NCT website crashes over new penalty points

GARDA management yesterday advised motorists whose NCT is overdue to carry proof of an appointment for a test to avoid a possible court summons and five penalty points.

The Garda Traffic Corps is gearing up for the introduction of penalty points, on conviction, for five offences over the bank holiday weekend, starting on May 1. This includes five points for using a car without a valid NCT certificate.

The surprise announcement this week of the new penalty points created panic among many motorists whose NCT is due or overdue. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) website has crashed since Monday, and yesterday the site only displayed a brief notice saying there had been “an unprecedented demand” in the number of people requesting a booking for a test.

The site said people “may experience problems” getting through to the NCT call centre, but urged people to “bear with us and keep trying”. On Wednesday, the AA assured drivers they would not be automatically hit with the points, as with speeding. It said a driver would only receive the points if they were stopped, charged, prosecuted and convicted in the courts.

Other offences that will be hit with penalty points include striking a bridge and failing to remedy defects identified by the NCT test.

The association said it expected the gardaí to exercise discretion and expected them to only charge people who were driving a defective vehicle, and not those whose NCT was simply overdue. The Garda Síochána yesterday issued a statement on the matter. It said the offences, including driving without a valid NCT cert, were already offences and that more than 45,000 people were prosecuted for such in 2008.

It said following the signing of a commencement order of section 16 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 by Junior Minister Noel Ahern at the Department of Transport, five existing offences would now carry penalty points, on conviction in the courts. “Gardaí would urge all motorists to ensure their vehicles are safe and to have them tested and display the NCT certificate as required by legislation.”

The statement added: “Gardaí would advise motorists awaiting a NCT to carry proof of their test appointment to assist them to explain the situation should they be stopped by gardaí.”

Garda sources said while the law was the law, they would be slow to charge people simply for not having an NCT.

“The official line is it is the law and it has to be enforced, but the car would want to be in bad shape as well. But I would still urge people to make sure their car is safe and organise their NCT,” said one senior traffic Garda.