Gardaí test drive computer system for road offences

A FIXED charge system for speeding and seat belt offences was introduced yesterday on a pilot basis in a number of areas of Dublin, Louth and Meath and will soon be rolled out on a national basis.

Motorists will not be issued with a notice at the time of the alleged offence but instead the gardaí will inform them verbally and record details in a handheld computer or specially designed notepad.

The system will be extended to all areas of Dublin in September and will be rolled out nationwide towards the end of the year. By then, it is hoped that more than 50 offences will be dealt with in a similar way.