Garda Checkpoints

DrumSteve · 18-04-2009 2:39pm #1

Two Points:

it is just me or has it been a long time since you seen a garda checkpoint? maybe im just skilled at unintentionally avoiding them or summit lol but it seems like ages since i seen one.have they been cutting back on the traffic corp?

Also i dont get why they announce in advance when they are putting out checkpoints or extra patrols? surely the whole excercise of thos things is to catch people out not just make them change their driving for three days or whatever.

Connrang · 18-04-2009 2:42pm

Funny that you mention them, came across one today in Athlone, well hidden in a gateway and two cars pulled in, one national other non-national.

The weather is good so they are enjoying it..

timmywex · 18-04-2009 2:44pm

Garda overtime has been cut masively, so naturally checkpoints will be cut back as well!

In the last 7 months ive come across one checkpoint, that was in dublin at christmas, and i got waved through. I am quite suprised at the lack of checkpoints on the roads these days!

tbh · 18-04-2009 3:04pm

DrumSteve wrote: »

Two Points:

it is just me or has it been a long time since you seen a garda checkpoint? maybe im just skilled at unintentionally avoiding them or summit lol but it seems like ages since i seen one.have they been cutting back on the traffic corp?

Also i dont get why they announce in advance when they are putting out checkpoints or extra patrols? surely the whole excercise of thos things is to catch people out not just make them change their driving for three days or whatever.

I've seen a fair amount of checkpoints recently, I had a new car and was waiting for the tax and insurance to come through and it seemed like I hit a checkpoint every day! never got stopped mind you

Also, the point of the exercise isn't really to catch the offenders, although that's a nice bonus, but rather to slow people down. That's what they say anyway. A couple of weeks ago I was coming out of the port tunnel doing 80 on the nose and there was a truck a playing cards distance from my ass who forced me to go up to a ton, because there were cars in the overtaking lane. I was wondering at the time, if I got done for speeding by a mobile van, would I have a case if I asked them - given that they say the intention is not to catch offenders, but to slow people down - why they put me at risk by not stopping the truck behind me? sorry, kinda off topic

Lord Nikon · 18-04-2009 5:28pm

If you dont see any checkpoints keep it to yourself. We don't need someone jinxing it and they all pop up over the weekend?

Random · 18-04-2009 5:42pm

Was thinking the same thing as you OP until I was coming home the last night. THere was 2 Garda in the middle of the road with the dirtiest high-vis and the weakest torches you've ever seen checking tax / insurance / whatever.

I've no problem with checkpoints but I really think they should use those blue cats eye type things on the road so drivers can see this obstruction on the road. The gardai are just asking to get knocked down.

I don't think this was "low profile" to surprise people or whatever though because there is no way to avoid it withou the gardai seeing even if you saw it in advance.

Tipsy Mac · 18-04-2009 6:27pm

Since the budget at the end of last year I have not seen one, before this I must have seen 5 in the space of 3 months.

lancerwall · 18-04-2009 6:31pm

funny enough i said the same thing to a friend the other day about not meeting a checkpoint in months, in the next 3 days i meet 4 checkpoint what are the odds:D

donvito99 · 18-04-2009 6:32pm

DrumSteve wrote: »

Also i dont get why they announce in advance when they are putting out checkpoints or extra patrols? surely the whole excercise of thos things is to catch people out not just make them change their driving for three days or whatever.

Its not a revenue generating activity, its to change peoples attitude about driving dangerously/speeding/driving without tax/insurance/NCT etc.
Thats why they give prior notice to motorists.

Alzar · 18-04-2009 8:52pm

Ran into my first one in months today. Going to Malahide from the M1.
6 Gardai & 3 cars...safety in numbers

Al.

Curran · 18-04-2009 8:58pm

Same as above - passed them at 12.30 this afternoon! Got waved throught, but they had 3 or 4 cars in the hard shoulder getting them to fill the bag!!

