asked the Minister for Justice the measures he proposes to take to improve collection procedures for on-the-spot fines for road traffic offences in the light of the large number of uncollected fines in existence and the inability of the Garda to cope with the problem; and in particular, if he will consider the use by the Garda authorities of wheel clamps or the attachment of earnings procedure as possible alternative aid to collection of the fines.
Written Answers - On-the Spot Fines.
30.
A working group comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Garda Síochana, has been set up under the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Enforcement of Roads related legislation and is at present reviewing the whole fines-on-the-spot system. The group has been asked to produce proposals designed to improve the overall effectiveness of the system and is expected to complete its report by Sepember next at the latest.
It is to be expected that the group will examine means by which the collection of fines might be improved and the desirability of introducing wheel-clamps or other measures will be considered as part of the review. There is, I believe, a difficulty with the Deputy's suggestion that payment of fines-on-the spot should be secured by attachment of earnings. Fines on-the-spot simply provide the motorist with the option of paying a prescribed amount as an alternative to prosecution and, accordingly, the amounts in question are not in fact court fines. However, all possible measures for improving the scheme will be examined and considered for implementation as soon as the working group report comes to hand.