A driver towing a trailer containing two bulls has been issued a court summons after being stopped by Gardaí in the south of the country recently.

Taking to social media, members of An Garda Síochána based in Co. Cork outlined the details behind the summons, noting:

“This driver was stopped by Fermoy RPU in Rathcormac after being spotted chatting away on the mobile phone. This was the least of his problems.

Upon inspection it turns out the driver had failed to attach a secondary coupling [breakaway cable] to the trailer which was loaded with two bulls! It also transpired that the driver didn’t hold a trailer licence…

Outlining the consequences for these offences, the Garda statement listed penalties, including: a fixed charge notice for holding mobile phone, comprising a €60 fine and three penalty points; and a court summons for no licence and no secondary coupling.

Trailer regulations

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), a category B driving licence authorises you to drive a car, van or 4X4 which has a maximum mass (as specified by the manufacturer) of not more than 3,500kg and is designed and constructed to carry no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver.

With this licence you may tow a trailer with a maximum mass (again as specified by the manufacturer) not greater than 750kg, or where the maximum mass is more than 750kg, the combined maximum mass of the towing vehicle and the trailer is not greater than 3,500kg.

A category BE driving licence authorises you to tow a trailer where the combined maximum mass of the towing vehicle and trailer is greater than 3,500kg.

As a general rule, a category B licence does not entitle the holder to tow a horsebox or a livestock trailer because the combined maximum mass would exceed 3,500kg.

Finally, the authority warns that he holder of a category B Learner permit may not tow any trailer – whatever the size.