81% of banned drivers did not surrender their licence

Iwannahurl

From the Irish Times website today. May not be in the print edition. Dates incomplete.

Almost four out of five drivers disqualified in court are failing to surrender their licence, figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show.

These figures also show some disqualified drivers are continuing to drive and to commit motoring offences while they should be serving the six-month driving disqualification.

According to the RSA, 9,611 drivers were disqualified in court between October 29th, 2013 (when the RSA took over responsibility for driving licences) and [DATE MISSING] and a further 476 received disqualifications for accumulating 12 penalty points.

Of these, 8,137 – or 81 per cent – did not surrender their licences.

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/four-in-five-disqualified-drivers-holding-on-to-licences-1.2174300

colm_mcm

Bit of a flawed system so.

Brasso

colm_mcm wrote: »

Bit of a flawed system so.

Yeah should really be jail time or ever-increasing fines for not handing over licence.

mickdw

Brasso wrote: »

Yeah should really be jail time or ever-increasing fines for not handing over licence.

Ya its a joke of a system.
There is a guy here near me that was banned multiple times for drink driving and continues to drive. He was banned for 10 years and is still driving. I don't blame the Gardai, they have brought him to court many times and he argues that he is getting help etc and little done to him other than additional ban.
can they not confiscate cars from repeat offenders or give them massive fines with sheriff taking assets if they don't pay?

porsche959

mickdw wrote: »

Ya its a joke of a system.
There is a guy here near me that was banned multiple times for drink driving and continues to drive. He was banned for 10 years and is still driving. I don't blame the Gardai, they have brought him to court many times and he argues that he is getting help etc and little done to him other than additional ban.
can they not confiscate cars from repeat offenders or give them massive fines with sheriff taking assets if they don't pay?

This must mean he is either driving uninsured or not declaring convictions to his insurance company?

As for not blaming the Gardai, ok, in this specific case you cited I wouldn't, but if they are seizing cars for having tax discs apparently a few months out of date, and doing SFA to ensure drivers that receive disqualifications to surrender their licences, one would certainly have to question their priorities.

mickdw

porsche959 wrote: »

This must mean he is either driving uninsured or not declaring convictions to his insurance company?

As for not blaming the Gardai, ok, in this specific case you cited I wouldn't, but if they are seizing cars for having tax discs apparently a few months out of date, and doing SFA to ensure drivers that receive disqualifications to surrender their licences, one would certainly have to question their priorities.

He is certainly uninsured and drunk regularly.
Gardai are fully aware of him and yes I agree that if they can take cars that are out of tax for 2 months they should have no issue impounding his.
In saying I don't blame the Gardai, I meant that the courts are too lax and the Gardai must get a pain in the ass bringing cases and the judge basically letting people off.

Gran Hermano

Like everything else the problem is enforcement or rather the lack of it. Usual half arsed effort.