Failure to pay a fixed charge speeding fine will cost a Ballinasloe man €1,000, a judge warned him when his case came before the local District Court.
Judge James Faughnan heard evidence from a Garda who was on patrol in an unmarked car on July 31 last in a 50kph zone that the defendant, Alan Hughes, 78 Hymany Park, Ballinasloe, sped past and his car was “bouncing off the road”.
The Garda activated his blue lights, followed, and observed the defendant continue to drive at high speed.
When he stopped and asked for the reason for his behaviour, Hughes told the Garda that he was on his way to Kilconnell to visit relations.
The court was told the Garda issued a fixed charge penalty on the spot, but the defendant failed to pay it, and so the case came before the Judge. Hughes had nine previous convictions.
Adjourning the case until the May 28 sitting, Judge Faughnan issued a warning that no matter what happened on that date, he was going to impose a fine of €1,000 in addition to any other penalty he deemed appropriate.
