COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 09, 2015

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor J. Lahart

To ask the Chief Executive what is the position with regard to the Cash for Cars signage in the county and will the Chief Executive present a report to members on any progress made?

REPLY:

“Cash for Car” signage has blighted the Greater Dublin Area over the last number of years.

These signs are a distraction to motorists and as a result pose a safety risk to road users.

The four Dublin Local Authorities engaged in a media campaign in late 2014 advising motorists not to sell their car via the "Cash for Cars" method.   Motorists’ responsibility to ensure that change of ownership is done correctly in order that any charges, fines or penalty points are avoided and attributed to the rightful owner was highlighted.

These “Cash for Car” signs which are in sticker and corrugated board format are removed when located. The precise information on numbers of signs removed by this Council is not readily available as the work is often carried out as part of other works.  However, it is believed that in excess 5,000 illegal “Cash for Cars” signs have been removed from lampposts and street signage in the Dublin Area.

People who post the signs are subject to a fine of €150 each or €4,000 if convicted in court under the Litter Pollution Act 1999. Regrettably as yet the Council has not been in a position to issue fines or initiate prosecution proceedings because of the difficulty in tracking down those responsible for erecting the illegal signage. A Direct Prosecution was initiated in July 2014 but unfortunately the summons was returned unserved, therefore the case could not proceed.

The Council has been working and will continue to work with An Garda Siochana in attempting to identify those involved in this illegal activity, and on the possibility of disconnecting the phone numbers identified in notices illegally erected.