Gardaí have seized approximately 4,000 vehicles in Dublin so far this year, mostly for not having up-to-date tax and insurance certificates.
The vehicles can be seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act if tax or insurance have not been paid for a period of three months, or if the person driving the vehicle is not licenced to do so.
Vehicles which are not roadworthy can be seized under Section 20. In Dublin, approximately 600 vehicles are in Garda custody at any given time. After six weeks unclaimed they are scrapped, regardless or their age or value.
A fine of €160 is charged for the first 24 hours in a Garda vehicle pound and €35 for each subsequent day.