Summons to court

Wheja

Hi, I'm looking for some advice please. Back in September, I was stopped at a garda checkpoint driving alone on a provisional license. My tax was also out of date. I explained to the guard that I was driving because of an emergency, my son had a accident at home and needed to take him to the gp, I had no alternative transport. The guard told me that I was getting a fine for no tax. The fine came and because of lack of finances I didn't pay it immediately. I misread the notice and thought that I had 90 days to pay. When I realised this, I contacted the telephone number on the notice who informed me I would receive a court summons.
Fast forward a couple of months and a bangarda knocks at my door with a court summons for driving unaccompanied on a provisional license. There was no mention of the non-payment of fine on the notice which is what I assumed I was being summoned for.
Can anyone give me some advise please? Obviously, I realise that I am at fault but do I need to be worried about a second summons.

gctest50

Go to a solicitor soon as you can.

<driving unaccompanied>

These offences are punishable by a minimum €1,000 fine for a first offence.

http://www.ndls.ie/en/learner-permit/what-is-it.html

Wheja

My court date is January 2nd. The summons came last Sunday night. I'm not going to get a solicitor by then, am I?

gctest50

You need to get on the phone in the morning -

Golden Pages are a start

http://www.goldenpages.ie/q/business/advanced/what/Solicitors/

Bepolite

I'd get on of the top criminal solicitors* in Dublin on Christmas Day. They don't work office hours, for this they would though, try tomorrow or Monday morning.

*Minion

Wheja

Thanks for your advice. Do you think I may get put off the road?

gctest50

You wouldn't want to be stopped again :

to a fine not exceeding €2,000 or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment

http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2012/Operation-Learner-Driver---43-of-learner-permit-holders-drive-unaccompanied/

Mycroft H

Wheja wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. Do you think I may get put off the road?

Unlikely for a first offence.

V.W.L 11

any idea who the judge of your local D.C is???some of them have zero tolerance but you might get lucky and he/she may strike the charge out,if it was a medical emergency and you have evidence present it to the court,at worst a conviction,at best the charge will be struck out,hopefully for you the latter

Bepolite

Wheja wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. Do you think I may get put off the road?

You're already off the road you've no license or tax!

Farmer

<driving unaccompanied>

These offences are punishable by a minimum €1,000 fine for a first offence.

http://www.ndls.ie/en/learner-permit/what-is-it.html

(

a) in the case of a first offence under that section or subsection - to a fine not exceeding €1000,


(b) in the case of a second offence under that section or subsection, or of a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph - to a fine not exceeding €2,000

http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2012/Operation-Learner-Driver---43-of-learner-permit-holders-drive-unaccompanied/

The NDLS seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between minimum and maximum

Pro Hoc Vice

Farmer wrote: »

(

http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2012/Operation-Learner-Driver---43-of-learner-permit-holders-drive-unaccompanied/

The NDLS seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between minimum and maximum

And they wonder why there are delays in getting a license, they can't get legislation correct.