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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish drivers face €1,000 fine if they ignore one rule this week
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. READ MORE: Irish drivers have until Wednesday night to remove 3 items from their cars 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." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Extra.ie
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Extra.ie
Cool your jets: This heatwave habit could cost Irish drivers dearly
Ireland is heading into a heatwave this week, making our commutes all the more sweaty. While motorists may be fond of blasting the air con when temperatures rise, you could find yourself at the wrong end of a hefty fine as a result. As temperatures continue to soar this week, is ensuring you don't get caught red-handed. Ireland has been blessed with some unprecedented sunshine this past week, making our commutes all the more sweaty. Pic: Shutterstock To avoid the heat, many will leave the car's engine idling with the air con on to help it cool down before you get in. However, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is an offence under Irish law. This means motorists could be hit with fines ranging from €1,000 to €2,000, or even three months in prison. While motorists may be fond of blasting the air con when things get a little warmer, you could find yourself at the wrong end of a hefty fine as a result. Under Irish road traffic laws, it's an offence to leave vehicles 'unattended with the engine running on any public road, even if the public road is next to a person's property or driveway.' This offence is laid out in Regulation 87 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, with the penalties being: For a first offence, a fine of up to € 1,000. For a second offence (or a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph) a fine of up to € 2,000. For a third or subsequent breach within a twelve-month window, the penalty is a fine of up to € 2,000 or, at the court's discretion, up to three months imprisonment, or a combination of both. As temperatures continue to soar this week, are ensuring you don't get caught red Shutterstock The AA also warned that leaving your engine running makes you more of an easy target for thieves. Their warning 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.'
Extra.ie
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Extra.ie
This warm weather driving hack could leave you with a hefty fine
Ireland has been blessed with some unprecedented sunshine this past week, making our commutes all the more sweaty. While motorists may be fond of blasting the air con when things get a little warmer, you could find yourself at the wrong end of a hefty fine as a result. As temperatures continue to soar this week, are ensuring you don't get caught red handed. Ireland has been blessed with some unprecedented sunshine this past week, making our commutes all the more sweaty. Pic: Shutterstock To avoid the heat, many will leave the car's engine idling with the air con on to help it cool down before you get in. However, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is an offence under Irish law. This means motorists could be hit with fines ranging from €1,000 to €2,000, or even three months in prison. While motorists may be fond of blasting the air con when things get a little warmer, you could find yourself at the wrong end of a hefty fine as a result. Under Irish road traffic laws, it's an offence to leave vehicles 'unattended with the engine running on any public road, even if the public road is next to a person's property or driveway.' This offence is laid out in Regulation 87 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, with the penalties being: For a first offence, a fine of up to € 1,000. For a second offence (or a third or subsequent such offence other than an offence referred to in the next paragraph) a fine of up to € 2,000. For a third or subsequent breach within a twelve-month window, the penalty is a fine of up to € 2,000 or, at the court's discretion, up to three months imprisonment, or a combination of both. As temperatures continue to soar this week, are ensuring you don't get caught red Shutterstock The AA also warned that leaving your engine running makes you more of an easy target for thieves. Their warning 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.'
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Motorists face fine for hot weather driving mistake this week
Glorious weather has engulfed Ireland, with Met Eireann forecasting temperatures of up 22C this week. The national forecaster has pinpointed Tuesday and Wednesday as the peak of this warm spell, which is expected to last until the weekend. As the mercury rises, many drivers will be relying on their vehicle's air conditioning. However, a warning has been issued about a common cooling habit that could land motorists with a hefty tine - or even jail time - if they are caught by gardai. Some drivers may be tempted to leave their engine running with the air conditioning on to cool down the interior before setting off. However, under Irish law, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is illegal. Motorists could face fines ranging from €1,000 to €2,000, or in some cases, even three months in jail. Under road traffic laws in Ireland, it is an offence to leave vehicles "unattended with the engine running on any public road, even in the instance that the public road adjoins a person's property or driveway". This is dictated by Regulation 87 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963. 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. A spokesperson for the Department of Transport previously confirmed to the Irish Mirror the hefty fines associated with breaking this law. It is up to the gardai to enforce these road traffic laws. 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."