They were on the R127, half way between the M1 and the estuary roundabout

18-04-2009 9:04pm

tbh wrote: »

I was coming out of the port tunnel doing 80 on the nose and there was a truck a playing cards distance from my ass who forced me to go up to a ton, because there were cars in the overtaking lane. I was wondering at the time, if I got done for speeding by a mobile van, would I have a case if I asked them - given that they say the intention is not to catch offenders, but to slow people down - why they put me at risk by not stopping the truck behind me? sorry, kinda off topic

I don't have the foggiest notion why people would feel they have to go faster because some idiot is up your hole, tough sh*t for them, they're behind you, how can they "make" you go faster. Makes zero sense. Anyway, sorry that was off topic too!

Haven't seen a checkpoint in a very long time.

Heroditas · 18-04-2009 9:17pm

Came across one at the entrance to Glenn Easton Park in Leixlip this afternoon. Two Gardai and a patrol car.

Sarcasmo2005 · 18-04-2009 9:31pm

Alzar wrote: »

Ran into my first one in months today. Going to Malahide from the M1.
6 Gardai & 3 cars...safety in numbers

Al.

Passed the same one ealier today... lots of patrol cars and about half a dozen Garda bikes parked up. For some reason everyone had merged into the right-hand lane after coming around the roundbout.

First time I'd seen a check point with the animated 'matrix' signs positioned above a garda car.

Top Dog · 18-04-2009 10:02pm

DrumSteve wrote: »

Also i dont get why they announce in advance when they are putting out checkpoints or extra patrols? surely the whole excercise of thos things is to catch people out not just make them change their driving for three days or whatever.

Ever notice that when they announce the blitz' you NEVER see them? Its like they announce it, expect everyone to be scared to do anything stupid, and as a result they don't feel the need to actually act at all.

Take the traditional Christmas blitz - I drove nearly 2000 miles over the last Christmas season. Took in all of Munster, some of Leinster and touched on Connaught. Didn't see a single patrol car in that 2000 miles! :rolleyes:

Oh and last check-point I saw was just over 2 weeks ago.

congo_90 · 18-04-2009 10:15pm

Random wrote: »

Was thinking the same thing as you OP until I was coming home the last night. THere was 2 Garda in the middle of the road with the dirtiest high-vis and the weakest torches you've ever seen checking tax / insurance / whatever.

I've no problem with checkpoints but I really think they should use those blue cats eye type things on the road so drivers can see this obstruction on the road. The gardai are just asking to get knocked down.

I don't think this was "low profile" to surprise people or whatever though because there is no way to avoid it withou the gardai seeing even if you saw it in advance.

I've seen those blue cats eyes at several checkpoints. I haven't seen one since January and I drive on roads known for checkpoints.

Oddly enough in friends car last night a gard had pulled a motorist and as we were passing nearly clocked the garda who stepped out after his pen! in NO hi-vis or torch on a street with no lights in the rain! how thick can ye get!

mikemac · 18-04-2009 10:20pm

tbh wrote: »

A couple of weeks ago I was coming out of the port tunnel doing 80 on the nose and there was a truck a playing cards distance from my ass who forced me to go up to a ton, because there were cars in the overtaking lane. I was wondering at the time, if I got done for speeding by a mobile van, would I have a case if I asked them - given that they say the intention is not to catch offenders, but to slow people down - why they put me at risk by not stopping the truck behind me? sorry, kinda off topic

Nobody forced you to speed up.
In that situation you could have gently started to slow down, maybe to 60.

Not intended as a high horse comment, been in that situation on a bike where you're even more vulnerable but speeding up isn't a solution, the asshole behind you will speed up too and still stay right behind you

sickpuppy32 · 18-04-2009 10:22pm

garda checkpoint this mornign and afternoon aon cruisrath road in blanchardstown, shooting fish in barrell

NewApproach · 18-04-2009 11:54pm

Haven't came across one for ages, or if I have it was at least insignificant as I don't rmemeber it!

I will probably come across 2 now this week!

Fishtits · 18-04-2009 11:54pm

Live in big town, commute to business in small town every day.

