Non Working Light - €60 Fine - About Bloody Time!

Gumbo · 19-02-2013 10:13AM #1

I see from tomorrow that driving with mal-functioning lights carries a €60 fine on the spot!

About time, the amount of cars out there with one or two lights broke is staggering!

Indricotherium · 19-02-2013 10:15AM

Here here

galwaytt · 19-02-2013 10:17AM

Indricotherium wrote: »

Here here

....you have two broken, is that it ??? :P :P

kceire wrote: »

I see from tomorrow that driving with mal-functioning lights carries a €60 fine on the spot!

About time, the amount of cars out there with one or two lights broke is staggering!

True - but who's going to enforce it - AGS ? With 100 fewer stations, fewer patrol cars ??

Broken lights has been an offence since the year dot, so what's the difference ?

This is just another Gaybo-ism.

corkonion · 19-02-2013 10:17AM

So.....you head out to pick up your older teenage kids from town, half way home a bulb goes, blue lights behind you, €60 fine..... Lovely!

tossy · 19-02-2013 10:17AM

Got a link on that?

alfa beta · 19-02-2013 10:21AM

I've an 02 Golf - may as well just keep the chequebook in the car

dar83 · 19-02-2013 10:22AM

Does this still count if it has literally just gone while you were driving and you have a spare bulb set to replace it at the side of the road? (If possible and it's not a bumper off job car)

I'm all for the fines for it as the problem is a chronic one, but I really hope this doesn't turn into a zero tolerance money making racket as it so easily could...

As an example, I had my NCT this day two weeks ago. Left my house in the morning for work and checked all bulbs before I did, hazards on, headlights one, brake pedal pressed and checked in the reflection in the living room window. Drove to work and then on to the NCT centre. Guy came out with my fail sheet, drivers side rear brake light, gone! I wouldn't mind but I have a spare bulb set in the feckin car and changing the thing is a 2 minute job with a Philips head screwdriver!

creedp · 19-02-2013 10:23AM

corkonion wrote: »

So.....you head out to pick up your older teenage kids from town, half way home a bulb goes, blue lights behind you, €60 fine..... Lovely!

Agree. I got a warning on Thursday last that my brake light was malfunctioning. Checked it Thursday night and found left hand brake light gone (right and high level one still working). Bought replacement on Friday and fitted Sat morning. I considered I was doing all right by replacing so quickly .. now I find that will this proposal I could have be fined €60 on way to work on the Thursday morning. Will have to get the wife to give a sweep of the car every morning while I'm warming it up:)

alias no.9 · 19-02-2013 10:28AM

dar83 wrote: »

I wouldn't mind but I have a spare bulb set in the feckin car and changing the thing is a 2 minute job with a Philips head screwdriver!

If that's all it failed on, it's a free retest and can be done without an appointment, so just change it on the spot, back into reception and get them to have a look.

On the OP, even if this just raises awareness and encourages a few people to check and replace bulbs between annual services, then it's to be welcomed. In an ideal world, implementing this fine should mean that nobody ever needs to pay it.

dar83 · 19-02-2013 10:29AM

alias no.9 wrote: »

If that's all it failed on, it's a free retest and can be done without an appointment, so just change it on the spot, back into reception and get them to have a look.

Well I never said that. :P

Unfortunately it needed some wheel alignment also, so a ramp inspection was needed anyway. Still changed the bulb straight away, as I don't like driving with one.

chocksaway · 19-02-2013 10:30AM

tossy wrote: »

Got a link on that?

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/motorists-face-60-fine-in-faulty-lights-clampdown-29078967.html

