The Gardaí are to begin issuing DCU students with parking fines following a number of complaints from residents living in the area surrounding the campus.
The anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving of a minority of students has prompted angry residents in the Collins Avenue and Shanowen area to request assistance from both Santry and Ballymun Garda stations.
Students who park within fifteen meters of a corner or park across from a full white line in the middle of the road will be issued a fine of €60.
Parking a car on a grass verge or footpath is not permitted. Illegal and dangerous parking such as blocking driveways will also result in a fine.
A significant percentage of these incidents are due to a small number of students with social occasions being the common factor.
“It is the responsibility of all students to ensure that due respect is shown to the residents of these neighbourhoods,” a statement from The Garda Síochána said.
The Garda Síochána will invoke the legislative powers it has under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. This act carries penalties if breached including a possible criminal conviction.
Under this legislation it is prohibited to engage in disorderly conduct in a private place. Engaging in abusing, threatening or insulting behaviour in a public place is banned.
Being so intoxicated in a public place that the person could endanger himself/herself or someone else in the area is restricted. Failing to comply with a direction of An Garda Síochána also breaches legislation.
Conor Martin
Image credit: Flickr via Creative Commons
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