These statistics are categorised as Under Reservation. This categorisation indicates that the quality of these statistics do not meet the standards required of official statistics published by the CSO.
For further information please refer to the Under Reservation FAQ page.
Some offence types, including many road traffic offences, are dealt with by issuing a Fixed Charge Notice or Fixed Charge Penalty. This method of sanction offers an opportunity to pay a fine in order to avoid prosecution. The Garda Fixed Charge Penalty System (FCPS) database is used to administer the issuing of fixed charges and penalties.
Many road traffic offences, for which a Fixed Charge Notice applies, are not recorded on PULSE unless and until the time allowed to pay the fine has passed, and the offence is then recorded on PULSE in order to issue a summons as appropriate.
Fixed Charge Notices may also be issued for some public order offences and Fixed Penalty Notices may be issued for some drink driving offences, depending on the category of driver and level of intoxication. All such offences are recorded on PULSE irrespective of whether the fine is paid.
The number of Fixed Charge Notices and Fixed Penalty Notices issued for years 2014 to 2019 is given in Table 7.1. The figures indicate the number of Notices which were issued, excluding terminated Notices. See Background Notes.
It should be noted that the range of offences for which fixed charges and penalties are applicable has changed in line with legislation over the reference period. For example, cycling offences became Fixed Charge offences during 2015.
The type of offence for which the highest number of Fixed Charge Notices are issued each year is speeding. In 2019, over 132,000 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for speeding offences. The number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for speeding offences has fallen compared to 2014 and 2015. See Table 7.1.
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