ROI drivers' £700k ticket tally

Drivers from the Republic owe a total of £739,620

Motorists from the Republic of Ireland have clocked up more than £700,000 in unpaid parking tickets in Northern Ireland in just 18 months.

Between October 2006 and March 2008, 16,950 tickets were issued to vehicles registered in the Republic.

However, 12,324 are still to be paid, according to NCP, which is now responsible for traffic wardens in NI.

The information was obtained by DUP MLA Simon Hamilton in response to an assembly question.

"The total monetary value owed to NCP, some of which is returned to the Department of Regional Development to be re-invested, stands at a staggering £739,620," said Mr Hamilton.

"The minister's answer also stated that his department cannot pursue vehicle owners from the Republic of Ireland for unpaid penalties because of legal issues surrounding the exchange of vehicle keeper details.

"Conor Murphy's somewhat weak admission that his department can do nothing stands in sharp contrast to the approach adopted by councils on the other side of the border.

"Recent news coverage has shown that in the Irish Republic, local councils around the border region have contracted a firm called EPC to pursue motorists from Northern Ireland who breach parking regulations in their jurisdiction."

The Strangford representative added he would like Mr Murphy "to initiate, as a matter of priority, a review into Northern Ireland's capacity to do likewise".

'Legal issues'

A Department of Regional Development (DRD) spokeswoman said: "Currently DRD cannot pursue southern vehicle owners who are issued with a parking ticket in the north due to legal issues surrounding the exchange of vehicle keeper details which prevents Vehicle Licensing Unit in the south from passing owner/keeper details to the DVA in Coleraine.

"Roads Service officials are working with DVA in Coleraine and the Department of Transport in the south in attempting to resolve this problem.

"Roads Service intends introducing clamping and removals later this year. Southern drivers with outstanding tickets may have their vehicles clamped or removed in a similar way to northern drivers."