TDs warn penalty points system being used as a ‘cash cow’

The penalty point system is being used as a cash cow, TDs have warned, as the Government rushed emergency legislation through the Dáil to fix a mistake in legislation which could see up to 78,000 drivers let off their offences.

Labour’s Michael McNamara expressed concern at the retrospective nature of the move after legal loopholes raised question marks over 200,000 points issued between August and December.

The Clare TD said some speed cameras were being placed in specific spots to catch the maximum number of people.

Mr McNamara said the Government should not look “petty” by imposing the retrospective correction to legislation, but should hold its hand up and admit it had made a mistake.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath warned that parts of the penalty point system was being used as a “cash cow” to raise revenue.

Fellow Independent Finian McGrath echoed the view.

“The penalty point issue is driving people mad. There is no doubt that there is grave injustice in some cases. This makes me ask whether this is just another way of making money and generally hammering people or soft targets who do not generally break the law,” Mr McGrath said.

Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley said a large number of legal challenges were likely to ensue now that the Government has admitted a fault in the legislation since August.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe insisted courts would uphold the emergency legislation, and that the penalty point system was in place to promote safer driving.

Sinn Féin transport spokesman Dessie Ellis called for a cross-party move to repair damage to the penalty point system.

“The strength of the deterring effect of penalty points was down to two things; mostly that the public saw the administration of penalty points as fair and that they had sufficient reason to believe that they would receive penalty points if they flouted the law. These two essential planks of the system’s effectiveness have been severely damaged over the last three years and this issue has not helped the matter.”