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Fixed Payment Notices can be issued by An Garda Síochána in respect of a wide variety of offences, including many road traffic offences and some public order offences. Fixed Payment Notices provide an offender an opportunity to pay a fine in order to avoid prosecution. In December 2020, Fixed Payment Notices were introduced in respect of breaches of COVID-19 regulations.
The Garda Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) database is used to administer the issuing of Fixed Payment Notices. The number of offences for which Fixed Payment Notices were issued, excluding terminated Notices, for years 2014 to 2020 is given in Table 7.1. Users should note, when considering these figures, the varying COVID-19 restrictions in place for much of 2020 and the likely impact of such restrictions on levels of crime (for example reduced traffic volumes, increased Garda road checkpoints, closure of licensed premises, etc.).
Many road traffic offences, for which a Fixed Charge Notice can be issued, are not recorded on the PULSE database unless the time allowed to pay the fine (usually 56 days) has passed, and the offence is then recorded on PULSE in order to issue a summons as appropriate. Fixed Charge Notices may also be issued for some public order offences and Fixed Penalty Notices may be issued for some drink driving offences depending on the category of driver and level of intoxication, and such offences are recorded on PULSE irrespective of whether the fine is paid.
The number of public order offences for which Fixed Payment Notices were issued fell sharply in 2020 compared to 2019 (down 33%). There were also large decreases in the number of fines issued for many categories of driving offences, including drink driving offences (down 43%), use of mobile phone while driving (down 16%), seatbelt offences (down 23%), and for failing to display a valid NCT (down 35%).
The number of fines issued for speeding however, increased compared to 2019 (up 32%). There were also increases in the number of fines for failing to display L or N pates (up 13%), for unaccompanied learner drivers (up 12%), and for vehicle roadworthiness offences (up 7%), and may be due to an increase in Garda road checkpoints for enforcing COVID-19 travel and movement restrictions.
The number of fines issued for breaching COVID-19 regulations was low, but users should note that the system of issuing fines in respect of these offences only became operational in December 2020
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