to the intensive campaign of road traffic law enforcement carried out by the Garda in recent years. There is, however, no room for complacency and I can assure the House that there will be no let-up in the Garda anti-evasion drive.
