The first batch of cycling offences to be punishable for on-the-spot fines and summonses to court from August 1st has been published.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has revealed the first batch of offences to be included in the new on-the-spot fines scheme for cyclists.
The new system will be run on the fixed charged notice infrastructure that operates the penalty points system for motorists.
Cyclists will not get penalty points, but the notice of their fine will be sent out in the postal service and they will be given a period to 26 days pay the fine before it increases by 50 per cent.
At that stage they will get a further period, of 56 days, to pay and if they fail to do so they will be summonsed to court, in exactly the same way motorists incurring fines and penalty points for road traffic infringements are dealt with.
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The Department of Transport, in consultation with the Garda and Road Safety Authority, has drawn up a list of 36 cycling offences that will be added to the on the spot fines, or fixed charge notice, scheme in time.
This will most likely take place gradually over a period of years, similar to the way the motoring penalty points system has been rolled out.
But from the beginning of August, cyclists will face a €40 fine for the following offences:
- Cyclist driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration - €40
- No front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours on a pedal cycle - €40
- Cyclist proceeding into a pedestrianised street or area - €40
- Cyclist proceeding past traffic lights when the red lamp is illuminated - €40
- Cyclist proceeding past cycle traffic lights when red lamp is lit - €40
- Cyclist failing to stop for a School Warden sign - €40
- Cyclist proceeding beyond a stop line, barrier or half barrier at a railway level crossing, swing bridge or lifting bridge, when the red lamps are flashing - €40
The mooted offence of cycling on a footpath has not included following a backlash over whether parents cycling with their children to school would face fines.
However, gardai will be able to use their discretion to fine cyclists for using footpaths under the “driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration” provision.
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Minister Donohoe said the new system was designed to increase the safety of cyclists, as well as other road users and pedestrians.
“The introduction of fixed charge notices for motorists has been hugely successful in changing driver behaviour and I am confident that a similar change in behaviour and attitudes by cyclists who break the law will result following the introduction of this measure,” he said.
“While the majority of cyclists obey the rules of the road, unfortunately there are some who do not.
“As a committed cyclist myself, I am of the view that the introduction of fixed charge notices for cyclists will increase awareness among cyclists and reinforce the message that cyclists have a responsibility in relation to obeying road traffic law.
“It will also provide another enforcement measure for An Garda Síochána.
“Our pro-cycling policies are very successful and are resulting in a very significant increase in cycling.
“It is important that we seek to ensure that growth in cycling takes place on the basis of responsible cycling behaviour. Increased cycling will mean increased safety risks.
“Cyclists are vulnerable road users and it is important that we manage this risk though appropriate preventative measures rather than reactive measures later on.”
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