08 Dec 2014
Posted by Orla O'Callaghan 
Dangerous overtaking, failure to stop a vehicle before a stop sign and using a vehicle without an NCT will attract increased penalty points, it has been announced today. In new measures rolled out by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, drivers who commit these offences will be able to pay a fixed charge fine and receive penalty points as an alternative to appearing in court.
Learner drivers are also facing an increase in penalty points if they drive unaccompanied or fail to display an L plate. These adjustments will further apply to novice drivers who fail to display an N plate.
First introduced in 2002, a review of the penalty points system was carried out in 2012 by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the adjustments implemented today result from this review.
Speaking about the new measures, Paschal Donohue TD said “The adjustments and new penalty point offences target particularly dangerous on-road behaviour. Since the penalty points system began, there has been a dramatic fall in the numbers dying needlessly on our roads. However, 2013 showed the first increase in road fatalities for many years, and, unfortunately, we are on course for similar figures in 2014.”
Conor Faughnan on the changes: “The AA welcomes these changes as part of the overall suite of measures to reduce deaths on Irish Roads. Naturally enforcement is key and we’ll be monitoring their impact carefully over the coming year. Drivers should take time to familiarise themselves with these changes and expect to come across Garda check points over the festive period.”
APPENDIX – Full list of changes to Penalty Points as of 8 December 2014
1. Changes to Existing Penalty Point Offences
| No. | General Description of Offence
|
Current Position | Change | ||
| Penalty Points on Payment of Fixed Charge | Penalty Points on Conviction | Penalty Points on Payment of Fixed Charge | Penalty Points on Conviction | ||
| 1 | Using vehicle without test certificate | Direct Summons to Court | 5 | 3 | 5
No Change
|
| 2 | Parking vehicle in dangerous position | Direct Summons to Court | 5 | 3 | 5
No Change
|
| 3 | Failure to drive vehicle on left | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Dangerous overtaking | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5No Change |
| 5 | Contravention of prohibition of driving vehicle along or across median strip | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | Failure to stop vehicle before stop sign or stop line | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Failure of vehicle to yield right of way at a yield sign or yield line | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | Failure of vehicle to comply with mandatory traffic signs at junctions | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | Crossing of white lines by vehicle | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 10 | Failure by vehicle to obey traffic lights or to halt at traffic sign adjacent to such lights | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5
No Change
|
| 11 | Contravention of general speed restriction for vehicles | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2. New Offences –
(i) Existing Offences Not Previously Commenced
| 12 | Using vehicle not equipped with a speed limitation device or using a vehicle equipped with a speed limitation device not complying with requirements specified in Regulations | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 13 | Learner permit holder driving unaccompanied by qualified person | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
(ii) New Penalty Points Offences
| No. | General Description of Offence
|
Penalty Points on Payment of Fixed Charge | Penalty Points on Conviction
|
| 14 | Failure to display N Plate or tabard | 2 | 4 |
| 15 | Contravention of ban on U-turns | 2 | 4 |
| 16 | Failure to display L-Plate or tabard | 2 | 4 |
| 17 | Contravention of rules for use of mini roundabouts | 1 | 3 |
| 18 | Proceeding beyond no entry to vehicles sign | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | Proceeding beyond maximum vehicle length sign where length exceeds maximum displayed | 1 | 3 |
| 20 | Proceeding beyond maximum vehicle width sign where width exceeds maximum displayed | 1 | 3 |
| 21 | Proceeding beyond maximum design gross vehicle weight (safety) sign where design gross vehicle weight exceeds maximum displayed | 1 | 3 |
| 22 | Proceeding beyond maximum vehicle axle loading weight sign where vehicle axle loading weight exceeds maximum specified | 1 | 3 |
| 23 | Proceeding beyond a traffic lane control sign other than in accordance with such sign or without yielding | 1 | 3 |
| 24 | Using vehicle in a public place without an authorisation plate | 3 | 5 |
| 25 | Using vehicle in a public place that has been modified or altered such that authorisation plate is inaccurate | 3 | 5 |
