I am informed by An Garda Síochána that section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, creates the offence of ‘Driving without a Driving Licence’. The penalty for this offence is, upon summary conviction, a fine not exceeding €1,000, and in any other case, a fine not exceeding €2,000.
I am further informed that section 38 (5) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, provides an increased penalty in respect of a person who is summarily convicted of the offence of Driving without a Driving Licence and was, at the time he or she committed the offence, disqualified for holding a driving licence, namely a fine not exceeding €5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.
The following table, provided by the Courts Service, shows the number of drivers summoned to court for driving without a licence, per district court, for 2018 and 2019. 2020 figures are for the period from January – July 2020.
Please note that the Courts can only provide data in relation to where offence codes provided on the system were used by prosecutors. Prosecutors may have used uncoded free text offences and any such offences would not be included in the data provided.
Jan – Dec 2018
Court Area
|
No. of Persons before the court
|
No. of Persons convicted
|
No. of Persons where fines were imposed
|
ACAILL
|
1
|
|
|
ARKLOW
|
88
|
15
|
15
|
ATHLONE
|
141
|
35
|
22
|
BALLINASLOE
|
94
|
17
|
17
|
BANTRY
|
37
|
13
|
9
|
BRAY
|
279
|
39
|
37
|
CAVAN
|
229
|
11
|
8
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
5,383
|
1,079
|
1,033
|
ENNIS
|
369
|
103
|
103
|
FERMOY
|
152
|
19
|
12
|
KENMARE
|
21
|
9
|
9
|
KILKENNY
|
235
|
89
|
84
|
KILLARNEY
|
104
|
38
|
34
|
LIMERICK
|
961
|
275
|
273
|
MACROOM
|
103
|
36
|
28
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
13
|
6
|
4
|
MEATH
|
652
|
81
|
75
|
MONAGHAN
|
91
|
4
|
4
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
203
|
54
|
54
|
ROSCOMMON
|
82
|
16
|
14
|
WEXFORD
|
280
|
66
|
52
|
YOUGHAL
|
43
|
11
|
8
|
ARDEE
|
56
|
3
|
3
|
ATHY
|
80
|
25
|
22
|
BALLINA
|
61
|
15
|
15
|
BANDON
|
95
|
34
|
23
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
21
|
4
|
2
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
33
|
3
|
2
|
BUNCRANA
|
62
|
4
|
2
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
15
|
2
|
2
|
CARLOW
|
218
|
55
|
52
|
CASHEL
|
133
|
20
|
17
|
CASTLEBAR
|
114
|
21
|
20
|
CLIFDEN
|
16
|
4
|
4
|
CLONMEL
|
99
|
24
|
15
|
CLONAKILTY
|
51
|
16
|
13
|
CORK CITY
|
943
|
337
|
273
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
73
|
9
|
8
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
115
|
4
|
4
|
CARNDONAGH
|
26
|
4
|
3
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
39
|
13
|
9
|
CASTLEREA
|
23
|
7
|
7
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
DUNGARVAN
|
83
|
12
|
11
|
DONEGAL
|
21
|
6
|
2
|
DROGHEDA
|
223
|
15
|
13
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
24
|
7
|
4
|
DUNDALK
|
220
|
16
|
14
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
23
|
3
|
2
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
18
|
1
|
|
GALWAY
|
410
|
114
|
71
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
12
|
6
|
2
|
GORT
|
57
|
13
|
12
|
GOREY
|
227
|
42
|
32
|
KILLALOE
|
39
|
10
|
9
|
KILCOCK
|
112
|
30
|
28
|
KILLORGLIN
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
