Gardai pulled a driver this week and caught them in breach of multiple rules of the road.
The car owner was firstly found to be an unaccompanied learner, with no L-plates.
Then, using the garda mobility app, officers discovered that they had no valid insurance, as well as tax that was also out of date for an incredible 832 days.
Gardai seized the car on the spot, issued the driver with a Fixed Charge Notice, and have said further proceedings will follow.
In a post on Twitter, they confirmed: "Naas Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle in Kildare recently - It had no tax for over 800 days - The driver was an Unaccompanied Learner driver with no L-Plates displayed & had no insurance.
"The vehicle was seized & an FCPN was issued. Proceedings are to follow."
Irish law states that if you are convicted of driving unaccompanied as a learner or if you allow your car to be driven by an unaccompanied learner driver, the following penalties apply:
- If you are an unaccompanied learner driver and the vehicle owner, you are liable to have your vehicle impounded
- If you are an unaccompanied learner driver but not the vehicle owner, the owner faces their vehicle being impounded and being fined up to €1,000
This is in addition to the penalty points and fines that can be applied to unaccompanied learner drivers, which are:
- up to four penalty points
- a fine of up to €120
Meanwhile, the law also states that Gardaí have the power to impound your vehicle if you drive without tax or insurance.
Offences for driving without insurance are dealt with in court.
Failure to display an insurance disk carries a fixed charge of €60 - which will rise to €90 after 28 days.
If you drive while uninsured, you could be fined up to €5,000 and get 5 penalty points - but you could also go to prison for up to 6 months.
The judge may decide to disqualify you from driving instead of giving you penalty points.
It is also an offence to drive an untaxed vehicle or without displaying a current tax disc and will result in a €60 fixed-charge fine being issued.
