Over 1,000 Convicted Clare Drivers Escape Penalty Points

Three-quarters of Clare drivers who have been convicted of penalty points offences have managed to escape getting the points put on their licence.

New figures published by the Irish Independent show more than 1,000 motorists here are among the 20,000 nationwide who failed to produce their licences between the start of last year and March.

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74% of Clare drivers convicted of penalty points offences between January 2014 and March of this year avoided having the points registered. 

The 1,019 people failed to produce their licences in court, even though this is punishable by three months in prison or a €2,000 fine.

The rate here is higher than the national average, but in the likes of Leitrim and Limerick over 90% of convicted drivers have escaped points in this way.

That's prompted this clampdown from the Justice Minister – who says there must be "no way out for anybody seeking to avoid getting penalty points".

The first wave will see 7 courts initially targeted – before it's rolled out across the country – with Garda HQ directing its officers to work with court clerks and its officers and to target repeat offenders.