‘Sneaky’ speed traps a ‘cash-making stunt’
‘SNEAKY’ speed traps are primarily used as a moneymaking racket, outspoken TD Michael Healy-Rae said yesterday. The Kerry deputy launched his attack after it was revealed there was a 9% jump in speed fines paid over a year.
According to Freedom of Information figures obtained by Newstalk, more than €20million worth of penalties were settled in 2018 and 2019. Motorists who drive over the speed limit get three penalty points and a fixedcharge fine of €80, which increases to €120 if you don’t pay within 28 days.
Just over 110,000 speeding fines were paid in 2018, totalling more than €9.6million. And almost 120,000 were paid when gardaí collected over €10.5million last year.
Independent TD Mr HealyRae told the Irish Daily Mail that motorists are being treated like common criminals.
‘Speed traps are nothing more than money-making rackets,’ he said.
‘The vans hide in sneaky roadside locations throughout the country to catch motorists, many of whom are going just a few kilometres above the speed limit.
‘I find it very unfair and I don’t buy into the claim that they’re there solely as a road safety measure.
‘The speed vans are now being used as a way of bringing money into the State,’ he added.
But Transport Minister Shane Ross rejected the claim. ‘He may have a point in saying it’s easier to catch people speeding because the technology is there to do it, but people are doing something absolutely lethal,’ he said.