Source: http://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2004/act/44/revised/en/html
Timestamp: 2017-03-30 00:47:17
Document Index: 56183026

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'arts 1', 'art 6', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 3', 'arts 3', 'art.\n7', 'art.\n8', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1']

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Updated to 4 June 2014
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of Road Traffic Act 2004. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
All Acts up to and including Central Bank Act 2014
(9/2014), enacted 4 June 2014, and all statutory instruments up to and including
Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 249 of
2014), made 4 June 2014, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
: This Act is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation, to be read
together as one (
Road Traffic Act 2014, s. 1(3)) The Acts in the group are: • Road Traffic Act 1961 (24/1961)
• Taxi Regulation Act 2013 (37/2013), Part 11 • Road Traffic Act 2014 (3/2014)
Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975 and 1987
: This Act deals with similar subject matter to a group of Acts included in this
collective citation (
Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987, s. 15(4)). The Acts in the group are:
by other amendments in other legislation, or the amended legislation may have been repealed
or revoked. This information is not represented in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the amended
legislation if one is available.
to this legislation or fragment may not be reflected in this revision but will be reflected
in a revision of the legislation referred to if one is available.
A list of legislative changes to any Act, and to statutory instruments from 2000,
may be found in the Legislation Directory at www.irishstatutebook.ie.
Acts which affect or previously affected this
(9/2014), enacted 4 June 2014, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Statutory instruments which
affect or previously affected this revision
• Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits - Buses, Heavy Goods Vehicles, Etc.) (Amendment)
(S.I. No. 75 of 2012)
• Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits Buses, Heavy
Goods Vehicles, Etc) Regulations 2008
(S.I. No. 546 of 2008)
• Road Traffic Act 2004 (Commencement) (Parts 1 and 2 and Sections 27 and 32) Order
(S.I. No. 8 of 2005)
All statutory instruments up to and including Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 249 of
2014), made 4 June 2014, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Repeals (
Courts Service to inform Minister of court orders under section 36 and 29 of Principal
Amendment of section 9 of Act of 2002 (disqualification pursuant to European Convention
on Driving Disqualifications).
Power of road authority to provide and maintain certain equipment, etc., on public
AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACTS 1961 TO 2003, THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
(TRAFFIC WARDENS) ACT 1975 AND THE TAXI REGULATION ACT 2003. [22
nd December, 2004]
82.—(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to
2010 committed after the commencement of this section, the court shall, unless it
is satisfied that there are special and substantial reasons for not so doing, order
the person to pay to the court the costs and expenses, measured by the court, incurred
in relation to the investigation, detection and prosecution of the offence, including
costs and expenses incurred in the taking of samples and the carrying out of tests,
examinations and analyses.
“(1) Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2010 relating to vehicles and
requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles,
other than those provided under sections 49, 50, 51A, 52 and 53 of the Principal Act,
sections 12, 13 and 15 of the Act of 1994 and sections 4, 5, 11, 12 and 14 of this
Act, do not apply to—
(a) the driving or use by a member of the Garda Síochána, an ambulance service (provided by a pre-hospital emergency care service provider
recognised by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council established by the Pre-Hospital
Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order 2000 (
S.I. No. 109 of 2000)) or a fire brigade of a fire authority (within the meaning of the Fire Services Act 1981) of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member, or
(b) a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda
(22) Notwithstanding any provision of any statute listed in the Second Schedule that
provides for the consent for a plan or project to which this Regulation applies to
be obtained by default on the failure of the public authority to provide a response
within a specified timescale or otherwise, that provision shall not have effect in
respect of any plan or project to which this Regulation applies. ...
83.— (1) Any reference to the Commissioner in the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2010 or the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 is to be read as a reference to the Commissioner or
another member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Chief Superintendent authorised by the Commissioner to act
or carry out a function or requirement on his or her behalf.
bb) a record held or created by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety under the Road Traffic
Acts 1961 to 2010 (other than a record concerning the general administration of the
Medical Bureau of Road Safety),
2.— The power to make regulations under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006 includes the
power to make provision in such regulations to give effect to—
a) a provision of the treaties of the European Communities, or
b) an act adopted by an institution of those Communities.
