Irish drivers face €1,000 fine if they ignore one rule this week

Irish Daily Mirror

a day ago

Ireland is currently enjoying heatwave conditions, with temperatures reaching a sizzling 28C on Tuesday. Met Eireann says the heat will linger and intensify heading in the weekend, with highs of 30C possible in some parts of the country.
As the mercury rises, many drivers will be tempted to cool down their cars before setting off. But experts have warned that a common habit could land motorists with a hefty fine - or even jail time - if caught by gardai.
Leaving a car unattended with the engine running, even to use the air conditioning, is illegal under Irish law. Offenders can face fines of up to €1,000 for a first offence, €2,000 for a second, and in repeated cases, courts can impose up to three months in prison alongside a fine.
The law, outlined in Regulation 87 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, makes it an offence for drivers to leave their vehicles unattended on a public road unless specific conditions are met. The regulations state that a driver shall not leave a vehicle unattended "unless the engine of the vehicle is not running".
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport previously confirmed the penalties to the Irish Mirror, noting that enforcement is at the discretion of gardai.
The penalties for this offence, provided by Section 102 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, are:
(a) in the case of a first offence, to a fine of up to € 1,000,
(b) in the case of a second offence (or of a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph) to a fine of up to € 2,000, and
(c) in the case of a third or subsequent offence in any period of twelve consecutive months - to a fine of up to € 2,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to up to three months imprisonment or to both a fine and imprisonment.
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Beyond the legal risks, AA Ireland also warns that leaving your car unattended with the engine running - even for a short time - makes it an easy target for opportunistic thieves. A notice on its website, referring to cold weather, is just as relevant during hot spells when drivers might leave cars running to cool them down.
It reads: "Once you put the key in the ignition, stay by your car at all times. Car thieves love an icy morning and every winter cars are stolen while their owners go inside for warmth waiting for their car to defrost. It's actually an offence to leave your car unattended with the engine running. You've been warned."
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