At the moment, unaccompanied learner drivers face two penalty points and a fixed fine.
Car owners who give their vehicle to an unaccompanied learner driver could face prosecution under new laws that are being brought into cabinet on Wednesday.
Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, will also seek approval to give Gardaí the power to seize vehicles on the spot if a learner driver is driving unaccompanied.
According to The Irish Independent, other potential penalties include a fine of €2,000 and six months in prison; the exact penalties, however, still require final approval by the Attorney General.
Ross, decided to take action to bring the new laws in on the back of a request by a father of three who lost his wife and daughter in a car crash.
A learner driver who was unaccompanied at the time was driving when the crash occurred. The driver pleaded to dangerous driving causing death.
It is against the law for learner drivers to drive a vehicle unless accompanied by someone with a full driving licence and who has been on the road for at least two years.
At the moment, if found, unaccompanied learner permit drivers will pick up two penalty points and a fixed fine.
Ross had committed to the new legislation earlier in the year but it is understood that it ran into difficulties and, as a result, did not come into effect.
Back then, Ross stated that Gardaí have the power to detain vehicles in a number of circumstances like when a vehicle is untaxed, uninsured or does not have its NCT.
However, he hoped that the same could be put in place for unaccompanied learner drivers.
“An extension of this power to cover vehicles being driven by unaccompanied learners would require an amendment to Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994,” Ross said at the time.
“I would like to advise that this is something that I am willing to consider in the context of future road traffic legislation.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
