Councillors call for trailer amnesty

The issue was discussed at the October County Council meeting.

The Government has been called on to introduce an amnesty for people driving without a trailer licence.

Councillor Winston Bennett (FG) made the call at the recent Cavan County Council meeting, where he highlighted issues with ‘BE’ licences.

Under law, anyone towing a trailer must have received a ‘BE’ qualification and have the appropriate licence.

Anyone driving a car must have a ‘B’ category licence.

However, Cllr Bennett told the meeting that many people have been driving and towing trailers for decades on a ‘B’ licence but they’re now running into trouble.

He said many people, particularly farmers, did not know they were not qualified to pull a trailer. He claimed they were forced to pay up to €1,000 for lessons, despite some “driving trailers since they were 13”.

His party colleague Cllr Peter McVitty described the situation as a “money grabbing exercise”, with Cllr Seán Smith (FF) supporting the motion by saying driving amnesties had been given before.

He said bringing in the change would free up driving testers as “anyone driving up to 20 years is well capable”.