A driver of a 4X4 jeep has been fined by the Gardai for towing a trailer at speeds of 132km/h along the M8 motorway.
The driver was stopped by the Thurles Divisional Traffic Corps, who were carrying out speed checks on the motorway, An Gardai Siochana said in an official tweet.
The maximum speed limit for a vehicle towing a trailer is 80km/h, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
This also applies on roads where the posted road sign speed limit is higher, it added.
As always drivers are subject to the lowest posted speed sign so it will not always be possible to travel at 80km/h, the RSA said.
Thurles Divisional Traffic Corps carrying out speed check on M8. Car detected doing 175kph & 4×4 towing trailer doing 132kph. Fines for both pic.twitter.com/CEZY0tsggw
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) March 21, 2017
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Source: Twitter
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People are reminded to check their licence type before towing a trailer on a public road; so as to ensure that they are legally allowed to do so.
Drivers holding a category B driving licence are allowed to drive a car, van or a 4X4 which has a maximum weight of not more than 3,500kg.
A category B licence also allows a driver to tow a trailer with a maximum weight of no greater than 750kg, according to the RSA.
The regulations allow a driver with a category B licence to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, as long as the combined maximum weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer is not greater than 3,500kg.
Meanwhile, a category BE driving licence authorises you to tow a trailer where the combined maximum weight 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, the RSA said.
The holder of a category B Learner permit may not tow any trailer – whatever the size, it added.
Tractor seized by Gardai for no Insurance
Earlier this month, a tractor was seized by An Gardai Siochana after being stopped at a checkpoint in Co. Wicklow.
Gardai conducting an Operation Thor checkpoint seized the Ford tractor, which hadn’t been taxed or insured for more than 15 years.