Paul McGrath
Question:92 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the roll-out dates of the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16692/03]
Written Answers. - Road Traffic Offences.
Joe Costello
Question:110 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the recent claim made by the general secretary of the Garda Representative Association that more than 20,000 motorists are waiting to have their licences endorsed with penalty points due to the fact that the new scheme is not computerised; when the promised computer system will be available to apply the system; the timetable for the application of the penalty points system to other offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/03]
John Deasy
Question:138 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to review the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16691/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 110 and 138 together.
Penalty points for speeding have been operating since 31 October 2002. Penalty points are being applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of speeding offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge to the gardaí in order to prevent the instigation of court proceedings.
Since 1 June 2003, penalty points are applicable to those convicted of driving without insurance. I am also in consultation with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the gardaí for the purpose of applying the system to seat belt offences committed by drivers from July 2003.
The full application of penalty points system will be achieved when the relevant IT systems being developed by the Department, Equality and Law Reform and the gardaí are developed. I understand from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that those systems will be in place by the middle of 2004. The question of reviewing the system will be considered against the background of its full operation.
Penalty points are endorsed on the licence record held in the national driver file upon conviction for a speeding or insurance offence, or upon payment of a fixed charge for speeding. In the case of speeding offences, the system operates in such a way that the offer of paying a fixed charge is always provided and a person has 56 days within which to pay the charge. The 56 day period comprises an initial 28 day period within which €80 fixed charge can be paid, followed by a further 28 day period within which a fixed charge of €120 can be paid. If a person opts not to pay, the case is taken to court. These periods are built into the system and ensure that every opportunity is afforded to the person to pay the fixed charge and avoid a court hearing. There is, therefore, an inevitable and intrinsic time lapse between the issue of the notices, the payment of the fixed charge and the notification of the endorsement of penalty points. The fact that, at present, the processing of notices by the gardaí is operated on a manual basis, is a further contributory factor to those time lapses. This may result in a number of cases where drivers have been detected, but the points have yet to be endorsed on the licence record. The timing of the issue of fixed charge notices is a matter for the Garda Síochána.
Question No. 93 answered with Question No. 86.