A JUDGE has suggested that in these days of open borders and frequent travel, motorists might be granted more than the standard 28 days to pay fixed-charge penalty notices for traffic offences.
Judge James Faughnan made the comment when dealing with a defendant, Peter Watts, Carrintubber, Kilkerrin, who had been summoned to Court for a speeding offence after he failed to pay the fixed fine that was issued in the post.
The motorist told the Judge that he would have had no problem paying the fine for travelling at 76kph in a 60kph zone if he had been home when the fixed charge arrived there.
However, he had been away and only found the fine in his mail when he eventually returned home.
Paying the penalty attracts three penalty points, but if not paid and it comes before a Court, there is a mandatory five points on a licence.
“I suppose it’s assumed someone will be in the country for 28 days after an offence to receive the fixed charge and pay it, but in these days of open borders and frequent travel this is not always the case and this might be an issue that needs looking at,” the Judge said.
Under the circumstances he struck out the charge, on condition the defendant make a €150 donation to Saint Teresa’s unit, Portiuncula Hospital. “They do very good work,” the Judge concluded.
