A 23-year-old woman has been fined €500 after she was stopped on an electric scooter in a Dublin village nearly three years ago, when such vehicles could not legally be driven on Irish roads.
Maria Jigala (23), with an address at Ticknock Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to driving an electric scooter without insurance at The Rectory, Stepaside Village, Dublin 18, on 23 March, 2023.
The court heard that Ms Jigala was stopped while using an electric scooter in a public place, following a report of a minor collision.
Gardai told the court that Jigala, who required the assistance of a Moldovan interpreter, has no previous convictions and had not come to Garda attention since the incident. It was said she had been co-operative with gardaí at the time.
Defence counsel, Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, said her client worked as a beauty specialist and required the ability to drive for work.
She told the court that her client had been in the process of trying to get matters in order at the time but had been unable to obtain insurance.
Judge Conor Fottrell said the matter before the court was, in reality, a no-insurance offence. He imposed a fine of €500, with six months to pay.
The remaining charges, including failing to produce insurance and driving documentation and driving without a licence, were taken into consideration.