Commercial Vehicle Unit

The Commercial Vehicle Unit attached to Dublin Castle are responsible for enforcement of road transport legislation and road traffic legislation. They are responsible for enforcement of the following,  commercial vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, small vans and lorries. This includes everything from seat belts, mobile phones, speeding to overweight vehicles, insure loads, tachograph regulations, cabbotage, enforcement of operator licences, abnormal load and permit enforcement, carriage of dangerous goods (adr) and intelligence gathering.

The unit can deal with infringements of legislation in the following ways, guidance, caution, Fixed charge penalty notice, prohibitions, summons or charge. Penalties are graduated depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the offence.

They have expertise in the following areas:

• Commercial vehicle defects

• Overweight vehicles

• Tachograph/driver hours enforcement

• Enforcement of operators licenses

• Abnormal load enforcement and permit system

• Load security

• Licensing

• Road worthiness of vehicles.

They act on intelligence where possible and are also involved with many operations in partnership with other agencies such as:

• Revenue Customs and excise

• Road Safety Authority

• Dublin City Council Waste enforcement Unit

• Health and Safety Authority

• Social Welfare

The unit works hand in hand with other sections in An Garda Síochána such as the Garda National Drugs Unit and regular traffic units.