System ‘bugs’ let drivers get away with it

BUGS in the penalty points computer system resulted in thousands of motoring offences cases being dropped as the time limit for prosecutions to be taken had expired.

Glitches in the penalty points system, allowing drivers to avail of loopholes to evade fines and prosecutions, are supposed to be ironed out when a new computerised system is rolled out, according to officials responsible for the system. Already this year, more than 7,500 cases have become statute barred - a dramatic increase on last year. This was due to problems in clarifying if notices were received in the post and problems arising when the old computer system was being extended to the Cork Garda Office in November 2003.

Garda Assistant Commissioner Pat Crummy told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee yesterday that a bug got into the computer system in Dublin and Cork and was not discovered until April 2004.