Gardai have announced a major crackdown on defective lighting after it emerged that one in five cars on the road is failing the NCT because it is not properly lit up.
A national operation called 'Light Up' will be mounted tomorrow and Thursday, when cars, trucks and motorcycles will be stopped at checkpoints and motorists hit with fines.
Some 550,000 cars have failed the test because of defective, broken or missing lights, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said.
Operation Light Up comes about because of concerns about the number of cars on the roads with just one headlight or tail light.
Gardai are also concerned that people are using fog lights when they are not needed, which can cause collisions because the high-intensity beams can dazzle and distract other drivers.
"Members of the public have frequently been advised and reminded of the necessity to ensure all legally required lights and lamps are in working order," the Garda Press Office said.
"Whilst financial constraints are appreciated, it is very apparent that some are not heeding the message.
"This situation, left unchecked, creates significant danger to all road users. Drivers of vehicles with defective lighting will have compromised visibility. In addition, drivers of other vehicles could easily mistake a vehicle with one headlight with, for example, a motorcycle. On a dark, narrow road, this could lead to a very serious road traffic collision."
Defective
The operation will be across all garda divisions and comes following a spike in road deaths so far this year.
As of 9am yesterday, a total of 30 people have been killed on the roads, 12 more than on the same date in 2012.
Gardai said that motorists – including truck drivers and motorcyclists – were being advised that a crackdown on defective lighting would take place to allow them an opportunity to make necessary repairs and avoid prosecution.
Gardai can issue an on-the-spot fine of €60, and fixed charge penalties will be imposed.
"We are advising the public of what will be happening in advance," Assistant Garda Commissioner Gerard Phillips said. "We would prefer to have the defect remedied rather than prosecute."
RSA chief executive Noel Brett said that last year over 550,000 cars were found to have defective lights at the NCT – one in five of the national fleet.
He urged motorists to slow down and help reduce the carnage on the roads.
"It has not been a good start to 2013 for road safety," he said. "Thirty lives tragically cut short, all avoidable deaths."

monkeypants · 19-02-2013 10:35AM

Read about it here this morning. No mention of a window to repair before the fine is issued. I'm okay to change the bulbs on the 6 myself, but the 3 has a very full bonnet, would probably have to bring it somewhere to get the work done.

Saab Ed · 19-02-2013 10:44AM

kceire wrote: »

I see from tomorrow that driving with mal-functioning lights carries a €60 fine on the spot!

About time, the amount of cars out there with one or two lights broke is staggering!

Anything else you'd like an on the spot fine for. That list can be endless. I prefer the "you have a light out there, please get it repaired" approach. We're turning into England. Gotta have them rules, rule is rules, computer says no. Be great if we could think.

creedp · 19-02-2013 10:46AM

chocksaway wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/motorists-face-60-fine-in-faulty-lights-clampdown-29078967.html

The next thing they will threaten to do is issue on the spot fines for bald tyres. I mean they are dangerous too but I suppose you actually have to stop a car to find out how bald they are .. too much like hard work!

Anan1 · 19-02-2013 10:47AM

galwaytt wrote: »

True - but who's going to enforce it - AGS ? With 100 fewer stations, fewer patrol cars ??

Broken lights has been an offence since the year dot, so what's the difference ?

This is just another Gaybo-ism.

Presumably an on the spot fine is much easier to implement (and therefore more likely to happen) than bringing the offender to court.

FutureGuy · 19-02-2013 11:04AM

My front right headlamp went in the 45 mins before my last NCT.

BrianD3 · 19-02-2013 11:05AM

I'd say 1 or 2 out of every 10 cars that I see has defective lights, usually a blown dipped headlight.

If the car is pulling a trailer this figure jumps to around 7 out of every 10.

Tractor/trailers are worse again I rarely see one with a full set of working lights so for them the figure is close to 10 out of every 10. I look forward to clowns in heaps of crap tractors getting a 60 euro fine for every defective light, somehow I doubt that it will happen.

Del2005 · 19-02-2013 11:07AM

galwaytt wrote: »

True - but who's going to enforce it - AGS ? With 100 fewer stations, fewer patrol cars ??

What can a Garda in a station do about defective lights on cars? I don't drive that much, ~10k miles per annum, yet every time I drive/walk I see cars with missing lights. The Gardaí cars on patrol have to see the same.

galwaytt wrote: »

Broken lights has been an offence since the year dot, so what's the difference ?

None a 2 day clampdown is a joke.

monkeypants wrote: »

Read about it here this morning. No mention of a window to repair before the fine is issued. I'm okay to change the bulbs on the 6 myself, but the 3 has a very full bonnet, would probably have to bring it somewhere to get the work done.

