Driver with 637 unpaid bills among toll dodgers in court

Fifteen M50 toll dodgers, including private car, truck and van owners, have been hit with fines totalling €265,000 after failing to appear in court.

One driver amassed more than 600 unpaid journeys on the country's busiest motorway, Judge Anthony Halpin heard today.

The motorists who had been sent hundreds of warning letters failed to attend their hearings, but their cases proceeded in their absence.

A defendant, owing about €14,000, who turned up had to be cautioned by the judge that he risked perjuring himself.

Earlier at Dublin District Court, Judge Halpin had remarked that most defendants ignore the proceedings and "think the rest of us have to pay their tolls for them".

Judge Halpin imposed maximum fines of €25,000 against seven of the motorists.

The remaining no-show defendants were fined between €4,000 and €15,000, payable within three months, plus €350 in costs.

Among them was registered car owner Julie O'Donnell of Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11.

The court heard she faced five sample summonses covering journeys last August. However, Judge Halpin noted evidence that her overall record showed zero payments out of 637, and that she had been the registered owner of the car since 2024.

She had the most unpaid tolls on today's court list.

Three commercial vehicle owners were among the defendants and also received the highest possible fine.

This category included Glenn Madden of the Park, Millbrook Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24, after the court heard that he had a record of non-payment for 390 trips by his heavy goods vehicle.

The lowest fines were handed down to owners who were shown to have paid some of their tolls.

Prosecuting counsel Thomas Rice (instructed by Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors) said each defendant faced five sample counts for journeys from mainly April to November 2025, and their cases could go ahead in their absence.

The prosecution witness confirmed that each vehicle's records, including the number, dates, and times of passage, were available.

The payment history of each defendant was outlined in court, which also heard evidence showing they were the registered owners at the time.

Images of all the vehicles passing the toll gantry were among the prosecution's evidence.

The court can impose fines of up to €5,000 per charge and a six-month sentence. However, the motorway operator's practice is to prosecute habitual non-payers. The standard toll for a private car is now €3.80, payable before 8pm the following day; otherwise, a penalty is added.

Surcharges ramp up after 56 days, followed by warning letters and court proceedings if the toll remains unpaid. Commercial and goods vehicle owners pay more, and registered owners are liable.

Fourteen other cases were adjourned to give defendants a chance to engage with the motorway operators. One was withdrawn after the judge noted that the defendant's outstanding toll issue had been resolved.

The defendant, who was warned he risked perjuring himself due to the evidence he attempted to introduce, was among a separate civil list. His case was adjourned until September.