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Garda at checkpoint

2»

Comments

  • #52
    overdriver
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭overdriver


    Ta Spit. Nice as always to get correct info from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
    What about the situation where a car has not yet been taxed in the state, as opposed to the tax being expired?


  • #53
    Mr.Diagnostic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 937 ✭✭✭Mr.Diagnostic


    Nuttzy wrote:
    Is that definite? I always thought it was 3months, then other folk said 1month and now i hear 2months. Why did they change it, :

    I know someone who tows siezed cars away for the Guards. He told me recently that it had changed to 2 months.


    In general I think that most Guards behave in a professional manner but there will always be a few, human nature I guess. They do a job that I would not want to do.
    I had an experience like this a few years ago. In my case the Guard seemed to know the law but for some reason he decieded to be unreasonable.
    He stopped me at 8AM on the 1st of the month and asked why both my insurance and tax were out of date, thats 8 hours out of date! I had my cheque book with the stub showing the payment to renew the insurance, the recepit from the broker and the tax renewal form with the cheque in the envelope to go to the tax office that day.
    The Guard (who looked about 12 yrs old) kept asking where was my insurance. No matter what way I answered he kept saying this car is not insured, show me the insurance, over and over!
    So the upshot was he made me late, delayed me for about 15 mins and I had to go to the station to produce later.
    I wonder how many people drove past the checkpoint that day who were not legal.


  • #54
    overdriver
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭overdriver


    I was stopped by a Garda in Wicklow who demanded I produce my insurance, but refused to look at the cert then and there, as I had it in the car.

    Presumably so it would be on the computer, but his attitude stank. He could have just told me that was why he wouldn't look at it.


  • #55
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,507 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    overdriver wrote:
    I was stopped by a Garda in Wicklow who demanded I produce my insurance, but refused to look at the cert then and there, as I had it in the car.
    That can't be appropriate? I always carry licence and insurance cert, and have had gardai look at them after they started to require me to produce them within ten days etc.

    If a garda refused to inspect my documents on the spot when I had proffered them, I would certainly ask why.
    Of course, that would make you a troublemaker in their squinty eyes.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #56
    overdriver
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭overdriver


    The exact words: " No, I'm NOT looking at that now - I've told you to produce them, produce them".


    He was an asshole, that guy.


  • #57
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    That was my point earlier. It's the aggressive, confrontational attitude of many of these cops - especially when they're caught in the wrong themselves - that's one of their biggest problems. These clowns seem to think that a badge somehow places them above the public, but they forget who's paying their wages!

    One of these muppets was tailgating me (in presumably his own car on his way home out west) one Saturday afternoon to where I couldn't see his bonnet in the rearview mirror. I was in the overtaking lane in heaving but flowing traffic doing about 70/80 in an 80 zone passing heavy but slower moving traffic in the inside lane.

    After watching him for about 2 minutes I slowed smoothly but right down to about 40, all the while watching this clown in the mirror. This got me a flash of the headlights and at the next lights, out he hops and produces a badge.

    He then tries to give out to me for "hogging" the fast lane (fast lane?), so I replies that firstly I'm driving at the limit and overtaking slower traffic so I've every right to be there, and ask him what HE was doing tailgating me, and asked if he realised this is illegal?

    Clearly this took the muppet aback as he starts to walk off and muttered something about if he was on duty I'd be getting points and should go read the rules of the road, to which I reply that he should go check up the section about leaving a gap between himself and the car in front, roll up the window and drive on.

    And then they wonder why many people have such a low opinion of them! :rolleyes:


  • #58
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,011 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    overdriver - you were very patient. I wouldn't have put up with that crap from a stupid Garda. I would have requested him to go ahead and prosecute me and see what part of the Statute Book he based it on.

    I used to have a 1989 car with the plain white plates. Regularly at checkpoints I was told that they were illegal as they didn't have the Euro logo, county label etc. I used to quote the relevant part of the SI to whatever ignoramus was wasting my time.

    Last Christmas I was stopped by a motorcycle cop while shooting down the inbound bus lane in Drumcondra. I explained that it is open between 10 and 12 but he asks "Why then, are all these other drivers queued up in the right hand lane?". I say "maybe the can't read".

    He strolls back to read the sign while many of the muppets in the queue are sounding their horns thinking I've been caught. PC plod comes back and just waves me on - no apology or any chance for anyone to see his big red face inside the helmet.

    And he was a traffic cop. :rolleyes: and the other muppets continued to queue on the right oblivious to the rule about staying to the left! :rolleyes:


  • #59
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    I think we've established at this stage that a lot of the cops have no more clue about the laws of the road (or their jobs in general) than most citizens.

