Gardaí across Ireland will begin issuing €60 fines to drivers with illegal or unreadable number plates, following a two-year delay in activating key provisions of the Road Safety Act 2023
The new enforcement measure became operational this week through the Garda Mobility App, allowing officers to issue on-the-spot fixed charge notices (FCNs) for non-compliant licence plates that fail to meet legal standards relating to font, colour, size, and layout.
The Road Safety Act, signed into law by then–Transport Minister Eamon Ryan in May 2023, had introduced the penalties to curb the growing problem of illegal plates—particularly those with altered colours or reflective coatings that make them difficult to read on CCTV or speed cameras.
However, enforcement was delayed due to technical limitations in Garda ICT systems. The An Garda Síochána press office confirmed that this gap has now been resolved, saying FCNs for licence plate offences “can now be facilitated by the Garda Mobility App”.
Road Safety Advocates Welcome Long-Overdue Action
Road safety group PARC (Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Care), which has been lobbying for stricter enforcement, welcomed the change after years of what it described as “avoidable bureaucratic delay”.
PARC chairwoman Susan Grey said the group had repeatedly raised the issue with authorities after a member of the public reported seeing “a large number of grey number plates and dangerous drivers” on Irish roads.
“When she reported it to the Gardaí, they continually told her they could not do anything about illegal number plates because of the ICT system,” Ms Grey said.
“I’m delighted that a law passed two and a half years ago has finally been incorporated into Garda IT systems to allow Gardaí on the ground to automatically issue fixed charge notices.”
Political Scrutiny Over Enforcement Delays
Earlier this month, Fine Gael TD Emer Currie pressed the issue during a session of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, which was attended by senior Garda officers, Road Safety Authority (RSA) representatives, and Ms Grey.
Deputy Currie questioned why the law remained unenforced for so long, despite being a crucial measure for road safety. She also asked whether illegible plates could interfere with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and speed camera systems.
Responding to the committee, Garda Deputy Commissioner Dr Shawna Coxon acknowledged past issues but said enforcement capability had now been restored.
“There had been an issue in the past, but currently there is none,” Dr Coxon confirmed.
Following the update, Gardaí are now authorised to issue €60 fines on the spot. Non-payment within the set period will result in an automatic court summons, according to Garda protocols.
Concerns Over Systemic Delays and Coordination
Deputy Currie said she was relieved that the problem had been fixed, but criticised the government’s slow response to implementing road safety laws.
“Good legislation was passed to make road policing more productive and efficient and to clamp down on instances where drivers might evade automatic number plate recognition, but it wasn’t implemented,” she said.
“I’ve been chasing the Minister for Justice on this for months, and a week after raising it at the Oireachtas Transport Committee, it has finally been dealt with. It makes you question if our departments and agencies are working together as effectively as they should.”
Committee Chair: ‘A Major Enforcement Gap’
Committee Chairman Michael Murphy TD echoed those concerns, calling the two-year gap between the passing of the law and its enforcement “a serious flaw in Ireland’s road safety system.”
“It’s a major enforcement gap since 2023,” he said. “It’s such a significant loophole—and there are so many loopholes out there undermining road traffic enforcement.”
He added that consistent follow-through on road legislation is critical to maintaining public confidence in road policing and reducing road fatalities, which remain a key national concern.
Context: Rising Road Fatalities and Enforcement Challenges
The move comes amid growing pressure on the government to tackle road safety breaches, as the RSA reported a rise in road deaths and collisions in 2024.
Campaigners say illegal or obscured number plates make it more difficult for Gardaí to track uninsured drivers, hit-and-run suspects, and speeding offences.
According to the RSA, automatic number plate recognition systems are integral to detecting vehicle tax, insurance, and NCT compliance in real time.
Despite the long wait for enforcement, safety advocates say the update to the Garda Mobility App represents a critical step in modernising roadside policing and ensuring no offence is left unchecked due to technical limits.
M10News Crime & Transport Desk | Contact: newsdesk@m10news.com
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