Gardai introduce fines for travel breaches

Gardai in Donegal and across the South have been given powers to prosecute breaches of Travel Restrictions under Covid-19 Regulations by means of Fixed Charge Notice.
By Laura Glenn
Published 15th Jan 2021, 16:43 BST
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Where breaches of the travel regulations are detected - a person in the South cannot travel than 5km from their home unless for a specified reason such as a medical appointment - and a person does not comply with a direction of An Garda Síochána, a penalty can be commenced by means of a €100 Fixed Charge Notice.

Where more appropriate, An Garda Síochána said they may seek a direction from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said it ‘has been consistent in our graduated policing response to supporting Public Health Regulations and guidelines in line with our tradition of policing by consent’

“This has seen Garda members engage, explain, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce,” a spokesperson said.

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey, Policing and Security added: “I appeal to every person without a reasonable excuse for travel - stay at home.”

Last week, Gardai told the Journal how they co-operate and ‘liaise operationally with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to support public health efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the island of Ireland’.

More details on restrictions can be found on www.garda.ie