If you get caught under the new on-the-spot fines system for cyclists; don't let it get to court whatever you do. The fines there get very serious.
News of the first group of offences to be included in the new on-the-spot fines, fixed charge notice, system emerged today.
For the first time ever, cyclists caught by gardai flouting road traffic laws, such as breaking red lights or cycling dangerously, will be liable to an on the spot fine.
The new system comes into operation on August 1st, with seven offences of a total 36 to be rolled out at first.
The cost of the fine for each of the seven offences is perhaps surprisingly low, at just €40.
That’s equal to the lowest fines motorists are liable for under their fixed charged notice system, which also involves penalty points on their licences.
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Cyclists will have 26 days to pay the €40 fine, notice of which will be sent to them via the postal service.
If it’s not paid within that period, it increases to €60; with a maximum of 56 days to pay.
If that period expires and the fine is still not paid, the situation gets more serious.
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A summons will be issued for the cyclist to appear before a judge in court.
And if it gets that far, the €40 and €60 fines no longer apply. Instead, judges have discretion to impose their own fine.
And it has now emerged the maximum fine that can be handed down in court is €2,000.
That’s higher than some fines motorists in the same situation face; with €1,000 the maximum a court can impose for some driving infringements when the initial fixed charge notice fine goes unpaid.
But for other offences, such as driving when disqualified, the maximum fine for motorists who end up in court is €5,000.
You have been warned; best to just pay up immediately.
First group of 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
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