[3.—(1) (
a) This section applies to such of the offences specified in paragraph (
b) as may be declared by the Minister by regulations made after consultation with the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to be fixed charge offences and an offence
standing so declared is referred to in this section as a fixed charge offence.
b) The offences referred to in paragraph (
a) of this section are:
(i) an offence under the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 2002, relating to the prohibition or restriction of the stopping or parking of mechanically
propelled vehicles,
Functions in relation to collectively cited Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2002 transferred from Department of and Minister for Environment and Local Government
to Department of and Minister for Public Enterprise and terms construed (18.06.2002)
by National Roads and Road Traffic (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial
Functions) Order 2002
(S.I. No. 298 of 2002). Note: name of Department of and Minister for Public Enterprise
changed to Department of and Minister for Transport (19.06.2002) by Public Enterprise (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 305 of 2002); name further changed to Department of and Minister for Transport,
Tourism and Sport (2.04.2011) by Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 141 of 2011).
3.(1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance
or execution of any functions transferred by Article 4 of this Order are transferred
to the Department of Public Enterprise.
(2) References to the Department of the Environment and Local Government contained
in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to any administration and business
transferred by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement
of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Public Enterprise.
(2) References to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government contained
in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to any functions transferred
by this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as
references to the Minister for Public Enterprise.
(a) the word “road” includes, for the purposes of the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1995,
or any regulations made thereunder, a road in a State airport, and
(4) The Minister may make regulations providing that any function relating to national
roads conferred on him or on a road authority under any enactment (including this
Act), or on the Commissioner under the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1987, shall, where
the Minister is satisfied that the function could be more effectively performed by
the Authority, in lieu of being performed by him or by that authority or by the Commissioner,
be performed by the Authority with effect from a date specified in the regulations.
23.—(1) The Authority may at any time make recommendations in writing to the Commissioner
in relation to the performance of his functions under the Road Traffic Acts, 1961
to 1987 and the Commissioner shall have regard to such recommendations in the performance
2. A reference in the Road Traffic Acts, 1961 to 1984, to a class of mechanically
propelled vehicles shall be construed as a reference to a class or category of such
vehicles and cognate words and expressions shall be construed accordingly.
Road Safety Authority granted power to consider any convictions under collectively
cited Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2011 in determining a risk rating in relation to Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 (16/2012), s. 39(3)(a)-(d) (10.09.2013) by Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 (16/2012), s. 39(4)(e), S.I. No. 349 of 2013.
Obligation to provide breath specimen by person in charge of a mechanically propelled
vehicle in a public place who, in the opinion of a member of the Garda Síochána, is committing or has committed an offence under collectively cited Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2011 provided by Road Traffic Act 1994 (7/1994), s. 12, as substituted (1.06.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2011 (7/2011) s. 2, S.I. No. 253 of 2011.
) comes into operation on such day or days as, by order or orders made by the Minister
under this section, may be fixed therefor either generally or with reference to any
particular purpose or provision and different days may be so fixed for different purposes
and different provisions.
(3) The Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2003 and this Act (other than Part 6) may be cited together as the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 and shall be construed
together as one Act.
Power pursuant to section exercised (20.01.2005) by Road Traffic Act 2004 (Commencement) (Parts 1 and 2 and Sections 27 and 32) Order
(S.I. No. 8 of 2005).
2. The day fixed, on which Parts 1 and 2 and sections 27 and 32 of the Road Traffic
Act 2004 (No. 44 of 2004) come into operation, is 20 January 2005.
Power pursuant to section exercised (24.01.2005) by Road Traffic Act 2004 (Commencement) (Parts 3 and 4) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 26 of 2005).
2. The day fixed, on which Parts 3 and 4 (save in so far as it is already in operation)
of the Road Traffic Act 2004 (No. 44 of 2004) come into operation, is 24 January 2005.
a) a reference to a section is a reference to a section of this Act, unless it is indicated
b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is to the subsection, paragraph
or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated
that reference to some other provision is intended, and
c) a reference to any enactment is to be construed as a reference to that enactment
as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this
(2) Except where otherwise provided for by this Act, a reference, however expressed,
(a) to a county council or a city council (including a reference construed by section
3(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Principal Act as a reference to a county council or
to a city council, as the case may be) shall, if the context permits, be read as a
reference to a county council, a city council or a city and county council, and
(b) to a county council and a city council (including a reference so construed) shall,
if the context permits, be read as a reference to a county council, a city council
and a city and county council.
3.—(1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any matter or thing which is referred
to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.
(2) Regulations made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas
as soon as may be after they are made and, if a resolution annulling the regulations
is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat
after the regulations are laid before it, the regulations shall be annulled accordingly,
but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.04.2012) by Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits - Buses, Heavy Goods Vehicles, Etc.) (Amendment)
(S.I. No. 75 of 2012).
