The cost of recovering a scrambler seized by An Garda Síochána is set to double from next month after new regulations were signed into law by Minister of State for Road Transport Seán Canney.
The revised charges will take effect from 14 August and are intended to strengthen the Government's efforts to tackle the illegal and dangerous use of scramblers in public places.
Under the new regulations, owners of vehicles weighing under 3,500kg — a category that includes scramblers, which typically weigh between 180kg and 230kg — will face a recovery charge of €250 for the first day of detention, up from the current €125. Daily storage fees will also double, increasing from €35 to €70 for each additional day the vehicle remains impounded.
The changes also apply to heavier vehicles. Owners of vehicles weighing more than 3,500kg will see the first-day detention fee rise from€250 to €500, while the daily storage charge will increase from €50 to €100.
The updated charges are being introduced under the Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Vehicles) Regulations 2011 and are designed to ensure vehicle owners bear a greater share of the costs associated with removing and storing seized vehicles.
No equivalent increase in detention charges has been announced for e-scooters.
Announcing the measures, Mr Canney said the increased fees were aimed at reinforcing
recent legislative action targeting scrambler misuse.
“These regulations double the charges for scramblers seized by An Garda Síochána and send a clear message that illegal and dangerous scrambler use carries real consequences,” he said.
“In recent months we banned the use of scramblers in public places. These increased charges build on that work by ensuring there are real financial consequences where a scrambler is seized by An Garda Síochána.”
The minister added that the revised fees more accurately reflect the costs incurred by authorities.
“People whose scramblers are detained should bear the cost of removing and storing them,” Mr Canney said.
“These revised charges better reflect those costs while providing a stronger deterrent and supporting An Garda Síochána in keeping our roads and communities safe.”
The Government has made tackling the dangerous use of scramblers a key road safety priority in recent months, with the latest increase in seizure and storage charges forming part of a broader package of enforcement measures.
