Caught speeding? need help please

horse888 · 01-09-2007 11:40am #1

Hi Folks,
Can someone pls help?
I drive a company car and was sent home on Thurs because I was sick. I was travelling between Navan and Drogheda, late for doctor and going by the primary school in Kentstown(not open yet), was clocked doing 70kmph in a 50kmph. The cop was on the right hand side well hidden by ditches. The camera was mounted on a tripod. As soon as I saw him I slowed to below 60, because that's what I thought was the speed limit, but have since discovered its a 50. On the left hand side there was a silver van with another cop standing casually in front, the van was blocking the car's view of the squad car.
The reason I'm so worried, is that my boss is trying to find a way to fire me and I think he'll use it as an excuse if I get a speeding fine, and I am not sure if the cops can take a photo of you or if they needed to pull me over?

Thanks if you can help,
Horse

Stephen · 01-09-2007 12:02pm

They normally pull you over if its just a garda with a radar/laser speed detector. If it was a camera (ie fixed or gatso van) you'd get a fine in the post.

Henry Ford III · 01-09-2007 3:48pm

I doubt you can be fired for getting a speeding ticket.

MagicMarker · 01-09-2007 3:55pm

I have a company car and in my contract it says that if i were to gain 8 points then i would get a warning, any more points on top of that will result in dismissal.

kikel · 01-09-2007 4:09pm

MagicMarker wrote:

I have a company car and in my contract it says that if i were to gain 8 points then i would get a warning, any more points on top of that will result in dismissal.

How many have you got already. The speeds you say you were doing will only result in two points. I'd say you didn't get caught anyway. They would of pulled you over. I could be wrong

Cionád · 01-09-2007 5:00pm

kikel wrote:

How many have you got already. The speeds you say you were doing will only result in two points. I'd say you didn't get caught anyway. They would of pulled you over. I could be wrong

Thats not the OP?

John R · 01-09-2007 5:55pm

Unless as a previous poster mentioned there is a specific clause in your employment contract you can not be fired for getting a speeding ticket.

Well, I suppose you can be fired but you would be pretty much guaranteed a large award and probably re-instatement were you to sue for unfair dismissal based on that.

He can however pass your name on so as you get the penalty points and insist on you paying the fine.

MagicMarker · 02-09-2007 10:30am

Cion&#225 wrote: »

Thats not the OP?

no it's not.

I have no points thus far.

Saruman · 02-09-2007 10:38am

Anyway i doubt he was caught. Unless that silver van was a gatso.
The gardai would not have been visible if it was.
They have to stop you and give you the fine etc.
I would say they were more interested in people flying past at higher speeds than you, or just there being visible. I bet you watched your speed for at least the rest of the way home... in which case, that was their job done.

horse888 · 02-09-2007 3:06pm

There's nothing specific in my contract, I suppose I never thought of that. Prob just a bit paranoid. Cheers for the replys

Atomic Pineapple · 02-09-2007 4:13pm

if the camera they were using was on a tripod they may not have had to stop you, these cameras usually take a picture of the reg while recording the speed and this is then sent out in the post

Saruman · 02-09-2007 5:52pm

draffodx wrote:

if the camera they were using was on a tripod they may not have had to stop you, these cameras usually take a picture of the reg while recording the speed and this is then sent out in the post

I was under the impression the gardai did not have this technology. Has something changed?

Seth Brundle · 02-09-2007 6:01pm

Im not aware of a silver talivan so its likely that it was someone pulled over/chatting to the gardai.
As for your boss looking for ways to get rid of you, if they were that dissatisfied with your performance, Im sure they would discuss it with you or find a valid way of giving you the boot.
Your boss sending you home when sick doesn't sound like a method for earning you the sack. How was the boss to know that you would drive over the speed limit in a company car? Surely if they knew that you deliberatley sped in a company car (possibly earning the company owner/directors penalty points) then they may reconsider your company car option!

Caught speeding? need help please

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