New drink driving law

MagicSean

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0624/road.html

sounds great. Much less time in court. No mention of what the upper limit for the fixed charge penalty is.

HFB

Seems a bit crazy to me...
Am I right in my understanding that someone could be drunk, hop into their car, drive and only receive 3 points?

seamus

HFB wrote: »

Seems a bit crazy to me...
Am I right in my understanding that someone could be drunk, hop into their car, drive and only receive 3 points?

No. 3 points only applies where your sample registers between 50mg and 80mg. At these levels, I would never consider someone "drunk".

The usual penalties apply over 80mg.

Ziycon

I think this is a good, I've seen what can happen when drink driving is involved and anything that may stop it or reduce it is a plus!

pa990

points and a fine will hopefully teach someone a lesson, and significantly reduce court and garda costs /time

The only downside is, people on non irish licences will only get a fine and no points.

Hopefully points and a fine will apply to first time offenders, other wise non nationals will escape with a fine each time

RoadRunner

I think it's a bad idea. It stinks of being a revenue generating scheme. It almost gives an incentive to have a second pint.

Sure If I'm cought I'll just get 3 three points and a fine, instead of a ban. :rolleyes:

Hooch

seamus wrote: »

No. 3 points only applies where your sample registers between 50mg and 80mg. At these levels, I would never consider someone "drunk".

The usual penalties apply over 80mg.

While I agree with you and the introduction of new laws......I think people will "chance it" even more.

Agh sure i've only had 2,3,4,5 pints i'll be grand....i'll only get 3 points anyway if I get stopped.....only to be stopped, arrested and come back way above 80 blood and now they are looking at a disqualification.

At present people know if they have one they MAY be over the limit......if they drive they know what can happen and some will accept it and plead guilty wasting no time if caught. With this I can see more and more people fighting Sec 49 cases....more wasting of court and Garda time.

pa990 wrote: »

points and a fine will hopefully teach someone a lesson, and significantly reduce court and garda costs /time

The only downside is, people on non irish licences will only get a fine and no points.

Hopefully points and a fine will apply to first time offenders, other wise non nationals will escape with a fine each time

Non nationals etc do NOT escape points in the state, its a common mis conception by the public and members of AGS alike.

When we stop someone we'll say with a UK licence we issue a ticket etc. Then a Driver personel file is created by the RSA. Points are added each time to the file. If they reach 12 then the are disqualified from driving within the state for 6 months. It doesnt matter what type of licence you have.

This all came to light when they changed to a learners permit......a permit is not a licence but they still get points on their file.

MagicSean

pa990 wrote: »

points and a fine will hopefully teach someone a lesson, and significantly reduce court and garda costs /time

Not if the upper limit for points remains the same. It will make no difference at all to court appearances. The way it is at the moment just creates an extra offence. The current drink driving laws are apparently unchanged.

Finnbar01

Watch the law of unintended consequences kick in as NGA has pointed out.

Also, if the government doesn't believe that a limit of over 50 and between 80 should lead to a disqualification, then they are targetting motorists for revenue.

Binky Mc

RoadRunner wrote: »

I think it's a bad idea. It stinks of being a revenue generating scheme. It almost gives an incentive to have a second pint.

Sure If I'm cought I'll just get 3 three points and a fine, instead of a ban. :rolleyes:

The amount of revenue it'll generate will probably only cover the costs of admin and costs associated with those who're normally brought before the courts! With their budgets cut, dont you think that they should be making the people pay!!

I think its fair that you dont get completely screwed if you're caught after having 2 pints, you've obviously had some sense not to have more, still not right, but what about the next morning etc, wouldnt want to be off the road for that, and it'll free up court time too.

I'll still be having my pint on a friday evening after the weeks graft!

pa990

Binky Mc wrote: »

... With their budgets cut, dont you think that they should be making the people pay!!!...

Who's budget's ?
The garda budget ?
If you're talking about the garda budget, i should just let you know that money from fines goes to central government.. Not to the gardai