Forget Penalty Points - What About Car Jail?

maisto

Anyone with a pulse (no pun intended) will notice that when penalty points were first introduced, drivers behaved themselves for a while and then went back to their old habits when they realised their chances of getting caught and the points being properly recorded were very low.

We have one of the worst road accident rates in Europe and nothing seems to work. So how about this: Car Jail.

The state would acquire some land in each county, build a secure car park.

Anyone caught for an offence which would normally merit penalty points could be given 24 hours to hand over their vehicle to the local pound for a set period of anything from a couple of days to a couple of months, depending on the seriousness of the offence. Similar to the penalty points system, there would be no automatic court hearing, but if they wish to go to court, and they lose, double the penalty and fine.

They would also have to pay a fine to cover the cost of storage of their vehicle.

This could have an instant effect on anyone acting the maggot on the road, they would be off the road immediately - a short sharp shock.

Even commercial vehicles could be impounded. White Van Man might behave himself if his job were on the line.

Any comments?

SickCert

This could have an instant effect on anyone acting the maggot on the road, they would be off the road immediately - a short sharp shock.

You would end up with the who decides how long and what constitutes a car offence in the eyes of the law. Then waiting six months for a court date by which time youll be caught again!

The driving standards are terrible over here, anything with a big engine is trying to dominate most roads. I hate to say it but, its not the nissan micras that are doing the damage out there - its the golfs, audis and other big powerhouses.

As for white vans, give him a chance hes on the phone and eating a sandwich!

gobdaw

maisto wrote:

... when they realised their chances of getting caught ...were very low.

That's the nub.

Enforcement is whats required. I believe that if life imprisonment was the penelty with no actual enforcement it would have no impact on the problem, but "bleeding hearts" would have a field day.

How about a separate traffic corp (not gardai) whose sole function would be to enforce current traffic regulations such as QBCs, yellow boxes, cruising in the passing lane on motorways, .......(add your own gripe here). There are laws and rules addressing these for the good of the majority, but some individuals (all or us at some time or other, probably) think they should not apply to us because......

With modern technology (cameras, etc) the level of training the members would require would not be great. It woild release gardai to concentrate on more serious law-and-order issues which their training and discipline has equiped them to address. Dublin's clampers show what can be achieved by a focused response to an identifiable problem.

Training? Three months? Tullamore University, Fare thee well!!

DubTony

gobdaw wrote:

With modern technology (cameras, etc) the level of training the members would require would not be great. It woild release gardai to concentrate on more serious law-and-order issues which their training and discipline has equiped them to address.

Training? Three months? Tullamore University, Fare thee well!!

Three months is not long enough for anyone to develop a bad attitude so they can bark at motorists ... "Do YOU know what speed YOU were doing?"

gobdaw

Naw, like clampers. No talking with the public, say take photo of car with reg date speed own record and issue written summons. Courts too crowded? Special court, lower that District, say traffic court, specialised, mandary penelties or option of automatic points. Undefended actions, nominated owner gets the points.

Zaph0d

It's a good idea, but you need cheap effective detection and that means cameras.

In the UK they have cameras to detect people breaking red lights and even cameras on some very busy streets to catch people parking on clearways for a few minutes.

Victor

What if someone has two cars?

The only way to really work this is to take the car away at the time of the offence. Set up a check-point near a lay-by or somewhere where vehicles can be stored for a few hours. Run check-point for the usual offenses. Take the car off them. Put the people in a paddy wagon and drop them to the nearest town. Put the vehicles on a transporter and take them to the pound.

Once the fine is paid & after X time, they can have the vehicle back.