KILRUSH
|
58
|
17
|
17
|
LETTERKENNY
|
215
|
50
|
23
|
LISMORE
|
17
|
4
|
4
|
LISTOWEL
|
84
|
30
|
27
|
LONGFORD
|
207
|
47
|
39
|
LOUGHREA
|
85
|
21
|
19
|
MALLOW
|
243
|
36
|
23
|
MIDLETON
|
182
|
27
|
11
|
MULLINGAR
|
219
|
43
|
33
|
NAAS
|
536
|
83
|
80
|
NENAGH
|
158
|
11
|
11
|
PORTLAOISE
|
535
|
91
|
88
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
19
|
4
|
3
|
SLIGO
|
128
|
14
|
11
|
STROKESTOWN
|
21
|
5
|
3
|
THURLES
|
137
|
21
|
19
|
TIPPERARY
|
76
|
10
|
9
|
TRALEE
|
191
|
54
|
41
|
TUAM
|
112
|
30
|
26
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
48
|
6
|
5
|
TULLAMORE
|
307
|
68
|
65
|
VIRGINIA
|
167
|
14
|
14
|
WICKLOW
|
141
|
23
|
23
|
WESTPORT
|
13
|
5
|
5
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
390
|
18
|
16
|
Total
|
17,612
|
3,633
|
3,212
|
Jan – Dec 2019
Court Area
|
No. of Persons before the court
|
No. of Persons convicted
|
No. of Persons where fines were imposed
|
ACAILL
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
ARKLOW
|
87
|
15
|
15
|
ATHLONE
|
130
|
29
|
25
|
BALLINASLOE
|
104
|
23
|
13
|
BANTRY
|
43
|
6
|
3
|
BRAY
|
264
|
44
|
43
|
CAVAN
|
200
|
4
|
4
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
5,819
|
1,138
|
1,068
|
ENNIS
|
296
|
39
|
37
|
FERMOY
|
156
|
28
|
18
|
KENMARE
|
9
|
3
|
3
|
KILKENNY
|
263
|
68
|
55
|
KILLARNEY
|
77
|
29
|
16
|
LIMERICK
|
940
|
284
|
280
|
MACROOM
|
94
|
15
|
5
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
15
|
1
|
1
|
MEATH
|
580
|
98
|
94
|
MONAGHAN
|
104
|
7
|
4
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
226
|
62
|
61
|
ROSCOMMON
|
75
|
15
|
11
|
TRIM
|
1
|
|
|
WEXFORD
|
328
|
46
|
43
|
YOUGHAL
|
42
|
15
|
6
|
ARDEE
|
84
|
8
|
7
|
ATHY
|
88
|
17
|
13
|
BALLINA
|
54
|
11
|
11
|
BANDON
|
81
|
28
|
13
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
9
|
2
|
2
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
27
|
8
|
5
|
BALLINAMORE
|
1
|
|
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
44
|
4
|
4
|
BUNCRANA
|
34
|
2
|
1
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
14
|
4
|
3
|
CARLOW
|
189
|
57
|
49
|
CASHEL
|
179
|
36
|
27
|
CASTLEBAR
|
166
|
41
|
40
|
CLIFDEN
|
13
|
2
|
1
|
CLONMEL
|
103
|
25
|
16
|
CLONAKILTY
|
48
|
14
|
5
|
CORK CITY
|
1,038
|
401
|
327
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
96
|
11
|
10
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
129
|
4
|
4
|
CARNDONAGH
|
34
|
1
|
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
35
|
8
|
6
|
CASTLEREA
|
32
|
10
|
10
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
20
|
4
|
4
|
DUNGARVAN
|
81
|
9
|
4
|
DONEGAL
|
19
|
1
|
1
|
DROGHEDA
|
295
|
27
|
25
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
24
|
9
|
7
|
DUNDALK
|
300
|
29
|
27
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
24
|
2
|
1
|
EDENDERRY
|
1
|
|
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
8
|
3
|
|
GALWAY
|
288
|
77
|
53
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
6
|
1
|
|
GORT
|
74
|
28
|
28
|
GOREY
|
286
|
29
|
27
|
KILLALOE
|
33
|
7
|
7
|
KILCOCK
|
96
|
14
|
12
|
KILLORGLIN
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
KILRUSH
|
36
|
5
|
4
|
LETTERKENNY
|
185
|
24
|
9
|
LISMORE
|
22
|
4
|
|
LISTOWEL
|
57
|
11
|
9
|
LONGFORD
|
261
|
57
|
51
|
LOUGHREA
|
111
|
27
|
25
|
MALLOW
|
233
|
45
|
14
|
MIDLETON
|
212
|
38
|
