+34
Paddywagon, a tour operator, has been fined €5,700 for operating without a license, despite repeated offenses.
Paddywagon Tour Operator Fine d €5,700 for Unlicensed Service Despite Repeated Offense, Continues to Operate Unimpeded. Eamon, the driver of the 55-seater bus for Paddywagon's tours, navigated the narrow country lanes towards Kinvara in Co. Galway, the second stop on the 12-hour Cliffs of Moher day trip from Dublin.
The tour, which took place just days after the tour operator was fined €5,700 by the National Transport Authority, attracted a near-sold-out crowd of American tourists, who were eager to experience the scenic beauty of Ireland. Despite the hefty fine, Paddywagon's profits continue to soar, with the company recording €771,519 in profits for the previous financial year.
The tour operator was caught operating without a license, an offense under Section 6 of the National Transport Authority's rules, and was subsequently convicted in Ennis District Court. When asked for comment on the case, a spokeswoman for Paddywagon stated that the company had accepted the fine, but emphasized that they held valid licenses for all other tours they were operating.
The Paddywagon Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher route was first issued with a license in 2008 and is valid until October 2028. For some American passengers on the trip, it was a return to familiar territory, with Sydney Breakfield, a teacher from Colorado, having previously visited Ireland two years ago. Breakfield booked the day tour from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher using Paddywagon's service previously, but this year's trip followed a completely different route.
She expressed a desire to drive herself around Ireland in the future, rather than taking a bus tour. In contrast, Mark Bertermann, a retired Lutheran minister from Washington state, was very satisfied with his Paddywagon experience, citing the bus as clean and comfortable, with good explanations by the driver. The tour operator's ability to continue operating unimpeded despite the fine has raised questions about the effectiveness of the National Transport Authority's regulations
Paddywagon Tour Operator Unlicensed Service Fine National Transport Authority