Mayo TD questions N17 speeding fines

A Mayo TD has questioned the accuracy of the static speed camera in operation on the N17, outside Claremorris, demanding fairness for motorists who question fines.

Deputy Paul Lawless says the camera - previously exposed for operating without valid certification - is penalising motorists who have dashcam data showing they are within the speed limit.

A number of concerned drivers have come forward, he said, after receiving fixed penalty notices, despite dashcam footage showing they were within the speed limit.

One recent case involves a driver whose dashcam clearly recorded travelling at 98–100 km/h, yet the camera registered 104 km/h.

This discrepancy is not isolated, said Deputy Lawless, who hit out: “It is symptomatic of a system that prioritises penalty revenue over fairness.”

Under current legislation, drivers who wish to challenge a speeding fine must go to court, risking an increase in penalty points from 3 to 5 and facing a higher fine.

“This is not justice - it is a fear-driven deterrent wrapped in bureaucracy,” said Deputy Lawless. “The threat of harsher punishment discourages legitimate challenges and silences those who may have been wrongly accused.”

Gardaí, he continued, are not permitted to release calibration records or equipment proofs unless ordered by a judge during a court hearing. If a citizen wants to see whether the camera that fined them was functioning correctly, they must first risk being punished more severely.

"That is not transparency,” he said. “Why are the government endorsing a system that threatens harsher punishment for our citizens for daring to seek justice. We need laws that shield the public - not ones that strong-arm them into silence.”

The camera in question had fines revoked earlier this year due to certification failures.

Deputy Lawless says motorists are now avoiding the road entirely or slowing to unsafe speeds near the camera - 'ironically increasing the risk of accidents'.

“The public is losing trust,” he said, calling on the Minister for Transport, the Road Safety Authority and the Department of Justice to immediately revise this process.

“Calibration records must be made available upon request. The law must protect the innocent, not punish them for seeking the truth.

“This is not just about one road or one camera. It is about restoring fairness, transparency, and public confidence in our road safety systems.”