'I've heard enough,' judge says after being told Louth driver gave two dates of birth and had two PPS numbers

A 57-year-old man was convicted of giving false and misleading information to a Customs Officer during a stop of his vehicle near Dundalk. The court upheld the district court order and imposed a €2,500 fine. Evidence showed he had two different PPS numbers and two different dates of birth, and that he drove away from the scene before the officer could tell him the calculated penalty. The officer testified that she warned him the vehicle would be seized and that the vehicle could be returned on payment of a roadside penalty. The man claimed he believed the fine would be sent to him and said driving off was a mistake. The case involved discrepancies in identity details, including a one-letter difference in surname and different birth dates.

"A Customs officer testified that she stopped Mr Mehta at Racecourse Road, Dundalk, on September 13, 2024. He gave a Newry address and a PPS number but when she rang the National Profile Centre was provided with a Dundalk address for the same man. The officer continued that she informed the appellant that his jeep was going to be seized. The court heard that a vehicle can be returned on payment of a penalty at the roadside."

"Mr Mehta asked the amount of the penalty and was told it would have to be calculated. When the officer did that and approached the vehicle once more, the man "drove off at speed" before she could tell him the cost of the fine. It was 8.40am. It transpired that Mr Mehta had a second different PPS number. There was one letter different in his surname and he had another date of birth."

"Bobby Mehta said that when the lady moved away to calculate the penalty, he was under the impression that the fine would be sent to him. There were people behind him. It was a mistake (to drive off). When stopped he had his driving licence, insurance and contract of employment which he showed. He continued that he came to Ireland from India 25 to 27 years ago. He applied for a new PPS number about 20 years ago."

Read at Irish Independent