Sir, – In “Vigilante parking enforcers are not new, but Dublin’s tyre deflators go too far” (Opinion & Analysis, June 29th), Newton Emerson describes a long history of activism in relation to motor vehicles.
For clarity, I do not condone the actions of the “Tyre Extinguishers” who are letting the air out of the tyres of certain large motor vehicles in urban areas due to their negative impacts on the climate, air pollution and road safety.
In conflating the deflating actions targeting vehicle type and actions targeting parking behaviour, your columnist tries to assert that the law “North and South” is that pavement parking can be “ignored unless it is obstructing pedestrians or endangering the public”.
This is incorrect. The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 Section 36 (2) (i) very clear states that “A vehicle shall not be parked on a footway, a grass margin or a median strip”.
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There are no “loopholes”, as Newton Emerson claims.
The fine for this offence has been €80 since February 1st, 2022, when Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan rightly increased it from a measly €40. Regrettably, this offence is vastly under-enforced by both An Garda Síochána and local authorities across the country.
Despite some staunch resistance, there are efforts under way to increase the education and enforcement around the offence of parking on footpaths.
This week marks a year since the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland issued a report stating that a Land Rover ad featured prominently in The Irish Times was in breach of advertising guidelines because it was shown parked on a footpath.
If we are to keep our footpaths safe and clear from the widespread illegal incursions of motor vehicles large and small, treating the issue seriously and accurately would be a good starting point. – Yours, etc,
Cllr OISÍN
O’CONNOR,
Green Party/Comhaontas Glas,
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16.