A new garda operation is set to target drivers who avoid penalty points by failing to provide their licence in court.

More than 20,000 people failed to produce their licences between the start of last year and March - despite it being punishable by three months in prison or a €2,000 fine.

According to the Irish Independent, the Justice Minister has ordered a crackdown which will see officers intercept offenders in court houses.

72% of people convicted of penalty points offences between January 2014 and March of this year avoided having the points registered.

According to the data secured from responses to parliamentary questions by Independent TD Tommy Broughan the problem is most rampant in Limerick and Leitrim - where over 90 per cent of convicted motorists failed to produce their licence.

That's prompted this clampdown from the Justice Minister - who says there must be "no way out for anybody seeking to avoid getting penalty points".

The first wave will see seven courts initially targetted - before it's rolled out across the country - with Garda HQ directing its officers to work with court clerks and its officers and to target repeat offenders.