Brendan Howlin
Ceist:142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport when the full penalty points system will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26962/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 November 2004
Ceisteanna (88)
Freagraí scríofa
The penalty points system currently applies in respect of the offences of breaching a speed limit, motor insurance, careless driving and the failure of a driver to wear a seat belt or to ensure that passengers under 17 years of age are appropriately restrained in a mechanically propelled vehicle. The system was first introduced in October 2002 in respect of speed limit offences. In the intervening period more than 180,000 drivers have had penalty points endorsed on their licence records.
The full application of the penalty points system will be achieved when the relevant IT systems being developed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda are completed. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has indicated that the systems in question will be operational following the completion of a live pilot operation, which is currently being applied in a number of Garda divisions.