Warning over penalty points system

GARDAÍ have warned that the penalty points system will collapse unless extra gardaí are allocated and the associated paperwork is cut dramatically.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) general secretary PJ Stone said members around the country were frustrated by the level of paperwork involved.

“You wouldn’t build the Luas on one track. The system will burst at the seams if we add any more offences,” he said. The GRA said nobody could

administer the system as it stands, such is the raft of legislation and paperwork involved.

From tomorrow uninsured drivers will incur five penalty points if caught. Last November, a two-point penalty was introduced for speeding and there are plans to introduce penalty points for motorists who allow passengers under 17 to be carried without wearing seat belts from July.

But last night, already over-worked and frustrated gardaí said they need the 2,000 extra officers promised by the Government, if the system is to continue to function. And they added that they cannot continue to be swamped with paper-work, as is now the case for the 11,900 officers in stations across the country.

“There is no doubt but that the force is extremely short of personnel,” said Austin Kenny, spokesman for the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

“We welcomed the penalty points system and have been calling for it for years, but what we also asked for was an efficient system to reduce the paperwork. So far, that has not been delivered. We need to see the system administered using an up-to-date, computerised system,” he said.

The workload for gardaí has increased phenomenally since the penalty points system was introduced. Some officers say their time is now consumed with paperwork and while gardaí have yet to revolt, it is understood that patience is wearing thin.

“Discussions between our association and the authorities regarding how the system will continue to be administered into the future are ongoing. That’s exactly where we stand at present,” Mr Kenny said.

Since penalty points were introduced in November of last year, 23,000 drivers have been cautioned and the number of road deaths has fallen by 22%, to 180, representing a drop of 51 on the same period the previous year.While gardaí have to fill out extra paperwork when issuing penalty points for speeding, the new points for driving without insurance will be handled through the courts.