“The message is not getting through” that it’s against the law to drive while holding a mobile phone, said Judge John Neilan at a recent sitting of Mullingar District Court.
“The only way to address it is to start removing people’s driving licences,” he said.
He spoke as he fined Alan Nolan of 61 Delamere, Enfield €250 after he failed to pay a fine for driving while holding a phone on the N4 on April 7.
He imposed a similar fine on Aidan Munnelly of Ballynacaragy for a similar offence on April 14 on the Longford Road, Mullingar.
Mr Robert Marren appeared on behalf of his client, a lorry driver who was marooned in England due to bad weather. He had been in hospital following an accident and wasn’t home during the period when the fine arrived.
