Motorway Patrol

antodeco

Anyone seen the motorway patrol cars yet? So far ive seen a 5 series bmw, suped up, light blueish colour, a opel vectra, silver, 05 d something, a black tinted out 06 almera and apparanley they also have 2 subaru forresters and a mitsubishi evo?!

Dont have any pics!

Stephen

Apparently they're trialling these cars, there was a thread about it here a few weeks back. Rumour has it they've finished with the evo and its gone back.

antodeco

Hmm, probably for the best! Apparently though, the bmw, vectra and almera are suped up to pieces. The BMW has a full body kit to "blend" in with other cars. The vectra doesnt look any different, but has the hidden blue lights under the grill. The almera is black with tinted windows and chrome mirrors with chrome wipers. Again to make it "blend" in. Surely isisnt that a little bit sly on the part of them? Ah sure whats new I suppose!

delly

antodeco wrote:

The almera is black with tinted windows and chrome mirrors with chrome wipers. Again to make it "blend" in.

The burberry cap is standard issue as well

A guy in work followed a Subaru Forrester into the buslane on the N32 and after a few hundred metres he stuck on the blue lights. Didn't give him a ticket but just told him to get into the proper lane.

Peace

antodeco wrote:

The almera is black with tinted windows and chrome mirrors with chrome wipers.

I though tinted windws were banned recently?

antodeco

ah the junior minister tried doing it, but he subsequently "left"! SUre when has it ever stopped guards before anyway! (driving down a bus lane or hard shoulder without their sirens on!)

_Kaiser_

delly wrote:

The burberry cap is standard issue as well

A guy in work followed a Subaru Forrester into the buslane on the N32 and after a few hundred metres he stuck on the blue lights. Didn't give him a ticket but just told him to get into the proper lane.

And the correct answer (if one could get away with it) would be: "you first!"

Because, unless I'm mistaken, aren't they supposed to abide by the same Rules of the Road as the rest of us unless actively on a call?

drdre

Peace wrote:

I though tinted windws were banned recently?

they are not banned yet. but guys the 5 series sounds good.i have seen the evo but donot have pics.
it kind of good that they are getting these cars.

Anan1

Kaiser2000 wrote:

And the correct answer (if one could get away with it) would be: "you first!"

Because, unless I'm mistaken, aren't they supposed to abide by the same Rules of the Road as the rest of us unless actively on a call?

I think that emergency vehicles are allowed to use the bus lane.

drdre

Anan1 wrote:

I think that emergency vehicles are allowed to use the bus lane.

yes they are allowed in the bus lane.i have seen undercover police cars in the bus lane many times

Victor

antodeco wrote:

The BMW has a full body kit to "blend" in with other cars.

The problem with cop cars is they are often bland and unpersonalised (no hubcaps, no stickers or badges, no contents in the back window) and can be easily spotted.

drdre

Victor wrote:

The problem with cop cars is they are often bland an unpersonalised (no hubcaps, no stickers or badges, no contents in the back window) and can be easily spotted.

yeah you are right.the main thing is the aerials you can see them from a mile away.but the truth is i didnot know that they were in a evo until i pulled uo beside them so if they want to succeed in reducing road deaths then they need cars like that or different cars that not many people will notice like bmw or merc.

Litcagral

Kaiser2000 wrote:

And the correct answer (if one could get away with it) would be: "you first!"

Because, unless I'm mistaken, aren't they supposed to abide by the same Rules of the Road as the rest of us unless actively on a call?

All Gardai are exempt from the regulations of the Road Traffic Act (except for sections 49 & 50 AFAIK) while they are working. They do not need to be "actively on a call". Patrolling is "working". Anyway, the Garda could have been on a call-it just may have been a non-emergency one.

Atomic Pineapple

Litcagral wrote:

All Gardai are exempt from the regulations of the Road Traffic Act (except for sections 49 & 50 AFAIK) while they are working. They do not need to be "actively on a call". Patrolling is "working". Anyway, the Garda could have been on a call-it just may have been a non-emergency one.

so why should a non emergency give the gardai the right to break the road traffic laws?

smarty

I saw a car being pulled over by an unmarked silver laguna on the M50 a couple of weeks ago. It had the blue flashing light behind the grill. It was a 03 D or 03 LH, I can't remember which.

