FCPN received - definition of exact offence

Browney7 · 25-06-2023 7:57pm #1

Long story short, parked on grass at side of road on match day with likely another 100 cars in a line (not using that as defence but to give context). Received a FCPN of 80 euro fine for parking on a "grass margin". RTA defines grass margin as the grass on either side of a footway. There is no footway at the precise location of alleged offence (it ends a hundred metres up the road near the roundabout). If the location is not deemed a grass margin it is a "road verge" where it is not an offence to park a vehicle.

Is the only avenue if I was to dispute this, to await a summons and waste the time of a court and Garda? I have the Garda's name so is it worth making contact and getting the Garda's view on why he deemed it a grass margin?

I'll likely just pay the fine though as it's a waste of everyone's time and never park in that location again!

Spook_ie · 25-06-2023 8:09pm

From the AA Ireland ( couldn't be bothered looking up the relevent SI's)

What does the law say?

The rules around parking in Ireland are mainly governed by the Road Traffic Acts (1961-2019), as well as bye-laws issued by local authorities. The key rule is that you cannot park a vehicle anywhere that interferes with the normal flow of traffic, or that obstructs or endangers others.

More specifically, the acts make it illegal to park a private car in the following circumstances:

On double yellow lines at any time
On a single yellow line, during the times shown on an accompanying sign
At the side of a road that has a single white lane down the middle and/or a “No Overtaking” sign (unless there are 3 or more lanes each way)
On zig-zag road markings (usually yellow outside a school, or white at a pedestrian crossing)
Where there is a “No Parking” sign, during the times shown
Where there is a restricted “Parking” sign, outside of the times shown
On a Clearway, indicated by a circle with an X through it, during the times shown
In a cycle lane during the hours it is operational
In a contra-flow bus lane at any time, or in a with-flow bus lane, during the hours it is operational
In a bus-stop, taxi rank or loading bay*
In a tram lane or on tram tracks
On a pedestrian-only street
At a pedestrian crossing
On a footpath, grass verge or median (the space between two carriageways), even if this is right outside your house/business
In a designated disabled parking spot without a permit
Anywhere on a motorway, including the hard shoulder
15 metres before or 5 metres after a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights
5 metres before or after any junction
Anywhere that affects the entrance to or exit from a fire station, ambulance station or Garda station
Across an entrance to a premises/driveway, unless the owner has consented

Browney7 · 25-06-2023 8:23pm

I did look up the SI's. Grass verge is not a term in RTA. There is a "grass margin" defined (grass either side of a footway linked to a road [paraphrasing]) and "road verge". It is an offence to park on a grass margin. It is not listed as an offence to park on a road verge.

FCPN received - definition of exact offence

Comments

What does the law say?