Those seeking to retrieve impounded vehicles, including scramblers from Gardaí will be required to pay higher fees.
These higher fees take effect from Friday (August 14), and mean that owners of seized vehicles will be required to pay double in terms of retrieval costs.
This was first confirmed by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney last month. He said that owners of such seized vehicles should pay the cost for removing and storing them, and added that these changes will better reflect the cost, while serving as a strong deterrent.
These charges are to rise from €125 to €250 for the first day's storage, and €35 to €70 for each extra day that it is held. E-scooters are not included.
It was also confirmed that vehicles which are over 3,500 Kg, typically HGVs, will see charges increase from €250 to €500 for the first day's storage, and from €50 to €100 for each additional day.
The changes were welcomed by Road Safety campaigner, Susan Gray, from the group, PARC, who said that the changes had been long overdue, given that they had not been increased since 2011.
"We believe it will act as a great deterrent to many road traffic offenders, especially learner drivers," she said. "All too often gardai report impounding of cars driven by inexperienced unaccompanied learner permit holders.
"The fee of €125 did not act as a deterrent, and many were back on the road the following day," she added (All quotes according to RTÉ)