Not sure where the Indo got their info. The fine has been in since Aug 2012, but the same as nearly every other road traffic law it was ignored. And why only a 2 day clampdown?.

I hope they start clamping down on filthy number plates, or the new one I've noticed since we've entered the recession is people washing their cars so much the paint wears off the plate.

renofan · 19-02-2013 11:07AM

I hope they clamp down on these HID kits too as every single day I'm blinded by cars fitted with these kits. I'm right in saying just putting HIDs in ordinary lights means there is nothing to focus the beam so light scatters everywhere? One car I meet everyday is a '04 E46 and he has them in his fog lights too (which are always on) so people are doubly blinded.

And going to Dublin on the N81 last Sunday I'd say I met at least 20 to 30 cars with one headlight bulb blown.

Saab Ed · 19-02-2013 11:47AM

Let me get this right. What fine do you get for driving around a roundabout the wrong direction. Yup, 60 quid. Disproportionately is a word that comes to mind. I can do 98 mph through a housing estate and it'll cost me a mere 20 quid more.

The less on the spot fines the better. It removes all impartiality and mores the point common sense.

Myrddin · 19-02-2013 11:49AM

I couldn't imagine too many Guards will enforce this

pred racer · 19-02-2013 11:50AM

Saab Ed wrote: »

Anything else you'd like an on the spot fine for. That list can be endless. I prefer the "you have a light out there, please get it repaired" approach. We're turning into England. Gotta have them rules, rule is rules, computer says no. Be great if we could think.

Saab Ed wrote: »

Let me get this right. What fine do you get for driving around a roundabout the wrong direction. Yup, 60 quid. Disproportionately is a word that comes to mind. I can do 98 mph through a housing estate and it'll cost me a mere 20 quid more.

The less on the spot fines the better. It removes all impartiality and mores the point common sense.

I agree, 100%

Atomic Pineapple · 19-02-2013 11:53AM

I agree with people saying that a light can blow at any time but the amount of cars with blown bulbs on our roads is crazy, its obvious people simply aren't fixing them, if you let someone away with a warning what is the likelihood that they will actually fix the blown bulb?

Myrddin · 19-02-2013 11:56AM

draffodx wrote: »

if you let someone away with a warning what is the likelihood that they will actually fix the blown bulb?

Because the warning will likely be "If I see you tomorrow with the bulb still gone your getting the fine". There has to be some leeway with it, as bulbs can & do go at random times. Its the idiots that just leave them & balance it out by sticking on the front fogs that are the nuisance

CJhaughey · 19-02-2013 12:02PM

Don't they have whats called a *Producer* in the UK?
If you are pulled for defective lights you are ticketed and you have to show that the light has been repaired to have the fine cancelled.

Max Power1 · 19-02-2013 12:03PM

Good - this should always be a fineable offence

Bad - it will not be enforced, we haven't enough gardai to enforce existing offences.

monkeypants · 19-02-2013 12:05PM

draffodx wrote: »

if you let someone away with a warning what is the likelihood that they will actually fix the blown bulb?

Should be like bringing documentation to a Garda station. Drive to a station and show them your lights working within X days.

Yakuza · 19-02-2013 12:10PM

monkeypants wrote: »

Should be like bringing documentation to a Garda station. Drive to a station and show them your lights working within X days.

That's reasonable, as a bulb can blow at any time (and perhaps not repairable at the roadside), so some leeway should be shown to allow someone to remedy the situation.

Atomic Pineapple · 19-02-2013 12:15PM

EnterNow wrote: »

Because the warning will likely be "If I see you tomorrow with the bulb still gone your getting the fine". There has to be some leeway with it, as bulbs can & do go at random times. Its the idiots that just leave them & balance it out by sticking on the front fogs that are the nuisance

Indeed I agree on the leeway but of course in a lot of instances the perpetrator will know only too well that the likelihood of running into the same Garda the next day is going to be slim and may not bother changing the light for days, perhaps even weeks. There has to be some way of making sure this doesn't happen, a producer as mentioned above seems like a more sensible approach than a flat out on the spot fine.

monkeypants · 19-02-2013 12:18PM

If they don't want to see so many blown headlight bulbs, they could also fix the roads and not put ramps/sleeping policemen every 50 yards.

