Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan
This morning.
Via Irish Times:
The fine for parking a vehicle on a footpath, cycle lane or bus lane is to double to €80 from next month.The Department of Transport said the increased fixed charge penalty rate would come into force on February 1st. The fines apply on all public roads and will be enforced by gardaí and local authority traffic wardens, it said.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the increased penalty aimed to encourage road users to be more considerate and to promote active travel.
“These increases should help improve the safety of all vulnerable road and footpath users by creating a more effective deterrent to these specific forms of illegal parking,” he said.
Conn Donovan, chair of the Cork Cycling Campaign, said the increased fine was a “baby step” in the right direction and that a campaign to catch people who parked on footpaths, cycle lanes and bus lanes was required.
Fine for parking on cycle lanes and footpaths to double (Irish Times)
“…and will be enforced by gardaí and local authority traffic wardens…”
But they won’t be.
Yeah, that’s the problem isn’t it … it could be €1000 but if there’s no-one there to police it then it might as well be “park where you like” – all they need to do in part is to swoop in and blitz an area to put the cat among the pigeons.
If the cops walked the beat, putting Fixed Charge Notices on vehicles blocking the path would be automatic. But they drive around in their cars, following up on reports, rather then applying the law where they see it broken.
In his conclusion at the end of the Disclosures Tribunal, Judge Charlton found that Garda malaise would be eliminated if all ranks did a portion of their shift on foot.
Hasn’t happened; this kind of sedentary crap is the best we can expect:
[photo] http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/the-new-beat.jpg
A general consensus in AGS is the fear that if they enforce road rules too rigidly they will lose public support.
Rigidly or indeed at all.
Anyone who cycles can on any given journey provide countless examples of hazardous driver (and indeed cyclist) behaviour.
Out of curiosity do AGS accept dash-cam / Go Pro footage of infractions? Not that I have or want either…
Doesn’t help when cribbing from the likes of the Presbyterians in Howth is emblazoned across the front page of the Irish Times. No such thing as the spirit of the law when it comes to the rules of the road.
In the Netherlands there are cars fitted with cameras that automatically issue fines for illegally parking. This would massively reduce illegal barking and eliminates the perception of a Garda being unfair as it is simply automated.
GAA matches are starting again this weekend and on the basis of the inconsiderate parking of some punters attending, an absolute fortune will be made.
I’ve seen the Gardai out a couple of times a year in places like the South Circular / Emmet Raod junction in Kilmainham fining cyclist who go through red lights. It’s probably enough to make cyclists think twice.
I suppose if they do the same with this in a couple of high visibility spots (N11 could be a good start), it might start to change behaviours.
This is about illegal parking. You appear to be commenting on the wrong thread.
The fines were too low but the law wasn’t being enforced so it makes no difference.
Oh, come on people – you know the drill! When a politician implements a measure designed to “encourage” and “promote” anything it means they don’t need to back it up with actual actions. It all just takes care of itself .. and gives them something to stick on the constituency flyers this year. That’s how we do things, Irish-style.