LAST UPDATE | 18 Jan 2021

GARDAÍ HAVE ISSUED over 400 fines to members of the public over non-essential travel since last Monday. 

The vast majority of these fines – over 300 – were issued over the weekend for suspected breaches of the public health regulations relation to non-essential travel. 

As of Friday evening, a total of 74 fines for non-essential travel had been processed. 

The fines issued over the weekend will now be checked and processed. Once these are processed, definitive figures will be available later this week. 

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, gardaí are continuing to operate static checkpoints on national roads, as well as other mobile checkpoints and high visibility patrols in areas such as parks and scenic locations. 

Since 11 January, gardaí have been permitted to prosecute breaches of travel restrictions by means of a €100 Fixed Payment Notice.

In a post on social media, An Garda Síochána confirmed that more than 200 vehicles stopped at checkpoints in the Wicklow Division yesterday were turned back after drivers were issued with a caution. 

Over 70 Fixed Payment Notices were issued to drivers. 

Today Gardaí in the Wicklow Division issued over 70 Fixed Payment Notices and turned back over 200 vehicles after issuing a caution to the drivers.

The COVID-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis.

(1/2)#StayHome pic.twitter.com/XwT7dy4wP8

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 17, 2021

Elsewhere yesterday, the Roscommon/Longford Roads Policing unit carried out an operation at Newcastle Woods, Ballymahon yesterday in support of the public health regulations. 

Over 30 Fixed Payment Notices were issued to drivers of parked vehicles found outside the 5km radius of their home. 

In advance of last weekend, An Garda Síochána had advised the public of the need to plan their activities to take account that people are only allowed to exercise within 5km of their home. 

The vast majority of people were compliant with this over the weekend, gardaí said. 

Gardaí are reminding the public that the 5km limit includes the distance travelled to a location to exercise.