Cassells welcomes new proposals on parking tickets

Proposals that could see parking fines cut in half if paid within 14 days have been welcomed by Cllr Shane Cassells who said it "could end the needless scenario of people ending up before courts with unpaid tickets." The idea to cut the fine from €40 to €20 if paid within 14 days of issue was made by the Oireachtas Transport Committee on Monday as part of the Road Traffic Bill. It follows proposals implemented in Northern Ireland where a parking ticket is £60 (€69) but just £30, if paid within 14 days. The biggest benefactor from parking fines in County Meath is Navan Town Council, which currently takes in over €200,000 from the system on a yearly basis. However, in cases where unpaid fines end up in the court to be settled, the local council does not receive any money. Commenting on the proposals Cllr Cassells said it was a move that would "give people a break" and also give the council a chance to bring in cash from situations that were ending up in court and costing them money. "I think it is a positive move because it gives people a reason to settle their fine in a quick fashion and will hopefully slash the numbers ending up in court for not paying their tickets," he remarked. "Once those cases go to the courts the council does not get any money, so at least in this situation you have a chance to get money into the coffers and on balance, the extra revenue should balance the books." The Transport Committee members were informed that local authorities across the country are owed more than €1m in unpaid parking fines and transport officials are looking for ways to get people to pay them quickly. He pointed out that the council has to spen €35,000 annually taking people to court for unpaid fines. "I would much prefer if there was not one ticket handed out in this town," commented Cllr Cassells. "But the money that is brought in from parking is driven straight back into the town and you can see the massive improvements we have made this year with paint schemes, art work and planting," he said.