![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/574400964_1244508477713081_3435316601575163495_n-1.jpg\")
Garda\u00ed at the checkpoint(Image: Garda Cork)<\/p>\nThe motorist was driving while disqualified before even getting their full licenseGarda\u00ed at the checkpoint(Image: Garda Cork)<\/p>\n
Garda\u00ed operating a checkpoint in Cork were surprised this week when a routine check of a learner permit showed that the driver had already received a disqualification. The motorist <\/a>was nabbed at a mandatory intoxicant checkpoint along the N22, which typically screens for people driving under the influence.<\/p>\n However, as with all Garda <\/a>checkpoints, a number of checks are carried out to ensure the driver is fully insured, has a valid NCT, that their tax is up to date and that they’re not breaching any other road safety laws. Members of the Roads Policing Unit can use the Garda Mobility App to scan plates and driver’s licenses to obtain real-time information, rather than relying solely on the paper discs that some motorists have attempted to tamper with.<\/p>\n When reviewing this learner’s documents, Garda\u00ed discovered that they were driving under a disqualification, one they had received before even earning their full driver’s license. The driver was arrested, and the car was seized. They were later charged and will soon appear before the courts <\/a>in Cork.<\/p>\n A Garda spokesperson said: “Cork West Road Policing Unit stopped a car at a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoint. On checking the driver’s details on the Garda mobility device, the Learner driver was disqualified. The car was seized and the driver was arrested and charged to appear in court.”<\/p>\n A motorist can be disqualified from driving by amassing 12 points on their license within a three-year period, with the threshold being reduced to 7 penalty points for learner drivers. A driver can also be disqualified via court order if they are convicted of certain driving offences. Driving while disqualified is a serious offence and those convicted of it are liable for a fine of up to \u20ac5,000 and\/or up to 6 months in prison.<\/p>\n This comes as the Government recently announced a major crackdown on learner drivers who avoid sitting tests<\/a> by repeatedly reapplying for new learner permits. The new legislation approved by the Department of Transport<\/a> will come into effect on November 1 2026.<\/p>\n Under the new law, drivers must have taken a test within the previous two years to renew a third or fourth permit. Each permit is typically valid for two years, but the fourth permit will only be valid for one year. If they have not achieved a full license by the end of the seven-year period, any learner wishing to continue must restart the learning-to-drive process from the beginning.<\/p>\n This includes retaking the theory test, attending an additional 12 lessons, applying for a permit, and taking the full driving test. This process will cost approximately \u20ac695. This means that those who previously renewed every two years could be on the hook for hundreds of euros if they fail to qualify while on their final permit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The motorist was driving while disqualified before even getting their full licenseGarda\u00ed at the checkpoint(Image: Garda Cork) Garda\u00ed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":168963,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[79,18,11167,19,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-168962","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-gardai","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}