TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross must go!
That was the clear message from Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey at this month’s Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District meeting when he took serious issue with the new amended proposals from the Minister to tackle speeding.
Under the existing law, a motorist who breaks the speed limit, irrespective of their speed, is fined €80 and also hit with three penalty points.
But under the approved graduated penalty system, motorists driving up to 10km/h over the limit will be fined €60 and two penalty points.
Those driving between 10 and up to 20km/h over the limit will be fined €80 and three penalty points.
Motorists breaking the speed limit between 20 to 30km/h over the limit will be fined €100 and four penalty points.
If fines are not paid and motorists are convicted in court, they will face a fine of up to €1,000 for a first offence, up to €2,000 for a second or subsequent offence, and up to €2,000 or up to three months in prison for a third or subsequent offence within 12 months.
Over 30km/h or more over the limit, a new stand-alone offence which would not be a fixed charge offence and result directly in a court summons. The penalty on conviction would be a fine of up to €2,000.
Minister Ross insists that these measures are aimed at curbing excessive speeding to reduce the number of fatalities on Irish roads. Up to December 12, 2019, a total of 136 people had been killed on the country’s roads.
However, Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey sees the new speeding laws as an affront to the ordinary people of rural Ireland. He also believes it is time for Minister Ross to go.
Cllr Teskey had a motion before the district meeting, calling on the Council to lobby the Transport Minister against the proposals in relation to the new penalty point scheme.
“Enough is enough, Minister Ross has to go,” he declared.
“The Minister’s latest raft of legislation with regards to incremented penalty points is a further direct hit on the hard-working tax-paying motorist who will find themselves in a mandatory court appearance if they are caught exceeding the speed limit by 30km and face a fine of up to €1000 on their first appearance and face a substantial amount of penalty points on there licence,” Cllr Teskey explained.
“There are criminals committing far more serious crimes and being sentenced a lot less than that. Why can’t Minister Ross legislate for these thugs and ensure the judicial system brings them to justice and sentence them in a meaningful way?
“The hard-working tax-paying public are sick and tired of the slap on the wrist approach and suspended sentences for these offenders who burgle homes and commit other serious crimes. The government will have to listen to the people, the grassroots of this country,” he told council members.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kevin Sheahan, who seconded Cllr Teskey’s proposal, described the new measures as “severe” and “petty”.
“We can do without this persecution,” he added.