Myrddin · 19-02-2013 12:18PM

draffodx wrote: »

Indeed I agree on the leeway but of course in a lot of instances the perpetrator will know only too well that the likelihood of running into the same Garda the next day is going to be slim and may not bother changing the light for days, perhaps even weeks. There has to be some way of making sure this doesn't happen, a producer as mentioned above seems like a more sensible approach than a flat out on the spot fine.

I dunno, thats more paperwork etc for the Guard...they might just deem it not worth getting out of the car in that case. All the details have to be noted down, & put onto Pulse then later on. It has to be then verified as fixed on Pulse by another member on the day of fixing.

monkeypants · 19-02-2013 12:21PM

EnterNow wrote: »

I dunno, thats more paperwork etc for the Guard...they might just deem it not worth getting out of the car in that case. All the details have to be noted down, & put onto Pulse then later on. It has to be then verified as fixed on Pulse by another member on the day of fixing.

Don't they have to do paperwork for FPNs?

listermint · 19-02-2013 12:45PM

Its a great idea, ive no clue why spare bulbs arent mandatory in the boot of all vehicles.

About time this was done.

People making up excuses here are just ridiculous.

Thatnastyboy · 19-02-2013 12:50PM

Feck it,

Gonna have to tax the motor now in-case i get pulled for faulty lighting :rolleyes: :pac:

joking aside, I wish people wouldn't have to be told to fit proper working lighting to their cars, its pretty basic & paramount to safety

Ive upgraded my wiring looms and light up 24/7, along with tires, lighting is fecking rule number one to safety.

Like, how the fupp can you see with one light/no lights/driving with driving lights only, ****in carry a spare set of bulbs, 5euro for a little emergency pack in lidl, oxo.

The bit that really grinds my gears is you meet people with one eye pointing at you, and they haven't even a sidelight/parker working on the defective side :mad: no regard for themselves or others. bastards

dgt · 19-02-2013 01:08PM

I carry round spare bulbs and check my lights regurarly

People really don't give a toss about themselves or others, it's a sham to say the least

Hopefully it will hit those muppets with HIDs in reflectors, I'm sick of being blinded and dazzled by them :mad:

Triangla · 19-02-2013 01:17PM

There's no reason not to have spare bulbs in the car at all times.

Bulb kits always come up in Aldi or Lidl in tidy little storage boxes. They have two head lights and some others.

Myrddin · 19-02-2013 01:20PM

Triangla wrote: »

There's no reason not to have spare bulbs in the car at all times.

Bulb kits always come up in Aldi or Lidl in tidy little storage boxes. They have two head lights and some others.

That sounds logical and all, but lest we forget some headlights can be a pig to fit - so depending on the driver, they may not have the ability to replace it at the side of the road. On some cars you have to near as well take off the bumper & remove the light to make room to do it.

A degree of leniency will be needed with this

pippip · 19-02-2013 01:59PM

The instructions for replacing a bulb in the manual for my car is "bring to your local dealer"

somebody_else · 19-02-2013 02:02PM

C'mon !

most of the mor...ns drivers on the road do not use lights even if there pitch black outside anyway !

also there was Gardai ford fiesta running around Bray some time ago without ANY rear lights - not even stop was working - I almost ran into it !

SmallBlue · 19-02-2013 02:06PM

I always used to give out about people with blown headlights...until driving home from work one day I noticed that not one but both my lights were gone. Whoops!

jameshayes · 19-02-2013 02:10PM

this is great in theory, but a right pain to enforce, changing the bulbs on modern cars nearly requires 4 years of academic study!

MugMugs · 19-02-2013 02:10PM

About time if you ask me !

There should be a full inspection...

Which reminds me, my reverse and fog bulbs are out too :eek:

Bruthal · 19-02-2013 02:27PM

listermint wrote: »

Its a great idea, ive no clue why spare bulbs arent mandatory in the boot of all vehicles.

About time this was done.

People making up excuses here are just ridiculous.

So if you had just replaced headlights, and one blows a few days later while your on the motorway, you would pay the fine without mentioning that you have just replaced them?

