Report Paul Murphy
The fierce 2023 controversy over the RTE “hidden payments” scandal which made TV viewers boil over with fury seems to have receded into the background as more and more people are rushing forward to get their licences after a call by the inspectors.
Of a total of 65 summonses served by An Post on people who failed to have a licence when the inspectors knocked on their doors, 28 had since paid up just as their cases were due to be heard at Navan District Court. At the court in the heart of Navan on Friday just one person of 65 bothered to turn up to give their side of the story. That case was struck out by Judge Eirinn McKiernan when a relative said that the person named on the summons had since passed away. Twenty people were each fined €160 with €127 costs.
MOTOR TAX AND ILLEGAL PARKING HAD 91 PROSECUTIONS AT DISTRICT COURT
At the same court it appeared that some people are not very fond of paying motor tax. Of 91 prosecutions by Meath County Council, 22 were for people who failed to have their vehicles taxed. The average fine dished out was €200 but in cases where drivers had previous convictions the fines went up to €300 with €130 costs added on. Parking illegally in loading bays, on double yellow lines and footpaths drew fines of €105 to €250 (again with added legal costs). Parking illegally in designated taxi ranks drew average fines of €150.
