Penalty points for the driver or the owner of the vehicle?

Q. Who will be given penalty points if a car is caught by a speed camera? Is it the driver or the owner of the car?

A. The speeding ticket is sent to the registered owner of the car. If the owner was not driving the car at the time, he can name the offending driver. That driver will be fined and he will incur two penalty points.

Q. What will the next offences to earn penalty points be?

A. Currently, motorists caught speeding have to pay a fine of 80 and get two penalty points endorsed on their licence. But from early next year, a further 61 offences will earn penalty points. These include failure to obey traffic lights (2 points), driving without a seatbelt (2 points) and dangerous overtaking (2 points)

Q. When will every driver be required to carry a licence?

A. January 1, 2003. However, penalty points will not apply until the scheme is fully operational later next year.

Q. How long do the penalty points last for?

A. After three years, the slate is wiped clean. But if you build up 12 points at any time during the three-year period, you will be automatically disqualified from driving for six months.

Q. Will insurers have access to personal data about penalty points?

A. Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said he will not give insurers a register of offenders unless there is a reduction in premiums for safe drivers.