Driving licences loophole to be rectified

A LEGAL loophole that prevents gardaí from seizing licences from disqualified drivers is set to be closed off under Department of Transport plans, it emerged yesterday.

Minister Noel Dempsey’s department admitted last night a loophole was affecting a disqualified “small number” of drivers with regards to arresting them.

The department, road safety chiefs and gardaí said arrests could be effected but not directly because a motorist was disqualified. Other reasons were being taken into account like invalid insurance or inability to provide evidence of a proper licence.