16
|
MULLINGAR
|
217
|
39
|
28
|
NAAS
|
785
|
124
|
112
|
NENAGH
|
146
|
15
|
15
|
PORTLAOISE
|
510
|
85
|
82
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
12
|
4
|
2
|
SLIGO
|
139
|
11
|
11
|
STROKESTOWN
|
24
|
4
|
3
|
THURLES
|
139
|
13
|
12
|
TIPPERARY
|
88
|
8
|
8
|
TRALEE
|
218
|
65
|
52
|
TUAM
|
99
|
23
|
13
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
39
|
3
|
3
|
TULLAMORE
|
328
|
53
|
49
|
VIRGINIA
|
143
|
5
|
5
|
WICKLOW
|
148
|
16
|
16
|
WESTPORT
|
17
|
5
|
5
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
477
|
26
|
23
|
Total
|
18,564
|
3,620
|
3,129
|
Jan – 31 July 2020
Court Area
|
No. of Persons before the court
|
No. of Persons convicted
|
No. of Persons where fines were imposed
|
ACAILL
|
1
|
|
|
ARKLOW
|
49
|
8
|
8
|
ATHLONE
|
76
|
8
|
8
|
BALLINASLOE
|
49
|
20
|
17
|
BANTRY
|
16
|
|
|
BRAY
|
119
|
12
|
12
|
CAVAN
|
77
|
3
|
1
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
1,919
|
233
|
211
|
ENNIS
|
165
|
32
|
32
|
FERMOY
|
53
|
1
|
1
|
KENMARE
|
3
|
|
|
KILKENNY
|
123
|
26
|
25
|
KILLARNEY
|
32
|
10
|
5
|
LIMERICK
|
489
|
116
|
116
|
MACROOM
|
33
|
3
|
2
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
4
|
|
|
MEATH
|
253
|
35
|
34
|
MONAGHAN
|
28
|
|
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
93
|
26
|
26
|
ROSCOMMON
|
47
|
14
|
14
|
WEXFORD
|
171
|
15
|
10
|
YOUGHAL
|
14
|
3
|
1
|
ARDEE
|
26
|
1
|
1
|
ATHY
|
38
|
2
|
2
|
BALLINA
|
29
|
2
|
2
|
BANDON
|
28
|
4
|
1
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
1
|
|
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
13
|
|
|
BUNCRANA
|
21
|
1
|
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
9
|
1
|
|
CARLOW
|
128
|
26
|
25
|
CASHEL
|
103
|
15
|
15
|
CASTLEBAR
|
76
|
23
|
23
|
CLIFDEN
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
CLONMEL
|
60
|
12
|
4
|
CLONAKILTY
|
20
|
2
|
1
|
CORK CITY
|
518
|
179
|
146
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
20
|
1
|
1
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
75
|
|
|
CARNDONAGH
|
20
|
2
|
2
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
22
|
5
|
4
|
CASTLEREA
|
16
|
4
|
3
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
DUNGARVAN
|
35
|
1
|
1
|
DONEGAL
|
10
|
|
|
DROGHEDA
|
93
|
5
|
5
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
21
|
8
|
6
|
DUNDALK
|
93
|
7
|
6
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
4
|
|
19
|
GALWAY
|
132
|
30
|
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
6
|
1
|
|
GORT
|
46
|
9
|
9
|
GOREY
|
122
|
12
|
11
|
KILLALOE
|
8
|
2
|
2
|
KILLORGLIN
|
3
|
|
|
KILRUSH
|
10
|
4
|
4
|
LETTERKENNY
|
121
|
14
|
5
|
LISMORE
|
5
|
|
|
LISTOWEL
|
36
|
6
|
4
|
LONGFORD
|
137
|
34
|
28
|
LOUGHREA
|
61
|
21
|
16
|
MALLOW
|
79
|
7
|
7
|
MIDLETON
|
80
|
7
|
3
|
MULLINGAR
|
89
|
14
|
11
|
NAAS
|
372
|
29
|
22
|
NENAGH
|
76
|
4
|
4
|
PORTLAOISE
|
225
|
30
|
29
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
9
|
4
|
|
SLIGO
|
69
|
3
|
3
|
STROKESTOWN
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
THURLES
|
55
|
3
|
3
|
TIPPERARY
|
37
|
1
|
1
|
TRALEE
|
113
|
29
|
15
|
TUAM
|
48
|
18
|
14
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
26
|
|
|
TULLAMORE
|
135
|
11
|
10
|
VIRGINIA
|
34
|
3
|
3
|
WICKLOW
|
85
|
8
|
8
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
201
|
6
|
5
|
Total
|
7,751
|
1,187
|
1,018
|