A multi-agency Garda checkpoint saw a number of road users targeted after officers spotted a number of issues in a busy tourist area.
A lesser-known law on Irish roads is that if gardai pull you over and deem your car a danger to the road you’ll be handed a large fine as well as penalty points on the spot.
There are many reasons your vehicle could be deemed unsafe by officers, but gardai would mainly be concerned about anything that might injure a pedestrian, cause damage to another vehicle, or obstruct the driver’s view.
READ MORE: Fines for dangerous driving offences like speeding and phone use set to double
So it's always worthwhile to double check everything is as it should be before you get behind the wheel.
Which leads us to the weekend checkpoint in Wicklow
A Garda spokesperson explained: "Superintendent Rory Sheriff and Baltinglass RPU assisted by colleagues from the RSA and Wicklow Co Council Waste Enforcement Section conducted a multi agency checkpoint this morning in Baltinglass.
"During this numerous breaches of the road traffic legislation were detected including, loose wheels, excessively worn tyres, no lights on trailers and non wearing of seat belts."
The latter is notable, as it's one of the fines which are set to double in the next few weeks.
The Government has said it will introduce new regulations to tackle speeding, phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.
This will see the fine for speeding increase from €80 to €160, while the fine for using a mobile phone while driving or for not wearing a seatbelt will double to €120.
And fines will also be doubled for other offences that put the safety of vulnerable road users at risk.
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