    Of course in their defence, a lot of the laws contradict themselves, are vague, and ultimately come down to the judgement of the cop you get on the scene. And it's not just the motoring regulations - for example, take a look at the debate raging on AH about the 17 year old girl and the abortion laws.

    What is it about Ireland and the Irish that we're incapable of governing ourselves and legislating appropriately without it all hinging on the individual opinion of who you get on the day? :mad:


  • #60
    UrbanFox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 472 ✭✭UrbanFox


    Maybe we should subcontract traffic policing in Ireland to one of the UK traffic police outfits on a trial basis !

    Those guys are seriously not funny when it comes to enforcement and they can be highly professionally intimidating.........:)

    This would free up more of our brave boys and girls to protect McDowell's house for the next and last three weeks of his tenure as a Minister.....


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  • #61
    LostinBlanch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭LostinBlanch


    zuutroy wrote:
    Any car over 30. OP, strictly speaking he could've done you for no tax. If you dont have a valid tax disk, the car can't be on a public road, with no exceptions.

    Not strictly true. Years ago my father bought a car in a private sale from car for sale ad in the herald. It belonged to the Swiss ambassador and the tax office wouldn't tax it as it still had diplomatic immunity!

    I'm sure that kind of thing still applies! Don't know though.


  • #62
    rowanh
    Registered Users Posts: 703 ✭✭✭rowanh


    While i would not generally have a very high opinion of the gards and i think they do need to be trained a lot more if not selected somewhat better i have never had any troubles with them while driving. Of all the time i have been stopped at a checkpoint or even the couple times i have been randomley pulled over they have always been fairly polite and have known the law(at least as well as i do). Once even i had just come back here from living in wales and my car was eight something like 14 months out of tax, i managed to start driving car without relising this and was shocked when the gard told me it was that out of date. I simply explained i had been living out of hte country and had no idea it was and they told me to just bring proof i had been living out of the country to a garda station and i could get the time taken off so i did not have to pay the back tax. Was very easy.

    I have just bought a subaru impreza though and the vrt has only just been paid by the guy who brought it in and it has no disks on it at all. I do have insurance but i managed to sell my old car and leave the insurance disk in it. Im fairly freaked out about getting stopped as i probably cant produce the insuarnace disk for a week, i only just for the form to replace it and the tax probably not even for a month. I thought there was some amount of time you had to get a tax disk but from the sound of what people are saying here you dont at all. Seems stupid if you have to pay for tax for a time you cant legally drive it. At the same time im hoping if i get stopped i can talk my way out of it.


  • #63
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,011 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    LostinBlanch wrote:
    Not strictly true. Years ago my father bought a car in a private sale from car for sale ad in the herald. It belonged to the Swiss ambassador and the tax office wouldn't tax it as it still had diplomatic immunity!
    Even if the vehicle is tax exempt, it is still required to have a tax disc displayed (with €0.00). I think that's what zuutroy may mean. Next time you pass a Garda car, have a look.


  • #64
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    I think we've established at this stage that a lot of the cops have no more clue about the laws of the road (or their jobs in general) than most citizens.

    Of course in their defence, a lot of the laws contradict themselves, are vague, and ultimately come down to the judgement of the cop you get on the scene. And it's not just the motoring regulations - for example, take a look at the debate raging on AH about the 17 year old girl and the abortion laws.

    What is it about Ireland and the Irish that we're incapable of governing ourselves and legislating appropriately without it all hinging on the individual opinion of who you get on the day? :mad:
    Cars/motoring/the Road Traffic Acts/etc are only in the ha'penny place, come on over to the Shooting forum for many fine examples of creative interpretation/invention of the law by the very people meant to be enforcing it.


  • #65
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    rowanh wrote:
    While i would not generally have a very high opinion of the gards and i think they do need to be trained a lot more if not selected somewhat better i have never had any troubles with them while driving. Of all the time i have been stopped at a checkpoint or even the couple times i have been randomley pulled over they have always been fairly polite and have known the law(at least as well as i do). Once even i had just come back here from living in wales and my car was eight something like 14 months out of tax, i managed to start driving car without relising this and was shocked when the gard told me it was that out of date. I simply explained i had been living out of hte country and had no idea it was and they told me to just bring proof i had been living out of the country to a garda station and i could get the time taken off so i did not have to pay the back tax. Was very easy.

