Millions lost on M50 tolls each year!

Millions in toll charges is being lost every year on the M50 alone, as cars from foreign registered cars get away without paying. In the past year, cars from 38 countries have been flouting the law and going through the toll without paying. Over 1.3 million motorists use Dublin’s M50 every year without paying the toll, resulting in a loss to the State of more than €4m.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which operates the motorway network has released new figures showing cars registered as far afield as Argentina, Canada, Korea and New Zealand have been recorded using the motorway for free. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, have also revealed that there was a “high volume” of enforcement activity last year, and they succeeded in securing 121 criminal convictions and have also seized 40 cars in lieu of non-payment of toll charges.

Most of the cars from the 38 countries were from across Europe but there have also been cars from the southern hemisphere as well, including North and South America and Asia.

The M50 is Irelands busiest motorway and around 130,000 trips are made each day. Even though there is 97.3 per cent compliance rate on the M50, there is still on average 3500 trips made every day without paying, which equates to 1.27 million over the year.

Every unregistered car must pay €3.10 by 8pm the day after travel and so with lost revenue due to non-payment, around €3.96m is lost every year. A TII spokesman insisted that enforcement actions were being taken motorists who refuse to pay the toll charges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland are using an outside firm called Euro Park Enforcement who specialises tries to collecting tolls from foreign-registered vehicles. When they identify the foreign registered vehicle, they will take action if it makes financial sense to do so. Despite this, some Irish-registered motorists simply refused to pay. The TII spokesperson went on to say:

“It’s a minority of people who continually violate,”.

“The figure of 97.3pc shows that people play by the rules and we have an enforcement system, which is very serious. There are people who are outside the bounds of the court, but we are going to go after them.

“From an international perspective, we rank among the best. Once you call in the sheriff and gets the courts involved, you’re exercising all the enforcement legislation.”

Last year, 184,000 notices were sent to motorists advising them to pay the toll. Of the 184,000 notices, 15,000 claims were later sent, which is the first stage of enforcement action. In the same period, legal proceedings were issued via registered post in another 6,510 cases, with 3,345 legal proceedings served on the motorist, resulting is 2,367 judgments being obtained in the courts.

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
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