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.02.2009) by Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits Buses, Heavy Goods Vehicles, Etc) Regulations
(S.I. No. 546 of 2008).
Power pursuant to section exercised (20.01.2005) by Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits - Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 9 of 2005).
4.—(1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing a speed limit (“ordinary speed limit”) in respect of all public roads, or all public roads with such exceptions as may
be specified in the regulations, for any class of mechanically propelled vehicle.
(2) Regulations under this section may prescribe different speed limits for any class
of vehicle using particular categories of public roads.
(3) Regulations under this section may make provision for the exemption of a class
or classes, including a sub class, of vehicles from a speed limit specified in any
5.—(1) There is a speed limit (“built-up area speed limit”) of 50 kilometres per hour in respect of all public roads, other than a motorway
in built-up areas for all mechanically propelled vehicles.
(2) The built-up area speed limit does not apply to a road or part of it in a built-up
area where a special speed limit or a road works speed limit applies to that road
6.—(1) There is a speed limit (“regional and local roads speed limit”) of 80 kilometres per hour in respect of all regional and local roads, other than
such roads in built-up areas, for all mechanically propelled vehicles.
(2) The regional and local roads speed limit does not apply to a non-urban regional
and local road or part of it where a special speed limit or a road works speed limit
applies to that road or part.
7.—(1) There is a speed limit (“national roads speed limit”) of 100 kilometres per hour in respect of all national roads, other than national
roads in built-up areas, for all mechanically propelled vehicles.
(2) The national roads speed limit does not apply to a national road or part of it
where a special speed limit or a road works speed limit applies to that road or part.
8.—(1) There is a speed limit (“motorway speed limit”) of 120 kilometres per hour in respect of all motorways for all mechanically propelled
(2) The motorway speed limit does not apply in respect of any motorway or part of
it where a special speed limit or road works speed limit applies to that motorway
9.—(1) A county council or a city council may make bye-laws (“special speed limit bye-laws”) specifying in respect of any specified public road or specified part of a public
road or specified carriageway or lane of a public road within its administrative area
the speed limit (“special speed limit”) which shall be the speed limit on that road or those roads for mechanically propelled
(2) The special speed limits that may be specified in bye-laws under this section
(a) 30 kilometres per hour, which shall only be applied in respect of a road or roads
(other than a motorway) in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister under
b) 50 kilometres per hour, in respect of any road other than a road in a built-up area,
c) 60 kilometres per hour,
d) 80 kilometres per hour, in respect of a motorway, a national road or a road in a
e) 100 kilometres per hour, in respect of a motorway, a non-urban regional or local
road or a road in a built-up area, and
f) 120 kilometres per hour, in respect of a dual carriageway that forms part of a national
road that is not a motorway in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister under
(3) Before making special speed limit bye-laws a county council or city council shall
give notice to—
a) the council of any borough or town in the administrative county concerned of any
provision in the proposed bye-laws relating to roads in their respective administrative
b) the Commissioner, and
shall consider any representations made in writing by any such council or the Commissioner
where they are received within the period (not being less than one month after the
date of service of the notice) specified in the notice.
(4) Whenever a county council or city council having considered any representations
under subsection (3), proposes to make bye-laws under this section, the following provisions have effect—
a) the council shall publish notice of the proposal at least once in at least 2 daily
newspapers published in and circulating in the State or the area to which the bye-laws
b) the notice shall include—
(ii) an intimation that a copy of draft bye-laws is open for public inspection at
the address stated in the notice, and
(iii) an intimation that any person may submit to the council objections to the draft
bye-laws at any time during the period of 30 days commencing on the date of the first
publication of the notice,
c) the council shall, during that period of 30 days, keep a copy of the draft bye-laws
open for public inspection during ordinary office hours at the address stated in the
d) any person who objects to the draft bye-laws may submit his or her objection to
the council in writing at any time during that period of 30 days and the council shall
consider the objections.
(5) In making special speed limit bye-laws under this section a county council or
city council may, in the interests of road safety, apply a special speed limit for
a specified period or periods during any day or during specified days (such periods
and days being indicated in such bye-laws) on a specified road or specified motorway
or part of it and such special speed limit shall, notwithstanding any other provision
in the said bye-laws relating to any such road or motorway or part of it, be the speed
limit for that road for that period or periods only.
