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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Anita McSorley

Garda checkpoints: Warning issued ahead of weekend as drivers caught speeding past officers

A number of motorists have been caught speeding past Garda checkpoints in recent days.

Gardai are warning that hefty fines and penalty points could follow if cars are found to be driving over the speed limit.

In an update ahead of the weekend, gardai shared some recent examples.

Gardai in Waterford were carrying out a speeding checkpoint recently when they caught several cars driving over the 50km/h limit.

One of the cars was clocked doing 84km/h - a massive 34km/h over the limit.

Officers shared a picture of some of the cars they stopped on Twitter, and said: “Waterford Roads Policing Gardai detected these motorists travelling in excess of the speed limit in 50km/hr zones recently while operating speeding checkpoints.

“FCPN were issued to all motorists. #SlowDown #ArriveAlive.”

In a separate checkpoint in Kildare, another motorists was caught driving at a whopping 110km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Concerned gardai said: “Naas Roads Policing Unit were out conducting speed checks at Rathcoffey when they detected a car travelling at speed of 110kph in a 50kph zone on National Slow down day.

“They were stopped and a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice was issued. Proceedings to follow. #SaferRoads #ArriveAlive.”

The annual National Slow Down Day was held on March 1 and saw gardai catch 1,675 cars driving over speed limits.

Speaking at the conclusion of the operation Chief Superintendent Michael Hennebry said: "I want to once again thank the vast majority of drivers who drive safely within the speed limits. Unfortunately we have yet again seen during our ‘Slow Down’ campaign, that there are still a minority of drivers who choose to ignore the legal speed limits and public warnings.

“We will continue to focus on those non-compliant drivers who drive in excess of the speed limit, posing a significant risk to themselves and other road users. Please remember that each time a driver exceeds a speed limit it could result in a serious injury or fatal collision.

“Please continue to support our efforts to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.”

Anyone caught speeding faces a fixed charge fine of €80, together with three penalty points.

Motorists have 28 days to pay the fine from the date the notice is issued to them. If it’s not paid in that time frame then the fine increases to €120 which must be paid within 28 days.

If after this time (56 days) the fine is still not paid, the offence is referred to the courts. Anyone convicted in court of speeding offences and non-payment of fines will automatically receive five penalty points and a fine up to a maximum of €1,000.

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