Banned over parking offence: Seize banned drivers’ cars?

Judge Patrick Durcan, sitting at Ennis District Court, earlier this week banned a motorist from driving for six months after the driver’s car was found parked in a disabled parking space.

Judge Durcan said Andrew Ryan of Bridge Court, Tulla Road, Ennis “should be ashamed of himself” — and very few people would disagree with that assertion.

Ringfenced parking is one of the gestures of solidarity this society extends to those with disability or mobility issues.

To take advantage of that very modest token by hijacking reserved parking spaces shows an indifference and boorishness that must be challenged.

Sadly, indifference to reserved parking is not the only issue in play. The Road Safety Authority points out that over 80% of banned drivers fail to surrender their licence.

RSA says 9,449 drivers were disqualified last year. A further 1,271 were ordered off the roads because they reached maximum penalty points. Of 10,720 disqualifications, 1,824 licences — 17% — were surrendered.

It is unlikely that all of banned drivers drive but it is just as likely that a good proportion of them use our roads on a daily basis.

This seems to suggest that our standard sanctions are not working.

Is it time to consider confiscating the cars used by banned drivers as soon as they are banned?

This would, in many cases, have unfortunate consequences for others than those banned but it might end the current practice of giving two fingers to our laws and courts pretty quickly.