Victor

draffodx wrote:

so why should a non emergency give the gardai the right to break the road traffic laws?

Trailing a 'usual suspect' is a non-emergency, but may require creative driving.

Santa Claus

There was a similar initiative in the late 80's when the Gardai had what was known as "the turbo squad" which consisted of high powered ford escorts/sierras to aid in pursuit of bank robbers / ira etc.
They started with 7 cars and within 6 months the engines on 5 of the cars were fcuked so the squad was disbanded.

I wonder will these cars meet a similar fate (I mean imagine if you were given a high powered car to drive round in from work and weren't bound by traditional speed limits....how long do you think it would last!?!)

Silvera

12 x Subaru Forresters have been purchased for the Traffic Corps (unmarked) plus several Subaru estates.

I also recently heard that proper police-spec Volvos are being trialled - about time such cars were bought!

Litcagral

draffodx wrote:

so why should a non emergency give the gardai the right to break the road traffic laws?

I don't understand your question. They have the right by law. They are exempt from the normal regulations. If you don't agree with that then you should bring the matter to the attention of the relevant authorities. Just because you disagree with their rights, that dosen't make it wrong.

RobAMerc

I saw a brand spanking new S60/80 (can't remember) in Dun Laoghaire the other day, actually looked like a UK cop car as it had reflective check all over it.
Said Garda Trafic Corps accross the back.

I also saw a black IS200 lexus in traffic too which I could clearly see blue lights in behind the grill.
I doubt this was a squad car was it? Do the diplomatic cars get the two bulb treatment does anyone know? It seems a more likely answer.

Esel

Litcagral wrote:

I don't understand your question. They have the right by law. They are exempt from the normal regulations. If you don't agree with that then you should bring the matter to the attention of the relevant authorities. Just because you disagree with their rights, that dosen't make it wrong.

Cite the relevant law.

Silvera

When I first saw the thread title I thought it was about the Kiwi Motorway Cops documentary

layke

Those cars are well needed tbh. My friends Twin Cam Pulsar was stolen from outside of my house last year, later that night the guards were chasing the scummers who stole it and they simply couldn't catch it.

Speaking to a guard who is a car modder (yes there are a few of em) the only thing they do to the fords is harden the suspention. So anything with a decent bit of poke in it will give them a run for their money.

_Kaiser_

Litcagral wrote:

I don't understand your question. They have the right by law. They are exempt from the normal regulations. If you don't agree with that then you should bring the matter to the attention of the relevant authorities. Just because you disagree with their rights, that dosen't make it wrong.

I think his point, and mine above, is that on this occasion they were probably driving in the buslane purely to beat the queue in the other lane and "because they can", rather than anything to do with "work" - after all if it was that urgent they'd have the lights on, or certainly no time to give their egos a massage by "warning" the guy behind them, right? You don't usually see ambulances/fire engines shooting down the bus lanes or crossing white lines without lights flashing and sirens blaring after all.

Simply put, it was an abuse of their powers/status - ethically anyway if not legally.

Big Nelly

Kaiser2000 wrote:

I think his point, and mine above, is that on this occasion they were probably driving in the buslane purely to beat the queue in the other lane and "because they can", rather than anything to do with "work" - after all if it was that urgent they'd have the lights on, or certainly no time to give their egos a massage by "warning" the guy behind them, right? You don't usually see ambulances/fire engines shooting down the bus lanes or crossing white lines without lights flashing and sirens blaring after all.

Simply put, it was an abuse of their powers/status - ethically anyway if not legally.

Kaiser ranting against the cops. Thats a new one. Whats the problem with using bus lanes? maybe it might help them stop all these provisional drivers on the road;)

Litcagral

esel wrote:

Cite the relevant law.

Certainly esel:


Road Traffic Act 2004 (Part 4)

27.—Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49 and 50 ..... / / ..... do not apply to a driver of a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or the use by a member of the Garda Siochana of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member or a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda Siochana, where such use does not endanger the safety of road users.

