This day in 1998: Clamping comes to Dublin
By Mary Dennehy
ON THIS day in 1998, Dublin Corporation introduced clamping – which, twenty years down the line, is at the forefront of most drivers’ minds when looking for a parking space.
For many the struggle of returning to your car to find a yellow clamp fixed to a wheel is all too real, and then you have to pay to have the clamp removed.
According to an RTE radio report by Sean O’Rourke, clamping was introduced to Dublin on August 10, 1998 and was operated by an American company on behalf of Dublin Corporation.
The new system meant that any motorists parking illegally, for example on yellow lines, loading bays or bay-parking areas, would be clamped – alongside those who were parking in a pay-zone, but who hadn’t paid.
Motorists caught under the new system had to pay £65 to have their vehicles declamped, or if their car was taken away it cost £135 to get a vehicle back – plus an additional daily fee for the length of time the vehicle stays in the car compound.
Back in 1998, there was a two-week lead up to the introduction of clamping, with yellow warning stickers placed on the windows of cars illegally parked – which advised motorists that they would be clamped for this type of parking behaviour.
On this day in 1998, Sean O’Rourke interviews Owen Keegan, the Director of Traffic with Dublin Corporation, who said that if people persisted with that kind of parking behaviour they could expect to be clamped.
However, he did stress that compliance had improved due to the advance warning and issuing of stickers.
Compliance
He added: “Overall from our point of view we’ve achieved a dramatic improvement in compliance with parking regulations and that was the whole objective of the exercise.”
According to the report, which has been made available through RTE Archives, if there is any relapse in public behaviour, motorists will find their cars clamped.
However, Mr Keegan was confident that the good behaviour will last as people can see that Dublin Corporation is serious about tackling illegal parking.
“We don’t intend making money out of this contract, we certainly don’t intend losing money… it’s a break-even [system],” Mr Keegan concluded.
Listen to the radio interview on the RTE Archives website HERE.
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