Ten motorists fined €100,000 for unpaid M50 tolls

Ten motorists accused of failing to pay their M50 tolls were hit with fines totalling almost €100,000 on Monday. 

 

The penalties, ranging from €3,000 to €22,000, were handed down by judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court. 

 

One motorist who allegedly used motorway 800 times without paying had a bench warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up to for his trial. 

 

He is contesting his case and has instructed a solicitor to defend him. 

 

In all the prosecutions, which resulted in the €97,000 in fines imposed, none of the motorists who had been summonsed came to court. 

 

Cases against them went ahead in their absence. 

 

The judge imposed smaller fines on some motorists who made efforts to pay their tolls but said: “the people who disregard it totally are fined heaviest, they have no regard whatsoever”. 

 

In one case he adjourned the judge granted legal aid and said this was due to the seriousness of the offence. 

 

The barrier-free tolled motorway is operated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). 

The judge said the authority was in charge of maintaining the roads and he warned: “If people want to use certain roads they have to pay; if they don’t, the penalties are quite high”. 

 

To read the full article see The Irish Times