PRACTICE OF CAR ‘CLOCKING’ MET WITH TOUGH NEW PENALTIES - GRAHAM SPRING

Issued : Thursday 27 February, 2014

STATEMENT BY GRAHAM SPRING

Labour Candidate for Tralee Electoral Area

Thursday, 27^th February 2014

PRACTICE OF CAR ‘CLOCKING’ MET WITH TOUGH NEW PENALTIES - GRAHAM SPRING

Local election candidate, Graham Spring, has said that car “clocking”, the practice of tampering with a car’s odometer, is to be declared a Road Traffic offence is good news for motorists in Kerry. The news comes as legislation on the issue is shortly to be enacted by the Government.

“When people in Kerry go to purchase a car, they want to be sure they are not being misled as to the mileage on the vehicle.

“Car clocking is a dishonest practice, which results in people being tricked as to the mileage on a car that they are looking to purchase. Now, new road traffic rules are to make clocking an offence, punishable with a €2,500 penalty and a possible three months in prison.

“

While I am confident that these new rules will help clamp down on car clocking, it can be difficult to spot that a car has been clocked. I would advise people in Kerry who are seeking to buy a second-hand car in particular to be safe rather than sorry - check its history and get a mechanic to have a look at the car’s mileage.”