Fool's rules - Lenient points just cuckoo

WHEN Transport Minister Martin Cullen first unveiled the 35 new penalty points, the plan was to introduce them today - April Fool's Day.

Wisely, Monday is the new deadline. Yet, there remains a strong whiff of April 1st about some new offences. For example, driving a vehicle on the motorway against the flow of traffic is a two-point offence - provided the €80 penalty is paid on the nail.

Only two points for diving down the wrong side of a motorway? It would be churlish to recall the behaviour of a certain minister who did just that.