Penalty points, fixed charges and driving bans

Penalty points, fixed charges and driving bans

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Section 15 - Penalty points, fixed charges and driving bans

Print this page Penalty points, fixed charges and driving bans

Section 15.1 - Penalty Points

Encouraging good road user behaviour is important and Ireland has adopted a system of penalty points to support this change. This system is a key part of road safety policy in this country, and is designed to save lives.

If you break the law, there's a price to be paid. The system will record your failure and the penalty on your driver licence record. For minor offences, the penalty is a sum of money, a fixed charge, and points that attach to your licence record: penalty points. For more serious offences you may be brought to court. The system applies to both full and provisional licence holders.

If you break the law and are caught, you will be fined and you will build up penalty points.

REMEMBER
If you collect 12 points in 36 months, you will be banned from driving.

This section describes how penalty points and fixed charges work and outlines the points and charges that apply to road traffic offences. For a list of all current penalty point offences and fixed charges, see appendix 4 or www.penaltypoints.ie.

Penalty Points

The penalty points system covers offences that relate to road safety. Offences can be detected either:

by Gardai directly, or
in the case of speeding, safety cameras.

If a Garda stops you for committing an offence

You must show your driving licence and give your name and address, if asked.
You will receive a fixed charge notice by post.
You have the choice to pay the fixed charge within the time allowed or let the matter go to court.
Penalty points will be applied to your licence record, either when you pay the charge or if convicted of the offence in court.

If your vehicle is recorded breaking the speed limit

If you are the registered owner of the vehicle, you will receive the fixed charge notice.
If you were not driving the vehicle when the offence took place, you must give the Garda. the name and address of the driver of your vehicle within 28 days. If you do, the named driver will receive the fixed charge notice. If you donմ, you will be assumed to be the driver of the vehicle when the offence took place.
Penalty points will be applied to the driver's licence record either when the charge is paid or when the driver is convicted of the offence in court.

REMEMBER
Most penalty point offences attract a fixed charge. Some offences will result in a mandatory court appearance without the option of paying a fixed charge.

For more information on penalty points, visit the penalty point website www.penaltypoints.ie.