Clamp down on illegal parking outside schools
By Brendan Grehan
GARDAI in Lucan are to clamp down on illegal parking outside schools, The Echo understands.
In a letter distributed to parents, Lucan Gardai write that “Parking issues continue to burden Lucan schools, as a result Lucan Gardai will be clamping down on all driving offences during school drop-offs.”
The letter warns that if parents continue to ignore road traffic laws such as parking on double yellow lines, on a cycle track, within 5m of a road junction, at a continuous white line and obstructing a driveway.
The Gardai say that they will issue a Fixed Charge Penalty notice fine of €40 if paid within 28 days, €60 outside 28 days and if unpaid a court summons will be issued.
The letter reminds parents that “traffic parking restrictions are placed at schools for the safety of your children”.
Local Councillor Liona O’Toole has welcomed the distribution of the letter.
She told The Echo: “This is an issue that has come up again and again over the years. It has been suggested a number of times. Often parents ask us to have the people who park illegally outside schools to be fined”
Cllr O’Toole said that some parents may not realise that they are parking illegally.
She said: “We had parents who got tickets for parking on grass verges and they did not realise that it was illegal to do so.
“Some parents just wouldn’t be aware of the regulations. I welcome that An Garda Siochana are taking this step.
“We have worked a lot over the years to tackle the issue of parking outside schools but what ever measure you take somebody always ends up parking illegally.”