(6) Having regard to circumstances that are particular to a specified national road
or motorway or any specified part, carriageway or lane of a specified motorway or
national road, a county council or city council may, subject to subsection (7), specify in special speed limit bye-laws that a special speed limit applies in respect
of that national road or motorway or part, carriageway or lane of it, in lieu of the
speed limit that normally applies to the national road or
motorway, for any period where the circumstances prevail and are described in the
(7) A county council or city council shall not make bye-laws under this section relating
to a national road or a motorway without the prior written consent of the National
a) the varying of the speed limits standing specified in subsection (2) and that subsection shall have effect in accordance with any such regulations for
b) the exemption of a class or classes of mechanically propelled vehicles from a specified
speed limit or from all of the speed limits specified or having effect under this
(9) The Minister may issue guidelines relating to the making of bye-laws under this
section and may amend or cancel any such guidelines. Where any such guidelines are,
for the time being in force, a county council or city council shall have regard to
them when making any such bye-laws.
(10) The making of special speed limit bye-laws under this section and the making
of representations under subsection (3)(a) are reserved functions (within the meaning of the Act of 2001).
(11) Where special speed limit bye-laws apply a special speed limit to a specified
public road or specified part of a public road or specified carriageway or lane of
a public road, that speed limit does not apply where a road works speed limit order
is made in respect of the public road, part, carriageway or lane of it.
(12) A document which purports to be a copy of special speed limit bye-laws, and which
has endorsed on it a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the county
council or city council which made the bye-laws stating that the document is a true
copy of the bye-laws and that the bye-laws were in force on a specified day, shall,
without proof of the signature of such officer or that he or she was in fact such
officer, be evidence, until the contrary is shown, in every court and in all legal
proceedings, of the bye-laws and of the fact that they were in force on that date.
Substituted by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 86, not commenced as of date of revision.
(2) A function of a town council (including a reference construed by section 3(2)
of, and Schedule 2 to, the Principal Act as a reference to a town council and whether
of general application to town councils or otherwise under an enactment) that—
shall, if the context permits in respect of one or more than one town council concerned,
be read as a reference to a function of the local authority in whose administrative
area the town council so dissolved is situated.
(1) Description of reserved function
(2) Provision under which reserved function is conferred
Prospective affecting provision: subs. (2)(a) substituted by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 86, not commenced as of date of revision.
30 kilometres per hour, and
40 kilometres per hour,
in respect of a road or roads in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister
10.—(1) The F2
chief executive of a local authority
] may, where he or she considers it is in the interests of road safety, on a road or
motorway or part of a road or motorway where road works are being carried out in the
administrative area of the county or city council for which he or she is the manager,
by order (“road works speed limit order”) apply to the road or motorway or part of it a special limit (“road works speed limit”) being a speed limit of not less than 30 kilometres per hour, as the speed limit
on the road or motorway for mechanically propelled vehicles, in lieu of the speed
limit provided or having effect under this Act in respect of the road or motorway
(2) A road works speed limit order is in force for the duration of the road works,
subject to no such order having effect for a period of more than 12 months from the
date of its making.
(3) A road works speed limit order shall not be made in respect of a national road
or a motorway, without the prior written consent of the National Roads Authority.
(4) Before making a road works speed limit order the F2
] concerned shall notify the Commissioner in writing of his or her intention to make
(5) The F2
] shall consider any representations made in writing by the Commissioner received by
the manager within one month of the notification.
(6) When a road works speed limit order is made the F2
] concerned shall publish a notice in one or more newspapers circulating in the county
or city council to which the order relates indicating the location where the order
will have effect, the period for which it will have effect and the speed limit being
applied through the order. The F2
] shall have regard to any representations that are made to him or her in relation
to the road works speed limit order.
(7) A F2
] may at any time within the period specified in subsection (2) revoke or amend a road works speed limit order made by him or her.
(8) A document which purports to be a copy of a road works speed limit order which
has endorsed on it a certificate purporting to be signed by the F2
] making the order or an officer of the local authority concerned designated by the
] stating that the document is a true copy of the order and that the order was in force
on a specified day, shall, without proof of the signature of such F2
] or officer or that he or she was in fact such F2
] or officer, be evidence, until the contrary is shown, in every court and in all legal
proceedings, of the order and of the fact that it was in force on that date.
“47.—(1) A person shall not drive a mechanically propelled vehicle at a speed exceeding
the speed limit—
a) that applies in respect of that vehicle, or
b) that applies to the road on which the vehicle is being driven where that speed limit
is lower than that applying to that vehicle.
a) an ordinary speed limit,
b) the built-up area speed limit,
c) the regional and local roads speed limit,
d) the national roads speed limit,
e) the motorway speed limit,
f) a special speed limit, or
g) a road works speed limit.”.
