By Paul Murphy
A group representing the motor insurance industry has commented that increased cooperation between insurance companies and the Gardai has made it more likely that drivers without insurance will be caught much more easily. Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland CEO David Fitzgerald was commenting in response to a query by Meath Live about the increased incidence of offending drivers before Trim District Court. Last Tuesday one driver had nine previous convictions for driving uninsured and had almost a dozen disqualifications. The same number of uninsured drivers appeared before the same court.
Mr Fitzgerald said that driving without insurance was a serious criminal offence, making roads more dangerous and adding to costs facing law abiding motorists. “That is why the MIBI has worked with the Government, an Garda Siochana, Insurance Ireland and the wider insurance industry to develop a system that allows uninsured vehicles he police in seconds.
It is positive to seek that that work is paying off and more illegal uninsured drivers are being apprehended and brought before the courts. In fact, more than 32,000 vehicles have been seized for being driven without insurance since the new system was introduced. As well as having their vehicles taken by An Garda Siochana, people who break the law and drive without insurance can also expect to face an automatic court appearance, five penalty points, a fine of up to €5,000 and a potential prison sentence.
These are significant penalties. Our hope is that the new system continues to identify more and more of these people who are making our roads more dangerous.”
