Penalties for traffic offences in Dublin
Irish road traffic laws differ from other country’s laws by the fact that traffic offences attract not only monetary penalties but also demerit points, which are specified on the driving license. Demerit points received by foreigners renting a car in Dublin are stored in a separate database. One is required to pay the fine within 28 days after receiving the relevant notice. Failure to meet this deadline automatically increases the fine by 50% and a further 28 days is given. After this period, the case is referred to court, where the penalty can be increased significantly.
Main traffic offences and penalties
| Driving offence |
Number of demerit points |
Monetary penalty (€) |
| Exceeding the speed limit |
2 |
80 |
| Crossing a solid white line |
2 |
80 |
| Dangerous overtaking |
2 |
80 |
| Crossing a red traffic light |
2 |
80 |
| Railroad crossing violations |
2 |
80 |
| Driving on highway shoulders |
2 |
80 |
| Driving on the highway in the opposite direction |
2 |
80 |
| Driving along a bicycle lane or sidewalk |
1 |
60 |
| Driving on the right side of the road (there is left-hand traffic in Ireland) |
1 |
60 |
| Failure to give way |
2 |
80 |
| Ignoring road markings or prohibition signs |
1 |
60 |
| Ignoring the demands by a police officer to stop |
1 |
60 |
| Failure to maintain minimum distance to the vehicle in front |
2 |
80 |
| Ignoring the requirement to turn to the left at the entrance to a roundabout |
1 |
60 |
| Prohibited entry to a one-way street |
1 |
60 |
| Violation of child restraint requirements |
1 |
60 |
| Failure to fasten seatbelt |
1 |
60 |
| Talking on the phone without a hands free while driving |
1 |
60 |
| Distracted driving |
2 |
80 |
| Parking violations |
2 |
80 |
Speed limits
Standard speed limits in Ireland for cars
- 50 km/h within Dublin;
- 80 km/h (or 70 km/h with a trailer) on country roads;
- 100 km/h (or 70 km/h with a trailer) on national roads;
- 120 km/h (or 80 km/h with a trailer) on motorways;
On some sections of highways, local authorities may establish other temporary speed limits, which are displayed through appropriate road signs.
Parking
All tourists renting a car in Dublin can make use of paid parking, the cost of which varies between 1.30 to 1.90 euros per hour, depending on the area. There are vending machines in downtown, each serving about 20 parking spaces, and signs informing drivers on the days and time of the day when payments can be made. Vending machines accept coins and show the parking ending time depending on the amount. A parking coupon consists of two parts, one of which must be attached under a windshield. When travelling in a hired car outside Dublin, you can pay for parking in specially designated parking places using parking discs that are sold in all the local stores.
In Dublin, there are also multi-storey car parks. The number of free parking spaces in these car parks is indicated in a display board at the entrance, which is updated every minute. Parking costs vary from 1 to 2.50 euros per hour. You can pay for parking using EuroSard, MasterCard or Visa credit card.
Permissible blood alcohol levels
The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰ for drivers with more than 2 years of driving experience and 0.2 ‰ for drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience. Exceeding these levels and drunk driving can incur severe penalties – up to 5,000 euros. All court verdicts surely include a driving ban for a period of 1 to 3 years, and in the case of repeated violation – up to 6 years.
Fuel cost
Filling stations in Dublin offer fuel and unleaded gasoline 95. Gas stations and filling stations with leaded gasoline are extremely rare. There are several round-the-clock filling stations in the city and near suburban highways. Most of them accept credit cards. You can carry gasoline in cans. Given the fact that there are not many gas stations in remote areas of the country, it is recommendable that you ensure in advance that you have enough fuel for your travels.
Average fuel cost in Dublin:
| Gasoline 95 |
1.€60 |
| Diesel fuel |
1.50 euros |
Toll roads
In Ireland, driving through some tunnels, bridges and sections of roads is chargeable. Failure to pay road tolls is a serious violation, which incurs a penalty of up to 1270 euros. On some highways, there are no automatic toll collection devices and you need to pay the toll before 8 pm the next day after your trip. A delay will incur a penalty of 3 to 102.50 euros depending on the number of days.
Fares on highways from Dublin
| Main road |
Fare (€) |
| М50 Barrier-Free |
2,10—3,10 |
| М1 Gormanston - Monasterboice |
1,90 |
| East Link Toll Bridge (Dublin area) |
1,75 |
| Dublin Port Tunnel (Dublin area) |
3—10 |
Methods of paying road tolls:
- by cash at automatic gates or gates serviced by operators;
- by MasterCard or Visa.
Methods of payment where there are no toll collection devices:
- via the Internet at www.eflow.ie;
- by cash at Payzone retail stores;
- by credit card via phone 1890 50 10 50 (international +800 50 10 50 11).
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