Penalty Points Query

Concerned2

I received a fixed charge offence in the mail for speeding yesterday for an offence committed last July . The fixed charge offence was dated 29/08/2006 . I rang the freephone number on the form to try & find out what I have to pay & was told because the offence was a couple of months ago they can no longer accept payment , instead I have a court summons for March of this year. I dont want to contest the offence & would quite happily pay the fine & take my 2 points . Is the anything I can do other than attend court & collect the 4 points ?

seamus

There should be a name of the Garda and Station on the form. Try and explain it to him.

The envelope that the fine came in, should also be postmarked. Hold onto that. Assuming the post mark proves your case, then you can present this in court and you may get off with the original fine and 2 points.

But I would definitely try and speak to the Garda who issued the fine (bring the postmarked envelope with you).

kbell

Sorry for hijacking the thread, i have a penalty points question.
When issued with penalty points they stay on your licence for 3 years?? just as long as you dont get any more.
When this time is up will they issue you with a letter to say that the points have expired??

Overheal

Huge burning question: Are any of these letters sent by the Gardai (tickets, summons, etc.) registered in any way through An Post?

It seems criminal otherwise: you could honestly only ever get your fine 12 months (for example) later and then have them turn around and say s*** like 'we sent it 2 weeks after the offense'....

Turner

Afraid not. Only summons are sent by registered post or handed in person by a garda.

Fines are sent out by regular post.

Generally if you contest it in court you will get off. I have seen hundereds of people simply say "i never received the fine in the post judge"

Judge looks at Garda "is it sent by registered post"

Garda "no"

Judge "strike out"

Victor

Concerned2 wrote:

I received a fixed charge offence in the mail for speeding yesterday for an offence committed last July . The fixed charge offence was dated 29/08/2006.

29/08/2006 is August.....

Our man in Havana

Barely within the 6 month time limit.

Tweets

Hi, I have heard of a case like this recently where the woman in question had only received the post after the initial €80 period and was told to pay €125 (I think that was the 2nd amount) when she contacted the garda who issued it and he basically told her it would be quicker if she just paid up. I think your best option would be to take a copy of the envelope to the garda in question forst to see if the court date can be cancelled - if not bring the envelope to court and it'll be struck out. Good Luck!!

Our man in Havana

Those envelopes don't have a dated postmark on them, they just have a general postage paid on them.