Google fined €450 over illegal parking

Google, which offers panoramic views of nearly every street in Ireland, was brought down to earth yesterday after being summonsed to appear at a court in Co Kerry.

It comes after a Google vehicle, confirmed as a Google Earth or streetview car with a roof-mounted camera, parked illegally on Main St, Castleisland, last September.

Yesterday’s appearance at Castleisland District Court, which now sits in Tralee, was to confirm a €450 contribution pledged before Christmas to the court poor box to avoid a conviction under the road traffic acts.

The case of Kerry County Council v Google Ireland had first come before Castleisland court on Dec 22. Google Ireland Ltd, of Gordon House, Barrow St, Dublin, pleaded guilty on that date to parking in a restricted area beyond the allowed length of time on the afternoon of Sept 23, 2011.

It was adjourned to yesterday for a contribution to the poor box, so as to avoid a conviction.

The court was told that €450 had now been paid. Representing Google Ireland, solicitor Patrick Mann, on behalf of A&L Goodbody Solicitors of Dublin, reminded Judge James O’Connor of his appeal that Google, “which so well serves the world and the community”, could make the contribution to avoid a conviction.

The previous court sitting also heard how Google Ireland drivers were not employed directly by Google but provided by a subcontractor. The subcontractor’s driver would have paid the €40 fine directly, so avoiding having to be summonsed to court. However, the driver maintained he did not find a parking ticket on his windshield. The company did not realise there was a parking fine until the summons arrived in the office.

The 09 red vehicle in question had logos, maps and a camera mounted on its roof, it has been confirmed by the authorities.

Yesterday’s sitting of the Castleisland court was the first to take place in Tralee. The monthly court was moved from the market town as part of a rationalisation of district courts.

Judge James O’Connor noted the first appearance of Castleisland Court in Tralee and welcomed solicitors, gardaí and traffic wardens and others normally associated with Castleisland for almost 90 years.