Rarely see presence in Big Town, one CP in last four years.

On average, 1 CP every three weeks in small town, visible Garda foot patrol on 3/5 days.

Recent meeting in small town, complaints that Gardai are not visible...

Some folks want a Copper on the street corner 24/7 regardless of risk.

Had a chat with the small town SGT, don't envy him, talk about a juggling act :eek:

Fiona500 · 19-04-2009 12:31am

There has been loads of them 'round Galway lately.

Fiona500 · 19-04-2009 12:33am

mikemac wrote: »

Nobody forced you to speed up.
In that situation you could have gently started to slow down, maybe to 60.

Not intended as a high horse comment, been in that situation on a bike where you're even more vulnerable but speeding up isn't a solution, the asshole behind you will speed up too and still stay right behind you

I love slowing down when people tail gate. It's fun to piss them off, just make sure the doors are locked!

patrickc · 19-04-2009 1:39am

ive met 3 in the last few weeks, one on the n80 outside portlaoise, and 2 in dublin city

seanyfitz07 · 19-04-2009 6:00pm

Yea, have been thinking the exact same thing, tax has been out for the last 2 months! driving with the indicator permantley on left:D

68coupe · 19-04-2009 7:23pm

The reason you haven't seen any checkpoints in the last 6months or more, is simply because the cops do not like to get wet!! Think about it. The weather, up until the last month or so, has been absolutley disgusting. Rain, rain, wind, hail, rain. I had driven for months and months on a very busy main road, and NEVER come across a checkpoint. The weather picks up, and hey presto, BANG, they're out in force. And also since the budget, I've heard rumours, that the police are under "secret" orders to hit the dual carriageways and motorways etc bigtime, bag the easy kills for speeding, and in doing so, cause a huge surge in financial gains for our incredibly inept and broke government in the form of fines.

In a slightly off topic statement, I myself was caught for "speeding" on a dual-carriageway recently. Now before I go on, I'm NOT a speed nut in any way, I hate people speeding on roads that are not safe or designed to handle such speeds. People who have no consideration for others on narrow country and link roads also.
I was pulled doing 70mph. Cop told me it was a 100kph limit and if I wanted to see the camera. He was almost drooling as he took my licence for my details. Now, 70 on a dual carriageway is nothing in my opinion, I was being overtaken as it was. So, to prove my point, I made the return journey later that day, and STUCK to 100kph. Its not a long stretch of road.
Guess how many vehicles overtook me, considering I was doing the "proper" speed limit...???.....35!!!!!! 33 cars and 2 articulated trucks overtook me. Most of them, not just passing by, but flat out. Yet I, was pulled for speeding. Our cops, government, are a bunch of wa****s.
If I went out and shot someone the cops would run...but break the "speed" limit on a stretch of road that an armless blind man wouldn't crash on, and you get nailed.........its a JOKE..........
I once saw a lad from a distance get beaten to a pulp by a thug using a motorcycle helmet, AS a squad car drove by only 2meters away. They kept going, and circled back when the thug was gone, and the poor fella was unconcious on the ground!!! .....they probably came back to check the tax on the bike...............muppets

unkel · 19-04-2009 9:42pm

68coupe wrote: »

Our cops are a bunch of wa****s

All of them? :rolleyes:

Seth Brundle · 19-04-2009 9:49pm

68coupe wrote: »

The reason you haven't seen any checkpoints in the last 6months or more, is simply because the cops do not like to get wet!! Think about it. The weather, up until the last month or so, has been absolutley disgusting. Rain, rain, wind, hail, rain. I had driven for months and months on a very busy main road, and NEVER come across a checkpoint. The weather picks up, and hey presto, BANG, they're out in force. And also since the budget, I've heard rumours, that the police are under "secret" orders to hit the dual carriageways and motorways etc bigtime, bag the easy kills for speeding, and in doing so, cause a huge surge in financial gains for our incredibly inept and broke government in the form of fines.

