Being stopped by the Gardai?

falteringstar

Ok, I was just on the M4 and overtook a car, a minute later the driver started flashing at me and teling me to pull over, so i obliged. He tells me he's a garda, asks my name and address and writes it down on a piece of paper and tells me Ill be receiving a sumons in the post!!

Now, he was not in a garda car, he never showed me any proof that he was a garda, he was wearing a blue shirt that looked like a garda uniform but it didnt say garda on it or anything... and wrote my details on a scrap of paper. If he was a garda then Im assuming he wasnt on duty.

So does anyone know where i stand on this, is an off duty garda allowed to do this, is dangerous overtaking a court offence, i thought it was points and 80.00 fine..... Im abit confused and worried as im usually a very careful driver and wasnt aware I had done anything dangerous.

RuggieBear

If he had no proof of id, why would you give your details to a complete stranger?

The Muppet

falteringstar wrote:

So does anyone know where i stand on this, is an off duty garda allowed to do this, is dangerous overtaking a court offence, i thought it was points and 80.00 fine..... Im abit confused and worried as im usually a very careful driver and wasnt aware I had done anything dangerous.

A Garda whether on Duty or not has the right to take action if he observes you breaking the law.

Wishbone Ash

falteringstar wrote:

he was not in a garda car

How do you know? They have lots of unmarked and undercover (surveillance) vehicles.

bertebug

if your worried about it go garda station and tell them the facts. sounds to me like some jumped up vigilante. its hard enough to get them to anything when they are on duty. hope you have his reg.

maidhc

The Muppet wrote:

A Garda whether on Duty or not has the right to take action if he observes you breaking the law.

You are not obliged to stop for them unless in uniform or if they provide evidence that they are a member of the force!

I would never stop for a person flashing their lights at me and beckoning me to pull over.

NUTLEY BOY

If you are stopped by a Garda what information are they obliged to give you ?

Does the wearing of a uniform raise a legal presumption that the individual is actually a garda ?

bubthatub

RuggieBear wrote:

If he had no proof of id, why would you give your details to a complete stranger?

i agree what sort of fool r u. you might as well have given him the keys to your house

White Van Man

There are a lot of nutters out there on the roads.

Pulling over for someone flashing their lights at you could turn out to be a very bad move. If you do feel the urge to pull over, do it somewhere where there are plenty other people around.

Last time I looked you're entitled to ask for id if someone in civvies identifies themselves as a cop. If they can't indentify themselves get his description, his registration and call some real cops.

A coupe of real life garda-impersonating nutters:
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=988841&issue_id=9316

http://www.unison.ie/enniscorthy_guardian/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1688735&issue_id=14647

sdanseo

falteringstar wrote:

Ok, I was just on the M4 and overtook a car, a minute later the driver started flashing at me and teling me to pull over, so i obliged. He tells me he's a garda, asks my name and address and writes it down on a piece of paper and tells me Ill be receiving a sumons in the post!!

Now, he was not in a garda car, he never showed me any proof that he was a garda, he was wearing a blue shirt that looked like a garda uniform but it didnt say garda on it or anything... and wrote my details on a scrap of paper. If he was a garda then Im assuming he wasnt on duty.

So does anyone know where i stand on this, is an off duty garda allowed to do this, is dangerous overtaking a court offence, i thought it was points and 80.00 fine..... Im abit confused and worried as im usually a very careful driver and wasnt aware I had done anything dangerous.

Pulling over is one thing, stopping another...but giving your details without even seeing ID?...

Sorry, but thats just stupid.:rolleyes: (No offence meant)

bertebug wrote:

if your worried about it go garda station and tell them the facts. sounds to me like some jumped up vigilante. its hard enough to get them to anything when they are on duty. hope you have his reg.

I'd do this ASAP if you have the reg, if not at least give them a description. The proof will come in the form of a summons if he was a guard. If not, do you drive a relatively expensive car? Possibly if it's a criminal it could be an attempt to find out where it's kept in order to steal it... beef up your security a little. Don't keep the car keys on the hall table, for example...

White Van Man wrote:

A coupe of real life garda-impersonating nutters:
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...&issue_id=9316

http://www.unison.ie/enniscorthy_gua...issue_id=14647

Mentallers...

maidhc

NUTLEY BOY wrote:

If you are stopped by a Garda what information are they obliged to give you ?

Does the wearing of a uniform raise a legal presumption that the individual is actually a garda ?

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA24Y1961S111.html

Our man in Havana

Uniforms can be stolen/faked. I assume you can demand ID from an uniformed Garda?

hullaballoo

bubthatub wrote:

i agree what sort of fool r u. you might as well have given him the keys to your house

There's no need for that kind of abuse. I mean, not everyone is quick enough on their feet to decide to question someone who purports to be a Garda. I probably wouldn't question it on the spot, although I'd think long and hard about it afterwards.

In relation to whether a Garda has any right to pull you over while they're of duty: of course they do. There's some dispute over the extent of this, but it's said that they have a duty to do something about it.

Trojan911

hullaballoo wrote:

In relation to whether a Garda has any right to pull you over while they're of duty: of course they do. There's some dispute over the extent of this, but it's said that they have a duty to do something about it.

Do not agree there. It appears that this "Garda" was off duty in "half blues" (uniform) either going to or coming from work or court. If this is the case he, in my opinion, should not have used his own private car to execute a stop. There is insurance to think about here and what power has he to stop another vehicle using his own private car? None I would say.

Secondly, he should have identified himself by means of warrant card (badge) given his name station attached to and shoulder number.

Personally I would not have stopped but rung 999 or 112 (as calls are recorded) and report that a vehicle behind me is flashing me and I fear for my safety and request the assistance of a marked Garda car.

All the best

TJ911...