In most cases where evaders are detected and do not quickly purchase a licence, An Post
commences prosecution proceedings. Analysis of a sample of prosecution cases in 2002 showed
that about half of the summonses were returned unserved. No further action was taken in these
cases.
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Details of prosecution activity are not recorded on the database, even though there is a facility to enter such data. This hampers enforcement activity as the database cannot produce lists of individuals who have not purchased a licence and have not been successfully prosecuted or conversely, individuals who have been prosecuted but have still not purchased a licence.
I've seen the notification requirement mentioned before but the last few times that I bought TVs I don't remember being asked for name/address details.Television dealers in Ireland are required by law to notify An Post of each transaction for the sale or rental of a television, and to provide full details of the purchaser or renter. However, enforcement of this process was discontinued because An Post felt that the data being provided was unreliable or unusable.
Up to the middle of 2002, An Post operated a policy of limiting the number of summonses
applications for administrative and cost reasons. The limit for the Dublin region was 500
summons applications per month. As a result of this policy, summonses were not sought in 32%
of cases listed for prosecution in February 2002, even though no licence was purchased. This
policy significantly reduced the summons application rate, and the likelihood of an evader being
prosecuted.