MugMugs · 19-02-2013 02:31PM

Bruthal wrote: »

So if you had just replaced headlights, and one blows a few days later while your on the motorway, you would pay the fine without mentioning that you have just replaced them?

What's just replacing them got to do with it?

They're still blown

BobBobBobBob · 19-02-2013 02:33PM

I'm gonna be fined this evening!!!

Bruthal · 19-02-2013 02:38PM

MugMugs wrote: »

What's just replacing them got to do with it?

They're still blown

And what are you getting fined for then? For not predicting the life the bulb would have, is that it?

4wd · 19-02-2013 02:57PM

as a result of 12 additional deaths on the roads from this time last year?????????????????. a shame 12 more familys without a member but i hardly think a brake bulb blown is a factor in these accidents .i attend fatalities as an accident investigator. the majority of accidents are due to the following factors..
lack of driver training or road conditions and repairs.

e.g i drive the n81 to home. there is a corner on the road where cars will regulary loose control spin and filp into a ditch . it only happens when damp and the clear cause of this is a difference in road coefencieys (the grippyness of the surface) which when tyres transfere from one surface to another it causes the car to loose grip and begins the loss of control which is always overcorrected by the drivers causeing a spin into ditch and flips the car . ive seen 5 so far this year and its only a matter of time before someone is killed again there.
ive rang the council and got no responce ....where next ?????

the sad fact is that the rsa believe that by implementing forced fines and harsh tactics that we will all be scared into complience . when quite clearly the fine imposed is just another way for this shamblioc state to get money to give to german bond holders. there are some who take pride and care of there vehicles and there are those who dont. fact. and those who dont never will

rsa what a joke they should be called the rfa " random fine assiosation ".

cgarrad · 19-02-2013 03:05PM

Are people really arguing against this?

Car headlights should be on 24/7, it is proven to be safer.

A blown light at night is obviously dangerous, why should you be effectively be allowed put others in danger?

A blown bulb should be a NCT resit. Its a tenner cheaper and more productive to overall safety.

Del2005 · 19-02-2013 03:08PM

4wd wrote: »

as a result of 12 additional deaths on the roads from this time last year?????????????????. a shame 12 more familys without a member but i hardly think a brake bulb blown is a factor in these accidents .i attend fatalities as an accident investigator. the majority of accidents are due to the following factors..
lack of driver training or road conditions and repairs.

e.g i drive the n81 to home. there is a corner on the road where cars will regulary loose control spin and filp into a ditch . it only happens when damp and the clear cause of this is a difference in road coefencieys (the grippyness of the surface) which when tyres transfere from one surface to another it causes the car to loose grip and begins the loss of control which is always overcorrected by the drivers causeing a spin into ditch and flips the car . ive seen 5 so far this year and its only a matter of time before someone is killed again there.
ive rang the council and got no responce ....where next ?????

the sad fact is that the rsa believe that by implementing forced fines and harsh tactics that we will all be scared into complience . when quite clearly the fine imposed is just another way for this shamblioc state to get money to give to german bond holders. there are some who take pride and care of there vehicles and there are those who dont. fact. and those who dont never will

rsa what a joke they should be called the rfa " random fine assiosation ".

Agree with this. The BBC had a show about road safety recently and as part of it they had a road safety expect drive on a road with a lot of crashes. The stuff he pointed out that was dangerous was relatively cheap to fix and saves money for ever. He commented on a roundabout installed on a dangerous junction 30 years earlier, it used to have loads of fatal crashes and none since the roundabout.

But they still need to stop people driving with defective cars.

monkeypants · 19-02-2013 03:13PM

BobBobBobBob wrote: »

I'm gonna be fined this evening!!!

Workaround: drive home before it gets dark.

Bruthal · 19-02-2013 03:15PM

cgarrad wrote: »

A blown light at night is obviously dangerous, why should you be effectively be allowed put others in danger?
.

And how will you predict your bulb is about to fail, so you can avoid being fined if seen a minute later?

Or will you just pay it, because you deserve it for endangering others for failing to predict your bulb failing?

Non Working Light - €60 Fine - About Bloody Time!

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