12.—(1) On the commencement of section 9,
bye-laws made under section 46 (inserted by section 33 of the Act of 1994) of the
Principal Act continue in force and are deemed to be bye-laws for the purposes of
that section 9
a) a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour, in lieu of the built-up area speed limit
of 30 miles per hour,
b) a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour, in lieu of the special speed limit of 40
c) a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, in lieu of the special speed limit of 50
and have effect in any county or city to which they apply until such time as bye-laws
are made in respect of such county or city under that section.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), traffic signs provided for in regulations made under section 95 (as amended by section
37 of the Act of 1994) of the Principal Act depicting the speed limits referred to
in subsection (1) as applying in lieu of the former speed limits applying prior to the commencement
, shall be provided as soon as may be after that date at the locations where the said
former speed limits applied as provided for in bye-laws made under section 46 (inserted
by section 33 of the Act of 1994) of the Principal Act.
(3) A traffic sign provided for the purpose of indicating a speed limit applying prior
to the commencement of section 9
shall on or after that day be regarded as indicating the new speed limit applying
in lieu of the former speed limit until a traffic sign is provided for in accordance
with subsection (2).
Repealed (28.10.2011) by Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011 (28/2011), s. 4(2)(c), S.I. No. 542 of 2011.
Previous affecting provision: section repealed by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 70(c), not commenced.
Repealed (1.06.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2010, s. 81(10)(b), S.I. No. 255 of 2011.
a) in subsection (5), by inserting “or a person appointed under section 103 of the Principal Act” after “Garda Síochána” and “Commissioner”, and
b) in subsection (6), by substituting for paragraph (
a) the following:
a) Where a person is convicted of a penalty point offence, the Minister shall be notified
of the conviction by the Courts Service—
(i) in case an appeal is brought against the conviction and it is determined against
the person, as soon as may be after such determination, and
(ii) in case an appeal is not brought against the conviction, as soon as may be after
the expiration of the ordinary time for bringing such an appeal.”.
“(4) Where an order is made under subsection (3), the Minister shall be notified by
the Courts Service.”.
18.— (1) Section 103 (inserted by section 11 of the Act of 2002) of the Principal Act
(a) such summary offences under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 and the Roads Act
1993 as may be declared by the Minister by regulations, made after consultation with
the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to be fixed charge offences, and
and an offence standing so declared under paragraph (a), and the offence referred
to in paragraph (b), of this subsection are referred to in this section as a fixed
charge offence,”,
(i) being an individual was not driving or otherwise using the vehicle, or
(ii) being a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons was not capable of
driving or otherwise using the vehicle,
(b) may specify the person to whom and the place where the payment is to be made and
whether the payment is to be accompanied by the notice, duly completed.”,
“(b) the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the date of the notice,
make a payment of a fixed charge as specified in the notice,
(c) if the person does not make the payment specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection,
during the period so specified, the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning
on the expiration of that period, make a payment of a fixed charge as specified in
the notice of an amount 50 per cent greater than the prescribed amount referred to
in paragraph (b) of this subsection, and”,
“(b) a person liable to be prosecuted for the offence may, during the period of 28
days beginning on the date of the notice, make a payment of a fixed charge of a prescribed
(c) if the person does not make the payment specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection
during the period so specified the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning
on the expiration of the period specified in that paragraph, make a payment of a fixed
charge of an amount 50 per cent greater than the prescribed amount referred to in
paragraph (b) of this section,”
“(h) subject to paragraph (f) of this subsection, failure to comply with the said subsection
(4) is an offence upon summary conviction of which the registered owner is liable
to a fine not exceeding €1,000.”,
“(8A) The payment of a fixed charge shall not be accepted after the expiration of the
period of 56 days beginning on the date of the notice concerned that was served or
affixed under subsection (2) or served under subsection (5) of this section, as the
case may be.”,
“(a) a person or the person to whom the notice applies may, during the period specified
in the notice, as specified in the notice make a payment,”,
“(10) In a prosecution for a fixed charge offence it shall be presumed until the contrary
is shown that—
(a) the relevant notice under this section has been served or caused to be served,
(b) that a payment pursuant to the relevant notice under this section, accompanied
by the notice, duly completed (unless the notice provides for payment without the
notice accompanying the payment), has not been made.”,
“(23) (a) The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, by an agreement in
writing, entered into with a person, upon such terms and conditions as may be specified
in the agreement, provide for the performance by that person of—
(i) the function of the Commissioner in respect of the serving of a document under
subsection (5) of this section, or
(ii) any of the functions of a member of the Garda Síochána or a traffic warden under this section other than the functions specified in subsection
(b) An agreement referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection may apply to the
performance of all or any of the functions to which that paragraph refers in respect
of all or selected offences in respect of which this section applies.
