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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
‘An awful lot of people don't know' – Urgent warning for Irish drivers as Gardai set to clamp down on car rule
AN urgent warning has been issued to Irish drivers as Gardaí are set to clamp down on "illegal" car registrations. Garda James Masters from Cobh Garda Station said they are clamping down on yellow and modified number plates. 2 Gardai are cracking down on illegal car plates Credit: Gardai 2 Having them can come with serious legal complications Credit: Gardai In Ireland, vehicles must display a white number plate with black characters on the front, while the rear plate is allowed to be yellow with black characters. Mimicking the UK style plates, putting a yellow plate on the front is considered illegal under Irish road laws. Garda Masters revealed on C103's Cork Today Show: 'We do see some Irish registration vehicles that are yellow, which are illegal and non conforming. 'Even by googling this morning, you see very clearly what's allowed and what's not allowed - and we do see it. READ MORE IN MOTORS 'We've come across a lot of plates that are actually Irish plates, not UK - But again, they're yellow and they're actually illegal. ' Irish road regulations require that all number plates follow strict guidelines on size, font and colour to ensure clear identification on the roads. The font used on official plates is standardised to avoid any misreading by traffic cameras or law enforcement officers. Garda Masters also mentioned that plates with italic fonts, bold fonts or any unusual styling are not allowed. MOST READ IN MOTORS Non-compliant plates are a common reason for not passing the NCT. These regulations are designed not only for law enforcement but also for safety and easy identification in I'm an Irish driving instructor and here is why your friends are failing the test Revealing that modified plates are illegal, 'And again, you know, in my I suppose daily job, we do see it and you won't pass your NCT with them anyway. 'So a lot of people that have them will actually have the correct number plates at home.' Along with the plates, Gardaí are also reminding learner and novice drivers of their restrictions on the road. LEARNER ALERT Learner and novice drivers must display the proper L or N plates clearly and always be accompanied by a fully licensed driver when Irish road laws state that learner drivers cannot drive unaccompanied under any circumstances, with penalties including fines, penalty points and even vehicle seizure for breaches. Garda Masters pointed out that although it's easy to overlook small details like properly displayed plates or whether a learner driver is accompanied, they can have legal implications. He said: 'There has to be a fully licensed driver with them, and the laws are fairly severe. 'The car can be seized and there's actually penalty points and a fine associated with that as well. "For the parents, if your boy or girl is going out driving just to take a look at their windscreen, take a look at the number plate, and make sure that they're driving with a fully licensed driver.'


The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Dad of boy, 6, who died after found unresponsive in car in Waterford plans touching tribute to ‘honour' his son memory
A DAD whose son's died after being found unresponsive in a car in Waterford last year is determined to finish a plan he had started with his young lad before his tragic passing. Matthew Healy, 6, was found in a vehicle in Dunmore East on February 9 last year, and he sadly passed away despite the best efforts of paramedics to save him. 2 A second year of a fund-raising in memory of Matthew Healy is set to take place on Sunday, May 18 at 2pm Credit: Journalist Collect Dad James, from Watergrasshill, Co Matthew, who would have been 8 on May 17, loved car and bike shows, so on Sunday, James has organised a motorcycle and vintage car run that he knows his little boy would have loved. James said he is hoping Sunday's event will be as successful as last year. He said: 'It's poignant his birthday falls on national bike week. He was massive into his cycling. He loved it and loved his bike. We did a lot of cycling together, me and Matthew. Read more in News "We were looking for a Honda 50 shortly before he died. The plan was we would restore it as a project but unfortunately that didn't happen for obvious reasons, but I since acquired two of them actually. I am going to do them up - one for him and one for me." He told JP McNamara, on C103's Cork Today show, that Matthew would have loved the fundraising rally this weekend. James said: 'He would have been front and centre. He would be around sitting into everyone's car. That's the way he would have been. "He was big into mechanics and things and even when he was very small I got him a little electric jeep and he spent more time under it than he did driving it. That gives an idea of the character he was.' Most read in Irish News James recalled bringing Matthew to a work do and when asked if he wanted to sit inside he said no and headed out to mingle. He remembered: 'Matthew sat around at various tables having a big chat before he came back. He was very independent and devilment was key. 'I'd say what devilment he would have got up to now and in the future would have been unreal. 'He loved cooking and making pancakes. He was going to make his own using hazelnuts instead of Nutella. He decided they were so good he was going to go into business. He had it all planned out. There was factories and all types of things planned." FUNDRAISER PLANS To remember Matthew, James has organised the fundraiser in his home place of Watergrasshill. James said: 'It will be very similar to last year. We will be holding a vintage car and motorcycle run. Registration will begin from 1pm. The run, which will be relatively short, will leave Watergrasshill at 2pm and we should be arriving back about an hour later. 'There's music and food trucks and different things happening around and the ice cream van will be going full tilt again this year. We are hoping for a family fun day out." Speaking about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, James said: 'They came very much to the forefront in this journey. 'When Matthew died initially we chose Make-A-Wish as our chosen charity to put on his death notice in lieu of flowers at the time. 'JOURNEY CONTINUED' 'We have continued the journey with them and thankfully they have stayed with us. 'It's a charity that spoke to us about Matthew. He was made for a bit of adventure and thankfully we never needed them as there was no illness or anything like that with him. 'We were free to do those things and the children they help are children who are dealing with very significant issues from a health perspective. These adventures are a wish or a dream and if we can be part of making that happen - to give these kids a break from having to worry about medical issues or treatments or anything, it just spoke to us. 'For them it is all about the mental break that kids can switch away from the hardships that are in their lives and that's very powerful for them." Discussing himself, James said: "We are managing to continue in life. That's hugely important. "Matthew doesn't have the opportunity now that I have in terms of life. It's fierce important for his memory to honour him to make the best we can of life despite the horrendous grief and pain that we are dealing with." 2 Matthew Healy was found in a vehicle in Dunmore East on February 9 last year, and he sadly passed away despite the best efforts of paramedics to save him Credit: Journalist Collect