In a slightly off topic statement, I myself was caught for "speeding" on a dual-carriageway recently. Now before I go on, I'm NOT a speed nut in any way, I hate people speeding on roads that are not safe or designed to handle such speeds. People who have no consideration for others on narrow country and link roads also.
I was pulled doing 70mph. Cop told me it was a 100kph limit and if I wanted to see the camera. He was almost drooling as he took my licence for my details. Now, 70 on a dual carriageway is nothing in my opinion, I was being overtaken as it was. So, to prove my point, I made the return journey later that day, and STUCK to 100kph. Its not a long stretch of road.
Guess how many vehicles overtook me, considering I was doing the "proper" speed limit...???.....35!!!!!! 33 cars and 2 articulated trucks overtook me. Most of them, not just passing by, but flat out. Yet I, was pulled for speeding. Our cops, government, are a bunch of wa****s.
If I went out and shot someone the cops would run...but break the "speed" limit on a stretch of road that an armless blind man wouldn't crash on, and you get nailed.........its a JOKE..........
I once saw a lad from a distance get beaten to a pulp by a thug using a motorcycle helmet, AS a squad car drove by only 2meters away. They kept going, and circled back when the thug was gone, and the poor fella was unconcious on the ground!!! .....they probably came back to check the tax on the bike...............muppets

big chip on your shoulder there I sense. Either that or you are a child posting in a grown ups forum!

bladebrew · 19-04-2009 9:51pm

68coupe wrote: »

Our cops, government, are a bunch of wa****s.

you admit to speeding,the gardai are doing their job to enforce speed limits,what if your house was broken into?? would you call them w*nkers when you rang them??

shelly.m · 19-04-2009 9:51pm

i have come across four checkpoints in the last three weeks in east cork

68coupe · 19-04-2009 10:09pm

unkel wrote: »

All of them? :rolleyes:

granted, perhaps I'm guilty of generalising, but I hope you can appreciate the massive frustration, and the apparent inconcistencies in the traffic corp especially. One of my best mates is in the police. All I'm asking for is common sense and decency to prevail. Bust the REAL criminals.

Seth Brundle · 19-04-2009 10:13pm

68coupe wrote: »

granted, perhaps I'm guilty of generalising, but I hope you can appreciate the massive frustration, and the apparent inconcistencies in the traffic corp especially. One of my best mates is in the police. All I'm asking for is common sense and decency to prevail. Bust the REAL criminals.

Yeah right! Will you show him your rant?

68coupe · 19-04-2009 10:25pm

bladebrew wrote: »

68coupe wrote: »

Our cops, government, are a bunch of wa****s.

you admit to speeding,the gardai are doing their job to enforce speed limits,what if your house was broken into?? would you call them w*nkers when you rang them??

For your info, I once rented overhead a shop in Limerick City. One night I witnessed a break-in going on. It was idioitic of the criminals really as there was a police station 200metres down the road. I rang the cops, waited to watch them get caught red-handed, thinking I'd done my good deed and it took 25minutes for them to get there........you tell me??

Listen, I've no personal problem with the police. I KNOW they are "just doing their job", I just think this country's biggest problem is that we all just sit there and take what's thrown at us. The government clean us, the bankers slaughter us, yet we tut, and at worst moan. Anywhere else in the world, the level of ineptitude would not be tolerated.

If you've never done 70 on the dual carriageway, then I truly apologise.

Anyway, arguing online is completely pointless. I just wanted to have my rant. If some of you took it to heart then...

Seth Brundle · 19-04-2009 10:29pm

Speaking for myself, I didn't take it to heart - I was able to size you up straight away.

68coupe · 19-04-2009 10:32pm

kbannon wrote: »

Yeah right! Will you show him your rant?

I rang him 5minutes after it happened........gave him a right ear-bashing too. We had a laugh about it actually. My mates will always be my mates. Jeez, I've learned my lesson here. I thought it would've been fairly clear that I didn't mean e-v-e-r-y single member of the police... but I'll be sure not to make the same mistake again.