(c) Section 14(2), (3) and (4) of the Road Traffic Act 2002 applies to any agreement
entered into by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform under paragraph
(a) of this subsection.”.
(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) of section 103 of the Principal Act which
are in force immediately before the commencement of the amendment effected by subsection
(1)(a) continue in force after such commencement as if made under that subsection
inserted by subsection (1)(a).
Repealed by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 49(c), not commenced as of date of revision.
Prospective affecting provision: section repealed by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 49(c), not commenced as of date of revision.
19.—(1) For the purposes of subsection (11) of section 103 (inserted by section 11 of
the Act of 2002) of the Principal Act and subsection (10) of section 3 (inserted by
section 12 of the Act of 2002) of the Act of 1975 where the registered owner of the
mechanically propelled vehicle concerned does not furnish the information specified
in either of those subsections and the owner is not an individual, then—
(a) where the vehicle has been registered in the State but has not been first licensed
under the Regulations of 1992, the individual who applied for registration under section
131 of the Finance Act 1992 ,
(i) subject to subparagraph (ii), the individual who most recently applied to have
the vehicle licensed before the commission of the alleged offence, or
(ii) where ownership of the vehicle has been transferred from another person to the
owner before the commission of the alleged offence and the registered owner as the
new owner of the vehicle has not applied to have it licensed under the Regulations
of 1992, the individual who signed as the new owner of the vehicle the notification
of transfer of vehicle ownership under the Regulations of 1992 relating to the vehicle,
(c) where the vehicle is used under a trade licence issued under section 21 of the
Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 , the individual who most recently applied for the licence
before the commission of the alleged offence, or
(d) where the vehicle was the subject of a hire-purchase agreement or a letting agreement
at the time of the commission of the alleged offence—
(ii) where the person who was in possession of the vehicle under the agreement is
not an individual, the individual who made the agreement with the owner for possession
of the vehicle under the agreement,
is deemed to have been driving or otherwise using the vehicle at the time of the alleged
(i) the register maintained under section 131 of the Finance Act 1992 or article 22
of the Regulations of 1992,
(ii) records maintained under section 60 (as amended by section 86 of the Finance
Act 1994 ) of the Finance Act 1993 , or
(iii) any documents in the possession of the registered owner relating to the vehicle
and may require such information (including information of the identity of any driver
of the vehicle concerned) of the registered owner concerned or a person in his or
her employment as the member or warden considers necessary.
(3) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to provide a member of the Garda
Síochána or a traffic warden with a relevant document referred to in subsection (2)(iii)
or such information as may be relevant for the purposes of this section or who provides
information which is false or misleading is guilty of an offence and is liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000.
(a) the director, manager, partner, secretary or other officer (including a member
of any committee of management or other controlling authority) of a body corporate
or unincorporated body of persons in whose name or on behalf of whom the application
(b) that person himself or herself, being the director, manager, partner or other
officer, if he or she made the application.
“document” includes any book, record or any other written or printed material in any form including
any information stored, maintained or reserved by means of any mechanical or electronic
device, whether or not stored, maintained or preserved in a legible form;
“Regulations of 1992” means the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992
( S.I. No. 385 of 1992 ) (as amended);
20.—Where an offence under section 103(8)(h) (inserted by section 17(d) (ii)) of the Principal
Act or section 3(7)(h) (inserted by section 23 (c)) of the Act of 1975 is committed
by a body corporate or by a person purporting to act on behalf of a body corporate
or on behalf of an unincorporated body of persons and it is proved to have been so
committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any wilful neglect
on the part of any other person who, when the offence was committed, was, or purported
to act as, a director, manager, secretary or other officer (including a member of
any committee of management or other controlling authority) of such body, such other
person as well as the body, or the person so purporting to act on behalf of the body,
is guilty of an offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he
or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
“22.—(1) A person who it is alleged has committed an offence or has been charged with the
commission of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 other than—
a) section 84 (inserted by section 15 of the Act of 2002), section 85 (inserted by
section 16 of the Act of 2002) or section 101 of the Principal Act, or
b) section 35 (in so far as it relates to the parking of vehicles) or section 36 of
the Act of 1994,
and is due to appear before a court to answer the accusation or charge, shall on the
first date he or she is due to appear before the court or on a subsequent date at
the discretion of the presiding judge, produce to the Court his or her driving licence
and the Court shall record whether or not the licence has been produced.
