NCT and Court fines

Sizzler

Apparently the courts are getting tougher....

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/courts-getting-tougher-with-nct-offenders-1768236.html

wrote:

THERE has been a sharp increase in the number of motorists coming before the courts for driving without a valid NCT certificate since penalty points were introduced for the offence six weeks ago.

The legislation, which was announced in April, means motorists who are convicted in the District Court of not having an up-to-date NCT certificate will incur five penalty points in addition to a fine of up to €1,500.

The change in legislation sent motorists scrambling to get a test completed -- and some have to wait up to 16 weeks. In some test centres, motorists are currently being told the earliest available appointments are in October.

Gardai have again advised motorists whose NCT is overdue to carry proof of an appointment for a test, but it appears the courts are getting tougher on those driving without a cert.

In recent weeks, there has been a notable increase in the numbers coming before the court for driving without a valid NCT. In the last six weeks, Tallaght court had an average of 250 cases each week and, of those, 105 dealt with road traffic matters, including driving without insurance, driving licence, road tax or NCT.


Average

This compares to the same period in 2008 when the weekly average was 78 similar cases.

Of the 25 listed cases before the judge in Tallaght District Court last Friday, 11 related to NCT matters, while last Wednesday 19 out of 55 were NCT-related.

Some of the offences were struck out after motorists produced their documents in court, and a few were dismissed after gardai failed to show.

One young man was fined €250, while another was fined €200 after he told the judge his 2001-registered car had failed the NCT twice.

AA Ireland's Conor Faughnan said there's no need for motorists to panic if they are driving without a valid NCT.

"Not having an NCT cert is an offence but, even if they wanted to, the Gardai could not possibly prosecute large numbers of motorists who are compliant and law-abiding but are simply late with their NCT', he said.

"In many instances, the cases coming before the courts also relate to no insurance or driving licence as well as no NCT."

He added: "The reality is this law is targeted at people who are driving defective or dangerous vehicles. If you have broken lights or smoke vomiting out of the exhaust then you should not be driving on the public road and the law just got a little tougher on you."

Anan1

AA Ireland's Conor Faughnan said there's no need for motorists to panic if they are driving without a valid NCT.

"Not having an NCT cert is an offence but, even if they wanted to, the Gardai could not possibly prosecute large numbers of motorists who are compliant and law-abiding but are simply late with their NCT', he said.

How very Irish!:D

Saab Ed

Anan1 wrote: »

How very Irish!:D

Conor Faughnan is a clown. I've never heard someone talk about so many different things that they havent got a clue about ( except for Brian Cowen ). Conor Faughnan SHUT THE FCUK UP

Guy:Incognito

Anan1 wrote: »

How very Irish!:D

How does he figure they are compliant and law abidign if they havent bothered getting an NCT?

Anan1

Stekelly wrote: »

How does he figure they are compliant and law abidign if they havent bothered getting an NCT?

See Saab Ed's post.;)