Random · 20-04-2009 12:32am

Another one tonight on the way home .. seemed to be the usual tax / insurance lark again. Again they weren't visible enough on the road IMO, but it's good to see them out.

dazzerb · 20-04-2009 12:43am

it has always interested me as to what legal standing the guards are on when the stop mostly innocent people at check points. I gotta believe that some legislation was passed as some stage allowing them to this. In a free democratic country surly once can freely move from place to place without being stopped and checked in the off chance that you are doing something illegal.

I am not complaining about the situation and I am sure the guards are on good legal foot holding when they stop people this way otherwise cases would be thrown out of court.

...or maybe we do not live in a free country!...

Random · 20-04-2009 12:46am

I don't believe you have to answer questions such as "where are you from?" or "where are you going?" but the general concensus seems to be that the garda couldn't care less and is just making conversation to judge if you're drunk / under influence of drugs etc.

I don't know where this whole "free country" thing comes from. I would disagree with being stopped at a checkpoint and being given the nth degree for 20 mins because the gardai decide they want to, but if they're doing their job and they're only a minute or two then I don't mind.

+ edit
I should add I don't know what the actual wording of the law is in relation to checkpoints etc.

TheNog · 20-04-2009 1:08am

dazzerb wrote: »

it has always interested me as to what legal standing the guards are on when the stop mostly innocent people at check points. I gotta believe that some legislation was passed as some stage allowing them to this. In a free democratic country surly once can freely move from place to place without being stopped and checked in the off chance that you are doing something illegal.

I am not complaining about the situation and I am sure the guards are on good legal foot holding when they stop people this way otherwise cases would be thrown out of court.

...or maybe we do not live in a free country!...

Obligation to stop. 109.—(1) A person driving a vehicle in a public place shall stop the vehicle on being so required by a member of the Garda Síochána.

[GA] (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

Section 109 RTA 1961

TheNog · 20-04-2009 1:21am

68coupe wrote: »

The reason you haven't seen any checkpoints in the last 6months or more, is simply because the cops do not like to get wet!! Think about it. The weather, up until the last month or so, has been absolutley disgusting. Rain, rain, wind, hail, rain. I had driven for months and months on a very busy main road, and NEVER come across a checkpoint. The weather picks up, and hey presto, BANG, they're out in force. And also since the budget,

As you said in the last 6 months we have had sleet, snow, rain etc etc... perfect weather conditions for collisions so why would I stand out in the middle of the road to stop traffic when I could be hit by one or say another vehicle rear-ending another.

this is common sense in use

I've heard rumours, that the police are under "secret" orders to hit the dual carriageways and motorways etc bigtime, bag the easy kills for speeding, and in doing so, cause a huge surge in financial gains for our incredibly inept and broke government in the form of fines.

"secret orders".....This made me laugh so much. Thanks

68coupe wrote: »

granted, perhaps I'm guilty of generalising, but I hope you can appreciate the massive frustration, and the apparent inconcistencies in the traffic corp especially. One of my best mates is in the police. All I'm asking for is common sense and decency to prevail. Bust the REAL criminals.

I have only been told this once before in my 2yrs. I dont which frightened him more my evil grin or cos he realised I am 6ft 1 and look like I could tear off his driver door with my teeth (and no Im not ugly, well not very ugly

)

But here is the reason given by some coppers: "I would be catching real criminals if the likes of you werent driving like lunatics and people getting killed".

68coupe wrote: »

For your info, I once rented overhead a shop in Limerick City. One night I witnessed a break-in going on. It was idioitic of the criminals really as there was a police station 200metres down the road. I rang the cops, waited to watch them get caught red-handed, thinking I'd done my good deed and it took 25minutes for them to get there........you tell me??

Biggest misconception I have ever heard. Just because the station is 200metres away does not mean it is full of gardai. Crime rarely happens in Garda Stations so the Gardai are out on patrol where crime does happen, sometimes many miles away from the station.