(2) A person who fails to produce his or her licence to the court in accordance with
the requirements of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.
a) a certified copy of a court order in relation to an offence referred to in subsection
b) any other form of notification certifying that the driving licence was not produced
to the court as provided for in the Rules of Court,
a) in Part 1, by inserting—
b) in Part 4, by substituting for the matter contained in column (3) at reference number
a) in subsection (3), by substituting for paragraph (
b) the registered owner of the vehicle—
b) by inserting after subsection (5) the following:
“(5A) (
a) A notice under this section in the prescribed form may contain details of the manner
of payment of a fixed charge.
b) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (6), (7) and (8) of this section
requiring that the payment of a fixed charge be accompanied by the notice served or
affixed, as the case may be, the notice in the prescribed forms may contain details
of the manner of payment of the fixed charge or without the payment being accompanied
by the notice.”,
c) in subsection (7), by substituting for paragraph (
h) the following:
h) subject to paragraph (
f) of this subsection, failure to comply with the said subsection (4) is an offence
upon summary conviction of which the registered owner is liable to a fine not exceeding
€1,000.”,
d) by inserting after subsection (7) the following:
“(7A) The payment of a fixed charge shall not be accepted after the expiration of the
affixed under subsection (2) or served under subsection (4) of this section, as the
e) by substituting for subsection (9) the following:
“(9) In a prosecution for a fixed charge offence it shall be presumed until the contrary
a) the relevant notice under this section has been served or caused to be served, and
b) that a payment pursuant to the relevant notice under this section, accompanied by
the notice, duly completed (unless the notice provides for payment without the notice
accompanying the payment) has not been made.”.
24.—Section 36 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsection (8) (inserted
by section 8(
b) of the Act of 2002) the following:
a) under subsection (3) or (4) of this section,
b) suspending or postponing an order under either of those subsections, or
c) under section 29 of this Act removing a consequential or ancillary disqualification.”.
a) substituting for subsection (8) the following:
“(8) When the appropriate judge makes or refuses to make an order under subsection
(2), the Courts Service shall notify the Minister and the Minister shall cause the
central authority of the State of the offence to be notified thereof.”,
b) in subsection (9), substituting for paragraph (
a) the Courts Service shall—
(ii) comply with any request of the Minister for further details or information relating
to the person, the offence, the disqualification or otherwise required for the purpose
of the Convention,”.
26.—(1) Section 35(2) of the Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after paragraph (
s) the following:
t) the issue of permits at a prescribed charge by a local authority, or any other body
authorised by the Minister to issue such permits, for the purpose of—
(i) exempting permit holders from restrictions or prohibitions on parking applied
(ii) allowing for the parking of vehicles by permit holders at specified locations,
(iii) exempting permit holders from the application of prohibitions and restrictions
to specified traffic from entering or using specified roads, and
(2) The following subsection is inserted after subsection (6) of section 35 of the
Act of 1994:
“(7) A permit issued under regulations made under subsection (2)(
t) may be inspected, at all reasonable times, by a member of the Garda Síochána or (other than in respect of a permit issued under regulations made under subsection
t)(iii)) a traffic warden.
(8) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails or refuses to permit the inspection
of a permit referred to in subsection (7) is guilty of an offence.”.
Repealed (28.10.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 87(2), S.I. No. 543 of 2011.
Repealed (1.06.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 83(2), S.I. No. 255 of 2011.
29.—Section 84 (inserted by section 15 of the Act of 2002) of the Principal Act is amended
by substituting in subsection (11) for the definition of “local authority” the following:
a) to a person who is under the age of 16 years, or
b) other than a mechanically propelled vehicle in respect of which a person who has
attained the age of 16 years is entitled to hold a driving licence to drive, to a
person who is under the age of 17 years.
A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding €
5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
(3) In this section “supply”, includes supply by way of sale, hire, loan, gift, or other means of making the vehicle
available to a person.
Substituted (1.06.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 88, S.I. No. 255 of 2011.
31.—(1) A road authority may, with the consent of the Commissioner or at his or her request,
provide and maintain on public roads in their charge any equipment or structure which
the authority consider desirable for the detection of offences under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004.
32.—Section 3(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for the definition of
“registered owner” the following:
“‘registered owner’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)
(Amendment) Regulations 1992 (
S.I. No. 385 of 1992) (as amended by the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations
S.I. No. 213 of 2004)), but, if those regulations should be revoked, it shall have the meaning assigned
to it by such regulations corresponding to those regulations as may for the time being
be in force;”.
