Motoring bans to be recognised across the Border

Skill Magill

Does anybody know what sort of time frame this comes into affect? Say you were banned up the North 2 years ago, will that now translate onto your clean republic license and vice vera?

Times link

Shane Ross signs order introducing mutual recognition of disqualifications in State and UK


Motorists banned from driving in Ireland for a range of offences will have their ban recognised in the UK, and vice-versa, under a new provision signed by Minister for Transport Shane Ross on Tuesday.
The new measures are underpinned by an international agreement between the two countries as well as various legislative provisions. All come into effect on Tuesday.
The Government considers that clarity is needed on the issue as a result of Brexit.
The agreement concerns disqualifications arising from a range of traffic offences, such as reckless or dangerous driving, drink- or drug-driving, hit-and-run offences, speeding, refusal to submit to alcohol and drug tests, and driving while disqualified.
It also includes other conduct constituting an offence for which a driving disqualification of a duration of six months or more has been imposed, or of a duration of less than six months where this has been agreed between the contracting states.
No mechanism
At present there is no cross-Border mechanism for the mutual recognition of penalties for road traffic offences for such licence holders.
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“The mutual recognition of driving disqualifications is an important road safety measure because it aims to target dangerous drivers on our roads,” Mr Ross said.
“Maintaining the common travel area and our economic links with the UK are important priorities for Ireland, and this agreement will make a contribution towards that objective, as well as making an important contribution to road safety.”
Under the Ireland/UK agreement, the driving disqualification is, in effect, transferred by the state which imposes it to the licence of the offender’s home state.
The framework for the new arrangements is contained in the Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Driving Disqualifications between Ireland and the United Kingdom, signed on October 30th, 2015.
On Monday, gardaí said enforcement of drink-driving and speed restrictions was rising again on the back of increased numbers of garda recruitment.
Full-time strength
Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said another 70 gardaí would be added to the Road Traffic Corps by the end of the year bringing the full-time strength of the corps to about 760 gardaí.
In addition Mr Finn said all gardaí who graduated from the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, were required to spend 10 weeks in the Traffic Corps.
Mr Finn said the results of increased road traffic enforcement were already beginning to show with the number of people caught driving while drunk up 18 per cent on last year, while detection of speeding has risen by 25 per cent.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

So there is no mutual recognition of EU bans then?

Just UK-Ireland via bi-lateral agreement.

It is actually in place since 2010 but suspended early 2015-until today due to requiring new legislation.

GM228

Skill Magill wrote: »

Does anybody know what sort of time frame this comes into affect? Say you were banned up the North 2 years ago, will that now translate onto your clean republic license and vice vera?

There must be a current ban in place (with the offence committed after today and at least 3 months still to serve) for it to be recognised here and vice versa and the ban must be of a certain category, for example bans as a result of penalty point accumulation are not recognised.

Atlantic Dawn

Seems to be just drivers from both sides of the Irish border and not Scotland, Wales and England taken in to account, the wording on RTE and BBC news would suggest this. It also doesn't cover drivers who get points for speeding alone, only for reckless or dangerous driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Looks like rather poor legislation especially with speeding excluded, although I do understand that someone doing massive speed would be likely convicted of dangerous driving and be included.

RTE

From today, laws changed in Northern Ireland and the Republic to give effect to a road safety agreement signed between the Irish and UK governments in 2015.

Those who receive a driving ban on the other side of the border from where they live will have the prohibition extended to their home jurisdiction.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0801/894393-driving-ban/

BBC

Driving bans are now mutually recognised on both sides of the Irish border due to a change in the law.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40790428

BrokenArrows

Id say its a bit of a grey area.
If you have an existing ban in place in the UK but were currently legally driving in Ireland it would be a bit strange to suddenly become banned in Ireland without committing any further offenses.

Id say it must apply to new bans only otherwise they would need to track down all existing banned people and inform them that the ban now applies to their home country.

GM228

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Seems to be just drivers from both sides of the Irish border and not Scotland, Wales and England taken in to account, the wording on RTE and BBC news would suggest this. It also doesn't cover drivers who get points for speeding alone, only for reckless or dangerous driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Looks like rather poor legislation especially with speeding excluded, although I do understand that someone doing massive speed would be likely convicted of dangerous driving and be included.

RTE



https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0801/894393-driving-ban/

BBC



http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40790428

It covers the entire UK (GB and NI), and it also covers speeding (just not a ban via points).

GM228

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Id say its a bit of a grey area.
If you have an existing ban in place in the UK but were currently legally driving in Ireland it would be a bit strange to suddenly become banned in Ireland without committing any further offenses.

Id say it must apply to new bans only otherwise they would need to track down all existing banned people and inform them that the ban now applies to their home country.

It only applies to offences committed after today.