If a few gardai did come running out of the station, then you would have something to moan about.

dazzerb · 20-04-2009 1:26am

thanks TheNog

That answers my question and I guess the guards are doing what this 1961 law allows them to do. I find this stuff very intersting! Next thing that would be cool to figure out is what prompted this law way back then (something always does).

netwhizkid · 20-04-2009 2:20am

68coupe wrote: »

Yet I, was pulled for speeding. Our cops, government, are a bunch of wa****s.
If I went out and shot someone the cops would run...but break the "speed" limit on a stretch of road that an armless blind man wouldn't crash on, and you get nailed.........its a JOKE..........
I once saw a lad from a distance get beaten to a pulp by a thug using a motorcycle helmet, AS a squad car drove by only 2meters away. They kept going, and circled back when the thug was gone, and the poor fella was unconcious on the ground!!! .....they probably came back to check the tax on the bike...............muppets

Okay yes the government are pretty much brainless but I take issue with everything else you have said. I also occasionally speed doing say 70MPH in a 100Kmh like how you were caught and also doing 80 to 90mph while on the Motorway or HSDC like the Ballincollig Bybass where the speedlimits are 75Mph or 120km/h for ye Europeans. I know I am wrong when doing it but I only speed when I deem it safe to do so on these bullet straight roads. I accept that eventually I will get caught and accept it, and fair play to the gardai when they do eventually laser me.

However our Gardai are understaffed and I for one have the highest respect and admiration for what they do especially as I was recently involved in a minor road tip with a convoy of a certain Ethnic Minority from within Ireland who are often stereotyped as Hiace van drivers.

My car got scratched up as the driver of the first CamperVan decided to make me earn it ie. plough into the ditch out of his way but I held my ground and left him hit my car instead of I hitting the ditch as it was a narrow road. Anyway he struck me and I stopped him and challenged him and upon no admittance of liability from him called the Gardai to the scene on the accident.

Unfortunately for me 2 more campers and one car arrived and there was around 25 or 30 people at the scene before I could bat an eyelid. I had a mate with me and it was a very intimidating place to be as I waited for the Gardai to arrive and we feared physical confrontation but we are both well built and I phoned a few friends to come incase anything kicked off and after around 30mins the Gardai came

The gardai came and told the guy who hit me to cool it and took both our details and it turned out he had no papers on the screen and was fuming as he wanted to dodge the accident but my other mate who lived near the scene of the accident blocked to road with his tractor to prevent them escaping. I and two others were confronted with an angry mob and two unarmed Gardai came and had to deal with it and I for one admire their courage and determination, so whoever disses the Irish police should think they are not armed and they too have familys to think of and are only doing a job.

I think if a person only watched UK Streetcrime or the likes they would appreciate the hard job these guys have.

x in the city · 20-04-2009 2:28am

Connrang wrote: »

Funny that you mention them, came across one today in Athlone, well hidden in a gateway and two cars pulled in, one national other non-national.

The weather is good so they are enjoying it..

catching people .25 km/hr over the limit again i suppose

meh, they should do something more resourceful

Drummerboy08 · 20-04-2009 9:15am

I stumbled across a checkpoint last night just before the start of the N11 dual carraigeway on the Wexford side.

I have seen checkpoints here before, but what surprised me last night was the fact there were two Garda cars - and 6 Gardai. I was even more surprised to see the Garda wave through the car in front, me and the car behind without checking and of the particulars, or even speaking to me.

Just to point out, not Garda-bashing here, but im just curious to know what the purpose of the checkpoint was. Looking for someone in particular perhaps?

Seth Brundle · 20-04-2009 9:39am

x in the city wrote: »

catching people .25 km/hr over the limit again i suppose

meh, they should do something more resourceful

Can you provide evidence that anyone has been caught driving this amount over the speed limit?

L1011 · 20-04-2009 10:56am

Last I saw was on the way to the last boards Motors Meet last month actually.

Beta Ray Bill · 20-04-2009 11:11am

There does seem to be VERY Few check points around these days.