Repealed (28.10.2011) by Road Traffic Act 2010 (25/2010), s. 61(9), S.I. No. 543 of 2011.
“56.—(1) A person (in this subsection referred to as the user) shall not use in a public
place a mechanically propelled vehicle unless—
a) either a vehicle insurer or an exempted person would be liable for injury caused
by the negligent use of the vehicle, by him or her at that time, or
b) there is in force at that time an approved policy of insurance whereby the user
or some other person who would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of
the vehicle at that time by the user, is insured against all sums, subject to subsection
(2) of this section, without limit, which the user or his or her personal representative
or such other person or his or her personal representative becomes liable to pay to
any person (exclusive of the excepted persons) by way of damages or costs on account
of injury to person or property caused by the negligent use of the vehicle at that
(2) The insurance required by this section may be subject to the following limitations
and the following exception or any of them—
a) it may in so far as it relates to—
in respect of injury caused by any one act of negligence or any one series of acts
of negligence collectively constituting one event,
b) there may be excepted from the liability covered thereby any liability (in excess
of the common law or the statutory liability applicable to the case) undertaken by
the insured or the principal debtor by special contract.
a) A draft of every regulation proposed to be made under subsection (2)(
a)(i) of this section shall
be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulation shall not be made until
a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.
b) Section 5(2) of this Act does not apply to a regulation made under subsection (2)(
a)(i) of this section.
(3) An approved policy of insurance referred to in subsection (1)(
b) of this section extends to damages or costs on account of injury to persons or property
incurred by the negligent use of a mechanically propelled vehicle by the user in any
of the designated territories to the extent required by the law relating to compulsory
insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of mechanically propelled
vehicles of the territory where the damages or costs may be incurred, or to the extent
required by this Part, whichever is the greater.
(4) Where a person contravenes subsection (1) of this section, he or she and, if he
or she is not the owner of the vehicle, such owner are each guilty of an offence and
are liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.
(5) Where, in a prosecution for an offence under this section, it is shown that, a
demand having been made under section 69 of this Act—
a) the person on whom the demand was made refused or failed to produce a certificate
of insurance or certificate of exemption then and there, or
b) such person, having duly produced such certificate consequent upon the demand, refused
or failed to permit the member of the Garda Síochána to whom such certificate was produced to read and examine it,
it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown by the defendant, that the vehicle
was being used in contravention of this section.
(6) Where a person charged with an offence under this section is the owner of the
vehicle, it is a defence to the charge for the person to show that the vehicle was
being used without his or her consent and either that he or she had taken all reasonable
precautions to prevent its being used or that it was being used by his or her employee
acting in contravention of his or her instructions.
(7) Where a person charged with an offence under this section was an employee of the
owner of the vehicle, it is a defence to the charge for the person to show that he
or she was using the vehicle in compliance with the express instructions of the owner.
(8) In this Part ‘designated territories’ means the European territories of the Member States of the European Communities (other
than the State) and Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
(9) In this Part a reference to the territory in which a vehicle is normally based
a) the territory of the state of which the vehicle bears a registration plate,
b) in a case where registration is not required for a type of mechanically propelled
vehicle, but the vehicle bears an insurance plate or a distinguishing sign analogous
to the registration plate, the territory of the state in which the plate or sign is
c) in a case where a registration plate, an insurance plate or a distinguishing sign
is not required for a mechanically propelled vehicle, the territory of the state in
which the person who has custody of the vehicle is permanently resident.
‘mechanically propelled vehicle’ includes a semi-trailer or trailer (whether coupled or uncoupled to a mechanically
propelled vehicle) used in a public place;
‘semi-trailer’ means the drawn component of an articulated vehicle or a vehicle constructed or adapted
for use as such drawn component;
‘trailer’ means a vehicle attached to a mechanically propelled vehicle (or to another vehicle
attached to a mechanically propelled vehicle) or a vehicle constructed or adapted
for the purpose of being drawn by a mechanically propelled vehicle.
(11) Nothing in this Part shall be read as extending compulsory motor insurance cover
to any person in or on a semi-trailer or trailer when used in a public place.”.
35.—Part 1 of the Table to section 23 of the Act of 2002 is amended by the deletion of
the matter in columns (2) and (3) at reference number 18.
Repealed (6.04.2014) by Taxi Regulation Act 2013 (37/2013), s. 4(d), S.I. No. 163 of 2014.