Can I be fined?

Tobyglen

I was cycling back from town earlier wearing a high vis jacket. I was stopped by a Guard who took my details & had words because I didn't have a light. It was still pretty bright at the time. Anyway, can I get fined? My housemate said otherwise.

Cookie_Monster

lights are only required from dusk till dawn. if outside those times you'll be fine, if not you could be fined but I doubt AGS will bother themselves following it up

Tobyglen

Hope you're right. Any idea what the fine is?

DirkVoodoo

Tobyglen wrote: »

It was still pretty bright at the time.

Approximately what time was it?

To be honest, if you are a commuter in Dublin, there are so few daylight hours now and dusk falls quickly, you really should have lights either on your bike or on your person...just in case.

I doubt he would have gone out of his way to stop you if it was "pretty bright".

Tobyglen

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Approximately what time was it?

To be honest, if you are a commuter in Dublin, there are so few daylight hours now and dusk falls quickly, you really should have lights either on your bike or on your person...just in case.

I doubt he would have gone out of his way to stop you if it was "pretty bright".

You're right, I should have had lights. It was dark so he was within his rights.

Eamonnator

Lighting up time is 30 minutes after sunset. Today lighting up time in Dublin
was 17.03.
Lighting up time finishes 30 minutes before dawn.

Dermot Illogical

Tobyglen wrote: »

It was still pretty bright at the time. Anyway, can I get fined? My housemate said otherwise.

If it was after lighting-up time, then yes.

Tobyglen

I looked at citizens information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/lighting_of_bicycles_in_ireland.html & it says that it's an on the spot fine. He didn't hand me a notification so maybe I'm okay. I asked him directly will I be fined & he said we'll see.

ibebanging

Hopefully you learned a lesson, make yourself visible and use lights.

Eamonnator

Tobyglen wrote: »

I looked at citizens information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/lighting_of_bicycles_in_ireland.html & it says that it's an on the spot fine. He didn't hand me a notification so maybe I'm okay. I asked him directly will I be fined & he said we'll see.

The fact that a garda can issue a fine on the spot and doesn't, doesn't necessarily mean, that you are in the clear. Maybe he didn't have his book of tickets with him.
He could still summons you.
Chances are, you're good.

Bradidup

You shouldn't need lights if you cycle carefully on the footpath. I have got away with this loads of times particularly on the Blackrock - Merrion road stretch where cycling any bike at night is lethal whether lights are fitted or not.

Eamonnator

Bradidup wrote: »

You shouldn't need lights if you cycle carefully on the footpath. I have got away with this loads of times particularly on the Blackrock - Merrion road where cycling any bike at night is lethal whether lights are fitted or not.

Yeah, go for it.

Lusk Doyle

If you get stopped again then fair cop but ask him / her if they also do the same to cars who drive without lights on and then start shouting "cyclists are REAL people too man!"

AltAccount

Bradidup wrote: »

You shouldn't need lights if you cycle carefully on the footpath. I have got away with this loads of times particularly on the Blackrock - Merrion road stretch where cycling any bike at night is lethal whether lights are fitted or not.

Seriously? :rolleyes:

sled driver

Tobyglen wrote: »

I looked at citizens information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/lighting_of_bicycles_in_ireland.html & it says that it's an on the spot fine. He didn't hand me a notification so maybe I'm okay. I asked him directly will I be fined & he said we'll see.

Can you show me where it says it's an "on the spot fine"? Unless the law has changed since I last looked at this, my understanding is that the Gardai can only either:

• caution you, or
• issue you with a summons to appear in court (where you could get fined)

but they are not in a position to issue cyclists with an on the spot fine. Again, I'll stand correctly if this has changed.

Tobyglen

sled driver wrote: »

Can you show me where it says it's an "on the spot fine"? Unless the law has changed since I last looked at this, my understanding is that the Gardai can only either:

• caution you, or
• issue you with a summons to appear in court (where you could get fined)

but they are not in a position to issue cyclists with an on the spot fine. Again, I'll stand correctly if this has changed.

Go to the link, it's under information at the end of the first paragraph.

"Failure to have proper lighting on your bicycle can result in an on-the-spot fine by a member of An Garda Siochana"

RobertFoster

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

If you get stopped again then fair cop but ask him / her if they also do the same to cars who drive without lights on and then start shouting "cyclists are REAL people too man!"

Ahh, so that's the reason Pinocchio is the new mascot!



"Look Garda Gepetto, I'm a real road user!"

sled driver

Tobyglen wrote: »

Go to the link, it's under information at the end of the first paragraph.

"Failure to have proper lighting on your bicycle can result in an on-the-spot fine by a member of An Garda Siochana"

I'm not sure that's correct information

Jawgap

Tobyglen wrote: »

Go to the link, it's under information at the end of the first paragraph.

