Almost 2,000 motorists in Mayo who were caught speeding by the new static speed safety camera are set to have their fines and penalty points revoked.
The reversal comes after it was found the camera was not certified when it first launched.
Now, the 1,871 motorists detected speeding between 20 December 2024 and 12 February 2025 are being written to by gardaí about refunds and the removal of penalty points where necessary.
“This error is very much regretted,” said gardaí.
A statement said: “An Garda Síochána and the safety camera provider GoSafe identified an issue on 12 February 2025 whereby the static speed camera on the N17 near Claremorris was fully functional and accurately identifying offences, but not certified.
“It is standard procedure that all cameras used for speeding detection have valid calibration certificates issued by GoSafe.
Once this issue was identified, the camera was certified on the 13 February and has been operational since 14 February 2025. The more than 230 speeding fines issued from the speed safety camera system on the N17 since 14 February 2025 are valid.”
Of the 1,871 fixed charge notices issued – 800 notices were paid and penalty points applied, 123 were paid however the error was identified prior to penalty points being applied, and of the remaining 948 notices that were issued, no payment was made prior to the error being identified, therefore no penalty points were applied.
From now on, An Garda Síochána will request proof of camera calibration certification when cameras are installed and/or changed rather than at prosecution stage.
GoSafe has also put in place measures to prevent reoccurrence including weekly confirmation of certification status of all speed safety cameras.
