Vol. 563 No. 5
210 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to increase the fines for parking by able-bodied people in spaces allocated for disabled drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8436/03]
Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, which was commenced on 31 October 2002, provides for major increases in certain financial penalties for road traffic offences, including an increase in the general penalty that applies to the majority of offences under the Road Traffic Acts, including the offence of illegally parking in a disabled person's parking bay.
Where a person is convicted of this offence, he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding €800 for a first offence, increased from €190 and a fine not exceeding €1,500 for a second or subsequent offence, and if a third or subsequent such offence is committed within 12 months, the person is liable to a fine not exceeding €1,500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both. The determination of the fine to be imposed in each case is a matter for the courts.
The offence of parking illegally in a disabled person's parking bay comes within the scope of the on-the-spot fines system. The amount of the on-the-spot fine applicable to this offence is €19, which is the level that applies to the majority of parking offences. Where an on-the-spot fine notice is issued, it is open to the person to whom the notice is addressed to pay the relevant amount to prevent the matter proceeding to court.
The Road Traffic Act 2002 provides for the replacement of the current on-the-spot fines system by a fixed charge system. Introduction of the new fixed charge system is being progressed in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda authorities. The new system will bring greater certainty to the application of administrative charges for the majority of traffic and parking offences. It will feature, in particular, a provision through which the original amount of the fixed charge will automatically increase by 50% where payment is not made within 28 days of the date of the original notice. In the context of the introduction of the fixed charge process system, I envisage that consideration will be given to updating the charges associated with parking offences, including this offence.
