by Nicola Donnelly
nicola.donnelly@meathpost.com

People who receive fixed penalty notices should pay them immediately and not be wasting the court’s time. This is the view of Judge Tom Fitzpatrick who stated at last Tuesday’s (September 2) sitting of Dunshaughlin District Court that “the purpose of fixed penalty notices for minor offences is for them to be paid and not be clogging up the court’s time.”
“And the penalties I impose for those who do not pay the fixed penalty notice are there to deter this happening,” said Judge Fitzpatrick.
Judge Fitzpatrick was responded to those who appeared in court for not paying their fixed penalty notices.
Wayne Noone of Reask in Duleek was fined €300 for travelling at 120kmph in a 100kmph zone at Primatestown, Ashbourne on November 17, 2007. “You should pay fixed penalties,” he repeated, “This will help you avoid coming to court at all,” he added.
Michael McArdle of Callanberg, Inniskeen, Dundalk was fined €200 for travelling at 110kmph in a 100kmph zone at Primatestown, Ashbourne on November 17, 2007. Peter MaGuire of Fr McCullen Park, Kells was fined €400 for travelling at 118kmph in a 100kmph zone at Clowanstown, Tara on November 29, 2007 while Pawel Walczak of Cluster Park, Navan was fined €400 for travelling at 120kmph in 100kmph zone at Clowanstown, Tara on November 27, 2007.