5,000 speeding detections

One hundred and sixty four motorists were also caught running red lights on the Glenshane Road during the same time period.

Justice Minister David Forde provided a breakdown of speeding and red light detections and the total revenue raised by the use of the Fixed Penalty scheme in response to a query by DUP MLA Gregory Campbell.

Mr Forde explained that fines were either paid directly to the Fixed Penalty Office or, in the case of non-payment, by way of a fine subsequently imposed through the courts.

Payments include those where the offence was detected either by mobile or fixed camera, and where a Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Notice (COFPN) had been issued.

"While the greater proportion of COFPN's are detections for excess speed, these notices also include detections of red light running by fixed cameras," he stated.

"A Fixed Penalty Notice is also issued for offences detected by hand held laser devices; this type of Fixed Penalty Notice is known as an 'endorseable' ticket.

"There are a number of other offences for which a fixed penalty is issued. The total sum received by the Fixed Penalty Office in 2009 was 3,182,345 of which 1,023,734 was in respect of COFPNs. It is not possible to differentiate these amounts further by the type of fixed penalty or by police district."

In G District 574 speeding tickets were issued by DCU Police whilst 4,421 were issued by Roads Policing. There was no record of any detections by fixed site cameras. In Londonderry 2,740 was retrieved through the courts where fixed penalties for excess speed had not been paid. In Limavady and Strabane the respective sums were 1170 and 1470.