Ruling may leave motorists off hook

THOUSANDS of motorists could escape penalty points and fines after the High Court ruled yesterday that garda devices used to monitor drivers were in breach of the law.

Some 400 laser guns used in garda speed traps do not provide a permanent, written record as required under the Road Traffic Act, 2002.

The legislation was updated on January 20 to enable gardaí use the laser guns, but thousands of motorists who were caught under the pre-January legislation can now challenge their prosecutions.