Confusion over Irish insurance regulations in two separate cases heard in Waterford court
Waterford Courthouse
Waterford District Court recently heard two no insurance cases where the defendants were recent arrivals to Ireland, who had not fully understood the Irish laws regulating insurance for road users at the time of their offences.
A 30-year-old woman was charged with no insurance and failure to produce insurance on an e-scooter last August because she was unaware of the e-scooter insurance regulations, a court heard.
Leticia Lacerda Ferro (30), of 25 Meadow Bank, Ballinaha, County Waterford, was fined €150 in a Waterford District Court sitting on Thursday, September 10.
Ms. Ferro was stopped by Gardaí on the Newtown Road in Waterford City on August 20 last year on a high-powered e-scooter, the court heard.
Ms. Ferro had not been living in Ireland long, the court was told, and so was unaware of the insurance laws for high power e-scooter models.
Ms. Ferro told the court she sold the e-scooter "as soon as it happened".
A fine of €150 was given to Ms. Ferro by Judge John Cheatle with four months to pay.
A 31-year-old mother of two was also charged with no insurance and failure to produce insurance at the same sitting of Waterford District Court because she didn't understand the Irish insurance regulations.
Ms Rahema Begum Jorna (31), of 27 Lower Yellow Road, Waterford, appeared before the court on Thursday, September 10.
Mrs. Jorna was driving a car her husband bought when, on April 6 earlier this year, the court heard, she was asked by Gardaí for proof of insurance and did not have evidence of such insurance for the vehicle.
Mrs. Jorna's solicitor told the court neither Mrs. Jorna nor her husband had any awareness of the Irish laws surrounding car insurance at the time.
Mrs. Jorna applied for an insurance policy for the vehicle the day after she was stopped by Gardaí, the court was told, with proof of insurance dating back to April 7 of this year shown to the court on the day.
