Driver who skipped 1,200 M50 tolls among 23 fined €428,000

Twenty-two drivers failed to appear before the court.

Twenty-two drivers were penalised with fines ranging from €15,000 to €25,000 after they failed to appear before the court.

One driver was recorded to have totalled 1,220 unpaid tolls, with Judge Anthony Halpin handing him the maximum penalty of €25,000.

Furthermore, three commercial vehicle owners were also fined €25,000 each, with one reportedly leaving 814 trips unpaid.

Another woman, who failed to pay for over one thousand journeys, did not appear in court was fined €25,000, while three van drivers and a lorry owner were also prosecuted.

Judge Halpin said these severe fines were awarded due to the fact that most motorists failed to engage with proceedings.

The one motorist who did attend court pleaded guilty received a much lower fine of €150.

This driver, who had paid for just 18 of his 263 journeys, admitted it was a 'stupid mistake', a statement which was appreciated by Judge Anthony Halpin.

Additionally, one woman attended the court however she left before her case had been called.

Before adjourning the case, the judge suggested the woman may have heard about large fines for no-show defendants and not realised the court distinguishes between those who appear and those who do not.

Courts can impose fines of up to €5,000 per charge as well as a six-month sentence, however the motorway operator tends to prosecute repeat non-payers.

The standard toll charge for a private car is now €3.80, a fee which must be paid before 8pm the day following your journey.

After this a penalty is added with surcharges building after 56 days, following which drivers receive warning letters, then ultimately court proceedings if the charge is still unpaid.