    I have just bought a subaru impreza though and the vrt has only just been paid by the guy who brought it in and it has no disks on it at all. I do have insurance but i managed to sell my old car and leave the insurance disk in it. Im fairly freaked out about getting stopped as i probably cant produce the insuarnace disk for a week, i only just for the form to replace it and the tax probably not even for a month. I thought there was some amount of time you had to get a tax disk but from the sound of what people are saying here you dont at all. Seems stupid if you have to pay for tax for a time you cant legally drive it. At the same time im hoping if i get stopped i can talk my way out of it.
    Get your insurance co to fax you over a letter saying you're covered.. I've done it before without any hassle.
    If you paid for the tax already then keep the receipt or printout from the website that confirms the transaction.

    Keep both in the car and you'll be grand


  • #66
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    Surely of you produce your documents at the roadside they can't then make you produce again at the station?


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  • #67
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Bond-007 wrote:
    Surely of you produce your documents at the roadside they can't then make you produce again at the station?
    They can do what they like really.. that's the whole problem.

    Can't wait for this Ombudsman to start cleaning up our Keystone Cops brigade myself.


  • #68
    CLADA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 651 ✭✭✭CLADA


    Bond-007 wrote:
    Surely of you produce your documents at the roadside they can't then make you produce again at the station?

    If you produce documents at the roadside you have complied with the demand and are not compelled to produce them again at the station.

    Even if they could do what they like kaiser 2000, why would they bother?


  • #69
    Altreab
    Registered Users Posts: 667 ✭✭✭Altreab


    LostinBlanch wrote:
    Not strictly true. Years ago my father bought a car in a private sale from car for sale ad in the herald. It belonged to the Swiss ambassador and the tax office wouldn't tax it as it still had diplomatic immunity!

    I'm sure that kind of thing still applies! Don't know though.

    :D Would Diplomatic imunity make fines and points go away? :)


  • #70
    LostinBlanch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭LostinBlanch


    Wishbone Ash wrote:
    Even if the vehicle is tax exempt, it is still required to have a tax disc displayed (with €0.00). I think that's what zuutroy may mean. Next time you pass a Garda car, have a look.

    Fair enough, I didn't know that. It's a moot point as he hasn't had the car for years.
    Altreab wrote:
    Would Diplomatic imunity make fines and points go away?

    I suppose so, and no clamping too!


  • #71
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    CLADA wrote:
    Even if they could do what they like kaiser 2000, why would they bother?
    For the same reason that a lot of them deal with the public in such an arrogant manner - it's an ego thing. Too many of them think they're somehow above the general public.


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  • #72
    MarkN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,227 ✭✭✭MarkN


    There's one thing worse than an Irish guard on a power trip...

    An Irish guard on a power trip who doesn't understand the rules he is trying to police!!!!!

    I had to explain to a guard who pulled me over on the N32 for "driving in the bus lane" what after 7pm meant on a non 24 hour bus lane. :rolleyes:

    Now I'm sure it's .01% of the guards in Ireland that are like this but if you can't rely on them to know the rules of the road then who can you!

    And just to anyone saying a car not taxed should not be on the road, how many brand new cars hit the roads everyday? HOW can these people physically get a tax disc? You have to send off whether it's the internet or post and the BLOODY TAX OFFICES CLOSE AT 3PM MOST DAYS!!!!

    Until there is some way of getting tax quicker then I really think the law should be changed.


  • #73
    Altreab
    Registered Users Posts: 667 ✭✭✭Altreab


    Shiva wrote:
    You get some leeway with a newly purchased car though, no ?

    You can't tax a newly purchased car without the registration cert in your name, so how can you tax it ?

    There is a 30 Day Grace period for motor tax. Tax disk expires on May 31st ...you have until end of June to get a new one ...but you Do have to pay your tax from 1st June not te date your renewing it. For a new car its a month as well. Afterall you cant tax it without the documentation.
    To the person that mentioned about Tax offices closing at 3pm its a bitch i agree and should be oped to 5 Pm..... however if you can use the online service it IS good ....last few times i and other family members have used it we got our tax certs within 3-4 working days.


  • #74
    MarkN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,227 ✭✭✭MarkN


    I'm fairly certain it's 21 days.


  • #75
    green-blood
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 610 ✭✭✭green-blood


    well this is interesting because twice a day now I pass Mr Barry Andrews (FF) prospective new TD's brand new 07 renault van, tax applied for on March 31st appraently..... still no disk th ough :-)

    it should be noted that there is no act under which a garda can take any action against you for not having an NCT. Not having an NCT is not an offence, there is no fine, no points, no sanction.

    now there is nothing stopping him/her for thouroughly checking your vehicle for roadworthiness, but there is no "no nct" box for them to tick


  • #76
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    There have been a number of sucessful prosecutions for no nct in recent times. My own brother got fined €250 at Baltinglass District Court for not having a nct.


