A man who drove without insurance six times in an eight month period was jailed for 14 months today.
James O'Neill (20), Dolphin House, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to driving the same car in the Crumlin area between August 2002 and March 2003. He was stopped by one garda on four occasions in a two month period.
He had four previous convictions imposed in 2002 and 2003 for similar offences. He was also stopped on February 19th, 2002, carrying two knives in his car.
His solicitor said he appeared to have a complete lack of understanding of the seriousness of driving without insurance.
Judge Gerard Haughton did not accept he did not comprehend the seriousness of what he was doing as a mitigating factor because of his previous record for no insurance.
One of the reasons for high insurance premiums is due to uninsured drivers whose accidents must be paid for by the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, which is in turn paid for by insured motorists.
"The general public does not realise that a levy of between seven and ten per cent is paid by insured drivers for the uninsured."
He imposed sentences totalling 14 months and banned O'Neill from driving for ten years.