Victor

Kaiser2000 wrote:

You don't usually see ambulances/fire engines shooting down the bus lanes or crossing white lines without lights flashing and sirens blaring after all.

When was the last time you saw the fire brigade on patrol?

_Kaiser_

Victor wrote:

When was the last time you saw the fire brigade on patrol?

Ambulances then if you prefer..

Victor

Kaiser2000 wrote:

Ambulances then if you prefer..

When was the last time you saw [strike]the fire brigade[/strike] ambulances on patrol?

Esel

Litcagral wrote:

Certainly esel: ....

Nice try.

If you had quoted in full, and included the exceptions referred to instead of cutting them from your quote, you would have got the following:

27. Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49 and 50 (inserted by sections 10 and 11, respectively, of the Act of 1994), 51A and 52 (inserted by sections 49 and 50, respectively, of the Act of 1968) and 53 of the Principal Act and sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Act of 1994, do not apply to a driver of a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or the use by a member of the Garda Siochana of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member or a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda Siochana, where such use does not endanger the safety of road users.


'other than' above refers to the following:

49. (section 10 of RTA 1994) Prohibition on driving vehicle while under influence of intoxicant.

50. (section 11 of RTA 1994) Prohibition on being in charge of vehicle while under influence of intoxicant.

Driving without reasonable consideration.
51A. (1) A person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place without reasonable consideration for other persons using the place.

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

Careless driving.
52 (1) A person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place without due care and attention.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment."

Principal Act:
53. (1) A person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place at a speed or in a manner which, having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the nature, condition and use of the place and the amount of traffic which then actually is or might reasonably be expected then to be therein) is dangerous to the public.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and
( a ) in case the contravention causes death or serious bodily harm to another person, he shall be liable on conviction on indictment to penal servitude for any term not exceeding five years or, at the discretion of the court, to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to both such penal servitude and such fine and
( b ) in any other case, he shall be liable on such conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(3) In a prosecution for an offence under this section, it shall not be a defence to prove that the speed at which the accused person was driving was not in excess of an ordinary, built-up area or special speed limit applying in relation to the vehicle.

(4) Where, when a person is tried on indictment or summarily for an offence under this section, the jury, or, in the case of a summary trial the District Court, is of opinion that he was not guilty of an offence under this section but was guilty of an offence under section 52 of this Act, the jury or court may find him guilty of an offence under section 52 of this Act and he may be sentenced accordingly.

(5) A person liable to be charged with an offence under this section shall not, by reference to the same occurrence, be liable to be charged with an offence under section 35 of the offences against the Person Act, 1861,

(6) Where a member of the Garda Síochána is of opinion that a person has committed an offence under this section and that the contravention has caused death or serious bodily harm to another person, he may arrest the first-mentioned person without warrant.

From RTA 1994:

12 Obligation to provide preliminary breath specimen.
13 Obligation to provide specimen following arrest.
14 Obligation to accompany member to Garda Síochána station, not under arrest, to provide blood or urine specimen.
15 Obligation to provide blood or urine specimen while in hospital.

So, let's be clear, apart from the above exceptions, Gardai (in the performance of their duties) and emergency vehicle drivers etc. are exempt from the 'requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles'.

Kind of puts a different perspective on it, doesn't it?

Turner

antodeco wrote:

Anyone seen the motorway patrol cars yet? So far ive seen a 5 series bmw, suped up, light blueish colour, a opel vectra, silver, 05 d something, a black tinted out 06 almera and apparanley they also have 2 subaru forresters and a mitsubishi evo?!

Dont have any pics!

They have certainly come a long way from....

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/

Litcagral

Kaiser2000 wrote:

I think his point, and mine above, is that on this occasion they were probably driving in the buslane purely to beat the queue in the other lane and "because they can", rather than anything to do with "work" - after all if it was that urgent they'd have the lights on, or certainly no time to give their egos a massage by "warning" the guy behind them, right? You don't usually see ambulances/fire engines shooting down the bus lanes or crossing white lines without lights flashing and sirens blaring after all.

