Speeding in Irelandby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 01 Nov 2007 12:29 PM I would guess that it would be hard to catch a break from a judge who is hearing a case involving allegations that you were driving 112 mph in a 62 mph zone. Then again I have never been caught speeding in Ireland. Apparently, your chances of getting off the hook there are pretty good. As least if you believe David Clarke. According to police reports the 31-year-old motorist was caught flying down an Dublin road a few weeks ago at speeds in excessive of 180 kilometers per hour (roughly 110 mph) in a 100 kph zone (62 mph). When police finally caught up with Clarke they told him his offense would likely cost him his license. But, in a stunning turn of events, a country judge reduced the charge and allowed Clarke to keep his license. What's more, the judge also concluded that the speed did not look as bad when converted into miles. "I am not excusing his driving. He should not have been traveling at that speed," the judge said in his verdict. The judge added that it was "relatively safe" to speed in the area Clarke was traveling, citing favorable weather conditions, light traffic and the road's unusual straightness. Huh? Why don't American judges think the same way? Can you imagine going to court to face a traffic violation and hearing the judge in your case say the speed seemed "very excessive," but it did not look "as bad" when converted into miles. Unbelievable. In Clarke's case, the judge lowered the charge from "driving dangerously" to "driving carelessly," and fined him about $1,450. If Clarke would have been convicted of the former charge he would have lost his license. A note to anyone who plans to drive in Ireland in the near future: Ireland switched its speed limits from miles to kilometers in January 2005, but most cars still display speeds in miles. Related Articles: Help For Drivers With Traffic Tickets You Got A Speeding Ticket... Now What Are You Going To Do? Smokey Clocked You Going 80... Now What Do You Do? Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags Dublin, ireland, speeding, speeding ticket, Travel Discuss this article
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