Man ‘will be disqualified’ if caught without insurance again

A construction worker who was caught driving without insurance on a busy section of motorway has been warned by a judge he will lose his licence if he comes before the court again for similar offences.

Judge Deirdre Gearty spared Mihai Lakatos (60), 28 Lohunda Drive, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, the ignominy of losing his licence following an incident on the M6 at Drumman, Westmeath on November 5 last year, and said such leniency would not be on offer in the future.

Mr Lakatos, who spoke through an interpreter, pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court following state evidence provided by Garda John Paul Dunning.

Garda Dunning told the court how he first came across Mr Lakatos at the wheel of his 09 registered Skoda Fabia just before 6pm on the day in question.

He said his suspicions concerning driving documentation were aroused by the lack of an insurance disk on the vehicle windscreen.

A follow-up check carried out on a garda mobility device confirmed those fears. The insurance had expired.

A Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) was issued and a lawful demand was made for Mr Lakatos’s insurance within 10 days at a designated garda station, neither of which was complied with, the court was told.

Garda Dunning confirmed he seized the car.

Judge Gearty was told that Mr Lakatos had no previous convictions prior to last November’s incident.

On being told via his interpreter that Mr Lakatos had since regularised his insurance and relied on transport for work purposes, Judge Gearty said she would desist from imposing a driving ban in light of his previous good character.

“I have discretion when he needs his car for work on the first offence, but if he is back in court again for another no insurance prosecution, he will be disqualified, so he must understand that,” said Judge Gearty as she fined Mr Lakatos €200, giving him five months to pay.