"Failure to have proper lighting on your bicycle can result in an on-the-spot fine by a member of An Garda Siochana"

I think that's wrong.

Here's the list of fixed penalty and fixed charge offences

brayblue24

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

If you get stopped again then fair cop but ask him / her if they also do the same to cars who drive without lights on and then start shouting "cyclists are REAL people too man!"

works every time (got a LOL out of this one)

You're an adult, you know the rights and wrongs about lights.

statutes aside it depends on the individual that stopped you whether or not you get fined and whether or not he remembers to input it (or bothers). Get a set of lights maybe, even a cheap set if you want to avoid a repeat.

sconhome

Eamonnator wrote: »

Lighting up time is 30 minutes after sunset. Today lighting up time in Dublin
was 17.03.
Lighting up time finishes 30 minutes before dawn.

Are you sure it's not the other way around? Lights needed 30 mins before sunset, and 30 mins after sunrise?

Unregistered.

AFAIK, there are no on-the-spot fines for cyclists. Expect a court summons and a minimum of €200 donation to the Court's poor box, assuming you've got a clean record. Speaking from experience - I've had my day in court along with about 20 or so other other cyclists for similar offences.

amphkingwest wrote: »

Are you sure it's not the other way around? Lights needed 30 mins before sunset, and 30 mins after sunrise?

From Citizens Information:

During "lighting-up time", that is, the period beginning half an hour after sunset and ending half an hour before sunrise on the following morning, all cyclists are required to have fitted (and make use of) the following lighting on their bicycles:

• One front lamp
• One rear lamp

Wishbone Ash

Tobyglen wrote: »

wearing a high vis jacket... ..... I didn't have a light

Why have something that you are not legally required to have and omit to have something you are legally required to have?

I see it all the time and can't understand that mindset!

at1withmyself

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

To be honest, if you are a commuter in Dublin, there are so few daylight hours now and dusk falls quickly, you really should have lights either on your bike or on your person...just in case.

Not applicable anywhere else in Ireland where we cycle carefree with no lights at anytime

gozunda

Bradidup wrote: »

You shouldn't need lights if you cycle carefully on the footpath. I have got away with this loads of times particularly on the Blackrock - Merrion road stretch where cycling any bike at night is lethal whether lights are fitted or not.

Erh you are joking?? AFAIK it is illegal to cycle on a footpath >Footpath=pedestrians< no matter what the road conditions are like.
Neither does riding on the footpath remove the requirement for lights - how exactly are pedestrians supposed to see you coming

I reckon you are likely to get down twice or three times if you hit a pedestrian with that maneuver and get caught

keano007

Tobyglen wrote: »

Go to the link, it's under information at the end of the first paragraph.

"Failure to have proper lighting on your bicycle can result in an on-the-spot fine by a member of An Garda Siochana"

That most certainly is incorrect. The only options open to a Garda is to either caution you or issue a summons for you to appear in court. Usually you'll find a person will be given the option to paying money to the court poor box to avoid a conviction.

Lusk Doyle

gozunda wrote: »

Erh you are joking?? AFAIK it is illegal to cycle on a footpath >Footpath=pedestrians< no matter what the road conditions are like.
Neither does riding on the footpath remove the requirement for lights - how exactly are pedestrians supposed to see you coming

I reckon you are likely to get down twice or three times if you hit a pedestrian with that maneuver and get caught

Ah yes, but what about on a footpad?

DaveR1

Tobyglen wrote: »

"Failure to have proper lighting on your bicycle can result in an on-the-spot fine by a member of An Garda Siochana"

What exactly is proper lighting?

gozunda

DaveR1 wrote: »

What exactly is proper lighting?

See the Rules of the Road

Wishbone Ash

DaveR1 wrote: »

What exactly is proper lighting?

Presumably in line with the Lighting of Vehicle Regulations.

29. (1) Every pedal cycle shall at all times while ridden, or wheeled by a person on foot, in a public place during lighting-up hours be equipped with and, subject to sub-article (2) of this article, show duly lit a front lamp complying with the provisions of sub-article (3) of this article and a rear lamp complying with the provisions of sub-article (4) of this article.

(2) The requirement in sub-article (1) of this article that the front and rear lamps be shown duly lit shall not apply if and so long as the cycle is stopped in course of traffic or is being wheeled by a person on foot as near as possible to the left hand edge of the roadway.

