Denis Naughten
Ceist:552 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when he will extend the on-the-spot fines for non-wearing of seat belts and other offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/03]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Provision for the application of on-the-spot fines in respect of a range of road traffic offences is laid down in the Road Traffic Act 1961 (section 103) (Offences) Regulations 1999 (S.I. No. 12 of 1999) and in the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975 (section 3) (Offences) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 395 of 1997).
This on-the-spot fines system already applies in respect of breaches of safety belt/appropriate child restraint requirements and in respect of a wide range of other offences under the road traffic code.
I do not propose to extend the present on-the-spot fines system to further road traffic offences due to the fact that the Road Traffic Act 2002 provides for the replacement of the current on-the spot fines system by a fixed charge system. The new system has been applied in respect of speeding offences since October 2002. I propose to apply that system in respect of safety belt/appropriate child restraint offences, which are the responsibility of a driver, from 1 July 2003 to facilitate the application of the penalty points system to those offences.