In coolock there does be alot of them but only after there has been a shooting.

I am always stopped and questioned at check points.
same stupid questions:

"Is this your vehicle?"
"Yes Garda"

"And where are you going?"
"Going home Garda"

"Ok so!"

???

What answers are the expecting?

"Is this your vehicle?"
"No Garda, I'm just after steeling it"

"And where are you going?"
"there's 10 grands worth of Coke in the back that I have to drop down to me dealer"

maybe they are just trying to see if im drunk I suppose?

But they can breath test anyone they want now right?

Drummerboy08 · 20-04-2009 11:33am

grahambo wrote: »

There does seem to be VERY Few check points around these days.

In coolock there does be alot of them but only after there has been a shooting.

I am always stopped and questioned at check points.
same stupid questions:

"Is this your vehicle?"
"Yes Garda"

"And where are you going?"
"Going home Garda"

"Ok so!"

???

What answers are the expecting?

"Is this your vehicle?"
"No Garda, I'm just after steeling it"

"And where are you going?"
"there's 10 grands worth of Coke in the back that I have to drop down to me dealer"

maybe they are just trying to see if im drunk I suppose?

But they can breath test anyone they want now right?

Yeah, i think they can breathalyse anyone, but the reason for the questions like that is to separate the obviously quite sober drivers from the nervous, maybe had one or two drivers.

Without questions like this to indicate to the Garda whether or not you may be over the limit, they would have to breathalyse every driver that comes across the checkpoint! There'd be tailbacks for miles!

You'd be surprised how the simple little questions can catch someone out. Even i've been caught short, especially when the Garda fired the questions at me - Is it your car - yes, Where are you going - uh em, um, home, have you had any drink tonight - uh, em, no Garda.

The little hesitations are sometimes a giveaway of someone being nervous at a checkpoint. Your either nervous because you have a reason to be, or just because your generally spooked by Gardai.

TheNog · 20-04-2009 11:33am

dazzerb wrote: »

That answers my question and I guess the guards are doing what this 1961 law allows them to do. I find this stuff very intersting! Next thing that would be cool to figure out is what prompted this law way back then (something always does).

Nothing that I am aware of, maybe something from the Troubles up north???

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Just to point out, not Garda-bashing here, but im just curious to know what the purpose of the checkpoint was. Looking for someone in particular perhaps?

Maybe. With most people you can just look at them and they seem ok so you can wave them on, same with local people who you have met on occasion and know are okay.

grahambo wrote: »

There does seem to be VERY Few check points around these days.

In coolock there does be alot of them but only after there has been a shooting.

I am always stopped and questioned at check points.
same stupid questions:

"Is this your vehicle?"
"Yes Garda"

"And where are you going?"
"Going home Garda"

"Ok so!"

???

What answers are the expecting?

"Is this your vehicle?"
"No Garda, I'm just after steeling it"

"And where are you going?"
"there's 10 grands worth of Coke in the back that I have to drop down to me dealer"

maybe they are just trying to see if im drunk I suppose?

But they can breath test anyone they want now right?

Good thing we dont ask you to spell as well then

We can only breathilyse a driver at the roadside on two occasions only

1. If the garda believes alcohol may have been consumed but cant get any smell or see the usual signs of being drunk - basically I could stop you after seeing you swerving on the road and your eyes are bloodshot but there is no smell and you are not talking much to me.

2. At a MAT checkpoint can only be set up on authorisation from an Inspector or higher. This instruction sets out location and times of a checkpoint and must be strictly followed.

20-04-2009 12:06pm

TheNog wrote: »

Good thing we dont ask you to spell as well then

We can only breathilyse a driver at the roadside on two occasions only

Oh the irony

TheNog · 20-04-2009 12:10pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh the irony

/puts up hands

never could spell that word

20-04-2009 12:14pm

TheNog wrote: »

/puts up hands

never could spell that word

can you spell google??!!*

*that's how I found out the real spelling ha!

Garda Checkpoints

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