(3) A front lamp fitted to a cycle shall—

(a) when lit, show to the front of the cycle a white or yellow light visible during lighting-up hours for a reasonable distance,
(b) be fitted on the centre line of the vehicle or to the right of that line,
(c) be fitted so that no part of the illuminated surface of the lamp is more than 5 feet from the ground.
(4) A rear lamp fitted to a cycle shall—

(a) when lit, show to the rear of the cycle a red light visible during lighting-up hours for a reasonable distance,
(b) have an illuminated area of at least 2 square inches and of such a shape that a circle of 1 inch in diameter may be inscribed therein,
(c) be fitted—
(i) on the centre line of the cycle or to the right of that line,
(ii) so that no part of the illuminated surface of the lamp is more than 3 feet or less than 12 inches from the ground,
(iii) so that it is not more than 20 inches from the extreme rear of the cycle.

Seve OB

Eamonnator wrote: »

The fact that a garda can issue a fine on the spot and doesn't, doesn't necessarily mean, that you are in the clear. Maybe he didn't have his book of tickets with him.
He could still summons you.
Chances are, you're good.

Not the case because they don't carry tickets anymore. You just get your name taken and the ticket for whatever reason just arrives in the post. I've had more than my share of them!!!

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Presumably in line with the Lighting of Vehicle Regulations.

29. (1) Every pedal cycle shall at all times while ridden, or wheeled by a person on foot, in a public place during lighting-up hours be equipped with and, subject to sub-article (2) of this article, show duly lit a front lamp complying with the provisions of sub-article (3) of this article and a rear lamp complying with the provisions of sub-article (4) of this article.

(2) The requirement in sub-article (1) of this article that the front and rear lamps be shown duly lit shall not apply if and so long as the cycle is stopped in course of traffic or is being wheeled by a person on foot as near as possible to the left hand edge of the roadway.

(3) A front lamp fitted to a cycle shall—

(a) when lit, show to the front of the cycle a white or yellow light visible during lighting-up hours for a reasonable distance,
(b) be fitted on the centre line of the vehicle or to the right of that line,
(c) be fitted so that no part of the illuminated surface of the lamp is more than 5 feet from the ground.
(4) A rear lamp fitted to a cycle shall—

(a) when lit, show to the rear of the cycle a red light visible during lighting-up hours for a reasonable distance,
(b) have an illuminated area of at least 2 square inches and of such a shape that a circle of 1 inch in diameter may be inscribed therein,
(c) be fitted—
(i) on the centre line of the cycle or to the right of that line,
(ii) so that no part of the illuminated surface of the lamp is more than 3 feet or less than 12 inches from the ground,
(iii) so that it is not more than 20 inches from the extreme rear of the cycle.

I should have added that the above 1963 regulations were amended in 2009 to permit flashing lights on a pedal cycle.

3. In these Regulations “Principal Regulations” means Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 ( S.I. No. 189 of 1963 ).

4. Article 29 of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after sub-article (4) the following:

“(5) In this article, ‘lit’ means the emission of a continuous light or a light that flashes not less than 60 times in each minute.”.

5. The following is substituted for Article 42 of the Principal Regulations:

“42. (1) Subject to sub-article (2), no lamp (other than direction indicators) fitted to a vehicle shall show or be constructed or adapted so as to be capable of showing a flashing light unless such light is invisible to persons outside the vehicle.

(2) This article does not apply to a lamp fitted to a pedal cycle in accordance with article 29.”.

el tel

Cool, you don't need lamps if you carry your bike.

DaveyDave

One thing I hate about cyclists as a cyclist myself is hi-viz jackets and no lights. It's about as annoying as someone in full hi-viz and bright lights going the wrong way down a bloody bike track.

I can't count how many times I've been cycling down the road only to see a slow cyclist in a hi-viz within seconds of hitting them, you cannot see them whatsoever. Lights, no matter how ****ty, you can see.

kenmc

Eamonnator wrote: »

Lighting up time is 30 minutes after sunset. Today lighting up time in Dublin
was 17.03.
Lighting up time finishes 30 minutes before dawn.

Thats nuts. I was in the car today, left work at 4:40. Definitely needed lights on, even though there were other muppets who couldn't find the switch for theirs. Idiots. No reason for modern cars to not have lights on whenever the engine is running tbh

kenmc

DaveyDave wrote: »

One thing I hate about cyclists as a cyclist myself is hi-viz jackets and no lights. It's about as annoying as someone in full hi-viz and bright lights going the wrong way down a bloody bike track.

I'm always quite bemused by the lesser-spotted darwin award candidates who go to the bother of going into a bike shop. And buying a bike light. Singular. One. Uno.

A red one.


And puts it on the front.

Love to know the thought process involved in that one. I bet you would actually be able to see their brain cell twisting and turning trying to work it out.

Wishbone Ash

kenmc wrote: »

..., even though there were other muppets who couldn't find the switch for theirs...

.....and the other muppets who illegally drive with their front fogs on because the salesman said they were spot lights! :rolleyes: