Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Intimidation of Motorists.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

296 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the public nuisance of young persons and children offering to wash car windscreens for motorists who are waiting at traffic lights; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that in many cases motorists find this very intimidating in view of the fact that they are often threatened into paying for this service; whether it is possible to eliminate this practice under existing legislation; if not, the alternative plans, if any, she has to deal with the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14397/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the activities referred to by the Deputy are normally dealt with by the gardaí by way of advice or warning and that this has proved sufficient to deal with the matter in the past in most cases.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that if offenders persist in the activities, they can be dealt with under section 98 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 and under by-law 34 of the General By-Laws which places an obligation on pedestrians to exercise care and to avoid danger or inconvenience to other road users. In addition, section 9 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, deals with the issue of the wilful obstruction of traffic in any public place. Prosecutions taken are recorded in the Commissioner's annual crime report under the heading "obstruction" and "General By-laws". The 1994 statistics are set out hereunder.

Year	Offence	Number Prosecuted
1994	Obstruction	874
1994	General By-Laws, 1964	5,216

Statistics of the number of prosecutions arising out of persons washing car windows are not readily available but are included in the above statistics. The Garda authorities are satisified that there have been no reports of intimidation by persons engaged in washing car windows.