  • #77
    BarryM3
    Registered Users Posts: 230 ✭✭BarryM3


    WOW - A Garda that doesn't know what he's talking about, thats unusual...Not!!

    I driive for a living and I could take up the whole server if I recounted the amount of times I've had to put right ass hole cop who knew nothing of what he spoke!!!

    Some of the highlights was like a previous poster, the Bus Lane outside of the time window... Happened me twice!!

    Parking a goods vehicle on double yellows to make a delivery - completely legal, had to produce a copy of rules of road to prove that one.

    As a workforce they probably have one of the highest ratios of inept staff!!


  • #78
    gingerhousewife
    Registered Users Posts: 138 ✭✭gingerhousewife


    I know this is slightly off topic, but on the classic car bit...My husband has a vintage Vespa, which was also imported from the UK. He can't, however, tax it as a vintage, as it was first registered in Ireland in 1988! Hope you don't have the same problem and end up having to get an NCT after all :eek:


  • #79
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    Was it not previously registered in the UK?


  • #80
    yayamark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,013 ✭✭✭yayamark


    green-blood wrote:
    well this is interesting because twice a day now I pass Mr Barry Andrews (FF) prospective new TD's brand new 07 renault van, tax applied for on March 31st appraently..... still no disk th ough :-)

    it should be noted that there is no act under which a garda can take any action against you for not having an NCT. Not having an NCT is not an offence, there is no fine, no points, no sanction.

    now there is nothing stopping him/her for thouroughly checking your vehicle for roadworthiness, but there is no "no nct" box for them to tick


    i'm afraid green blood you have been misinformed. not having your vehicle nct compliable is and was always an offence under the road trraffic act.

    Under the newly ammended road traffic act upon conviction in court there is a monetary fine and 5 yes five penalty points


  • #81
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,934 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Just rang the local Gardai to report a fixed body truck that had no rear number plate and who was driving erratically and tailgating the car in front.

    Well actually, I rang NEXT station because having called into the local one (where there were 2 Traffic Corps cars parked) one fella had no more interest as he was "off duty" and the other 2 were off to court they said.

    So duly rang the next station to let them know, but when I ask who owns the two cars sitting in the first station she starts getting ignorant telling me she's taken my complaint but won't deal with one about other Gardai??

    Then although she gave me her name, she initially wouldn't give her badge number, but after asking her 3 times, I got it out of her although naturally her Superintendent isn't available for me to speak to.

    God I hate the Gardai. The whole lot of them need to be investigated at this stage from top to bottom. :mad:


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  • #82
    Sesshoumaru
    Registered Users Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭Sesshoumaru


    I recall once coming into Celbridge late in the evening when it was dark. There was a car coming towards me that suddenly swerved onto my side of the road and mounted the footpath(It was a straight road). I slammed on the brakes of course and the other car managed to swerve back onto his side of the road. As he passed me I checked my mirrors and noticed he mounted the footpath on his side of the road as well. My guess was that the driver had one too many drinks. As I came into celbridge village I noticed a garda car parked at the side of road outside a chippers. I saw one of them inside ordering food and another waiting in the car. So I parked up behind their car and got out to talk to the gardai in the car. I knocked on the window and he opened the door(electric windows wouldn't open I presume without the car running). I explained what happened. I gave him the make, model(new style laguna), colour and the direction the car was heading in. He asked me did I get the registration number. When I told him I wasn't able to get the registration number he told me there was nothing he could do. When I pointed out that I or a pedestrian on the footpath could have been killed he half heartedly said he would radio the station...... and that was it. I was so disgusted with his attitude. I had just given him details on a possible DUI not more than 1 kilometer from where he was and he wasn't prepared to do anything of any signifigance. I couldn't help thinking he was more concerned with getting his battered burger and chips.


  • #83
    thanqel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭thanqel


    hi

    i have a mini i was told that no nct is needed on it cos it 25 years old but i dont know wat the limit is


  • #84
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    thanqel wrote:
    hi

    i have a mini i was told that no nct is needed on it cos it 25 years old but i dont know wat the limit is

    You need an NCT until it's 30 years old to the day...


  • #85
    PeteK*
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 999 ✭✭✭PeteK*


    To me it seems he did not want to admit that you may be right and he may be wrong...


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