Simply put, it was an abuse of their powers/status - ethically anyway if not legally.

I don't understand your point. I think that the Gardai should be able to move about as quickly as possible. I don't see how this can be construed as an abuse of power. Two simple examples:

(a) If a Garda notices a car parked illegally e.g. on a bus lane, do you really expect him to make his way to the nearest car park and look for a place to park and then walk back to issue a ticket? Of course not - pull in behind it, post ticket and get mobile again.

(b) If a Garda is required to deliver a summons, do you think that he should sit in traffic queues wasting time when that time could be utilised more productively and he can be mobile and available again?

I would prefer to see our Gardai being able to move around as quickly as possible an be available and responsive for effective policing when required. People regularly complain that Gardai are not available or arrive late for non- emergency duties. This could only worsen if they were to do as you wish. I don't see how a Garda using a bus lane affects you negatively, apart obviously from envy.

Cormic

Litcagral wrote:

I would prefer to see our Gardai being able to move around as quickly as possible an be available and responsive for effective policing when required.

However the Gardai also have a duty to lead by example.

Litcagral

esel wrote:

Nice try.

If you had quoted in full, and included the exceptions referred to instead of cutting them from your quote, you would have got the following:

27. Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49 and 50 (inserted by sections 10 and 11, respectively, of the Act of 1994), 51A and 52 (inserted by sections 49 and 50, respectively, of the Act of 1968) and 53 of the Principal Act and sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Act of 1994, do not apply to a driver of a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or the use by a member of the Garda Siochana of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member or a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda Siochana, where such use does not endanger the safety of road users.


'other than' above refers to the following:



So, let's be clear, apart from the above exceptions, Gardai (in the performance of their duties) and emergency vehicle drivers etc. are exempt from the 'requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles'.

Kind of puts a different perspective on it, doesn't it?

I edited the quote in the interests of simplicity-it may put a different perspectice on it but I still maintain that it is perfectly legal for them to utilise a bus lane or park where required (obviously once no one is put in danger).

Turner

Of course the gardai can use the bus lanes, break speed limits and general road offences....if they are going to a call or not.

As soon as they mark on duty they are exempt.

However they are not allowed to drive drunk, dangerously or refuse to provice a specimen of breath after arrest.

Guy:Incognito

Kaiser2000 wrote:

I think his point, and mine above, is that on this occasion they were probably driving in the buslane purely to beat the queue in the other lane and "because they can", rather than anything to do with "work" - after all if it was that urgent they'd have the lights on, or certainly no time to give their egos a massage by "warning" the guy behind them, right? You don't usually see ambulances/fire engines shooting down the bus lanes or crossing white lines without lights flashing and sirens blaring after all.

Simply put, it was an abuse of their powers/status - ethically anyway if not legally.

Even if they are just out patrolling, whats the point of themm spending an hour of their shift sitting in traffic? They're far better off keeping moving, otherwise the ymay as well be asleep in the station as sitting in 4 miles of traffic.

Guy:Incognito

Victor wrote:

When was the last time you saw [strike]the fire brigade[/strike] ambulances on patrol?

They go cruising looking for random sick people. They're everywhere dont'ch know.:)

elexes

/imagines a fire truck on patrol

officer1: lads any fires tonight
sumbag1: na were good
officer2: ya see i told you they werent dealers they just follow the trends lets head down to the tesco car park and find a burning car

ninty9er

I'd say that IS200 was a patrol as no diplomat of any half decent country would be seen in a compact-exec/posh family car.

I think it's great to see this happening.

Saw a thing on BBC1 durin the week showing cops whose job is to be out driving all the time to catch car-thieves in particular. They Had an A3 and an Impreza as well as a few others that weren't identified.

What's with the use of Galaxy's for Traffic Corps. They actually serve no more purpose than an estate, are <more> unstable at speed and are, lets face it, if they're bog standard (as marked Garda patrol vehicles generally are) are painfully slow, my aunt has the 1.9 6 speed and while it's just as fast as a 1.6 petrol saloon, isn't anything to wriote home bout