Unmarked Garda cars... rear lights?

10-10-20

I was passed by a flying Mondeo at 8pm last night which came up on me from behind with its two headlights flashing. Grand, I pulled over and let him pass.
Then I noticed that the car had no rear lights other than when he dabbed his brakes.
This is the second time such an unmarked car has passed me and not had rear lights... Is there a reason for this?

louie

too lazy to change the bulbs or bad electrical connection.

C_Breeze

"Is there a reason for this??" ... eh yeah - they are not working and need to be changed!

Slightly off topic but if a Garda car stops you and you notice that one OR BOTH of its lights are out (such as a headlight bulb or tailightbulb) can you point it out to them and this renders any fine or requests they make invalid (such as doing you for speeding, running red lights etc)

Im sure i read this somewhere a long time ago but am not certain.

Alun

C_Breeze wrote: »

Slightly off topic but if a Garda car stops you and you notice that one OR BOTH of its lights are out (such as a headlight bulb or tailightbulb) can you point it out to them and this renders any fine or requests they make invalid (such as doing you for speeding, running red lights etc)

Worked for me when I was stopped on the M6 in England once.

Me: "Excuse me, but before I forget, officer, I couldn't help noticing that one of your brake lights wasn't working when you pulled in in front of me"

Cop: (walks back to car, gets in, and gets his colleague to check the lights, returns) "OK sir, thanks for that, and just watch your speed now won't you. Good night."

No guarantees it'd work here though, they'd probably just swear at you for being cheeky and do you anyway.

Jip

10-10-20 wrote: »

This is the second time such an unmarked car has passed me and not had rear lights... Is there a reason for this?

Funny you should say that, Friday night I was approaching the toll bridge northbound and an unmarked car was coming in the opposite direction with its strobes on but I noticed that it had no rear lights on.

DublinDilbert

C_Breeze wrote: »

"Is there a reason for this??" ... eh yeah - they are not working and need to be changed!

Slightly off topic but if a Garda car stops you and you notice that one OR BOTH of its lights are out (such as a headlight bulb or tailightbulb) can you point it out to them and this renders any fine or requests they make invalid (such as doing you for speeding, running red lights etc)

Im sure i read this somewhere a long time ago but am not certain.

Yea right! you'll find some garda cars have some defect or another cause they get the arse driven out of them and are on the road 24/7..

they will in their arse let you off with something... and pointing out the defect would only get them more pissed off at ya... one of my best friends is a garda and you wouldn't believe the things that people think get them let off with things:-
1. Your not wearing your hat you can't arrest me...
2. Your driving your own car, your not on duty, you can't arrest me...
3. You can't stop and search me without a reason ( under drugs laws they can)

Guy:Incognito

C_Breeze wrote: »

Slightly off topic but if a Garda car stops you and you notice that one OR BOTH of its lights are out (such as a headlight bulb or tailightbulb) can you point it out to them and this renders any fine or requests they make invalid (such as doing you for speeding, running red lights etc)

Of course you get off, same as th eway a Gard can't arrest you if he hasnt got his hat on.

Robbo

If you greet the Garda with the Stonecutters handshake, there are no penalty points. Ever.

gyppo

Alun wrote: »

England.

Me: "Excuse me, but before I forget, officer, I couldn't help noticing that one of your brake lights wasn't working when you pulled in in front of me"

Cop: (walks back to car, gets in, and gets his colleague to check the lights, returns) "OK sir, thanks for that, and just watch your speed now won't you. Good night."

Ireland.

Me: "Excuse me, but before I forget, garda, I couldn't help noticing that one of your brake lights wasn't working when you pulled in in front of me"

Garda: (walks back to car, gets in, and gets his colleague to hold his chip bag, returns) "Right, ya cheeky little fvcker, wheres your fully licenced driving companion?? "

r0nn13

gyppo wrote: »

Ireland.

Me: "Excuse me, but before I forget, garda, I couldn't help noticing that one of your brake lights wasn't working when you pulled in in front of me"

Garda: (walks back to car, gets in, and gets his colleague to hold his chip bag, returns) "Right, ya cheeky little fvcker, wheres your fully licenced driving companion?? "

haha, that is class alright...

Masada

maybe it wasnt a cop car at all., all cop car now have strobe lights in the headlights and tail lights, they also have LED corner markers so that when there edging out into traffic people can see them comming, A lot of them also have strobes in the rear windows aswell.,

Marcus.Aurelius

10-10-20 wrote: »

I was passed by a flying Mondeo at 8pm last night which came up on me from behind with its two headlights flashing. Grand, I pulled over and let him pass.
Then I noticed that the car had no rear lights other than when he dabbed his brakes.
This is the second time such an unmarked car has passed me and not had rear lights... Is there a reason for this?

When patrol cars start up, the headlamps automatically come on, its installed by the depot before its collected. Sometimes they ain't so good!!!

galwaytt

10-10-20 wrote: »

I was passed by a flying Mondeo at 8pm last night ...that the car had no rear lights Is there a reason for this?

Yes.


















It's a Ford.



Unable to wire rear lights since 1893.................:D

CarLover

I believe if you slap your lad out whilst the Gard is peering in your window they usually just let you off with a warning...

mvpr

I was driving out strand road towards Howth on Saturday night, 60-70km/h behind two cars. Out of nowhere I see blue strobes behind me, no headlights. Undercover Coralla hatch. Overtook us all in one go, no rear lights either. Just strobes to light his way.

I might be wrong here, but maybe once the strobes are turned on, the headlights and tail lights kick out of action. I’ve seen a few other undercover cars with the same thing. Saw a mondeo with no lights on Dame Street over the weekend, with just one led of his high level brake light lit up in blue.

Someone who works in the place where they fit out Garda cars might have the answer…

Masada

ive worked on cop cars myself and can say thet the tail lights on them are wired in aswell, there might be a few of the older ones floating around still but not many, these ones have the magnetic light that they stick on the roof and dont have anything in the rear lights.,

Mutz

10-10-20 wrote: »

I was passed by a flying Mondeo at 8pm last night which came up on me from behind with its two headlights flashing. Grand, I pulled over and let him pass.
Then I noticed that the car had no rear lights other than when he dabbed his brakes.
This is the second time such an unmarked car has passed me and not had rear lights... Is there a reason for this?

You know the way the light switch has three point: Off (daytime) > Parking > On(nigh time)

The front alternatively flashing headlights can only be used when the lights are turned off (ie. day time - use for day time). It attracts the attention of those overtaking lane hogging drivers.

When you turn on the dipped headlights, they will not flash when on 999 mode. Only the Blues will work.

Masada

You know the way the light switch has three point: Off (daytime) > Parking > On(nigh time)

The front alternatively flashing headlights can only be used when the lights are turned off (ie. day time - use for day time). It attracts the attention of those overtaking lane hogging drivers.

When you turn on the dipped headlights, they will not flash when on 999 mode. Only the Blues will work

those alternating lights (sometimes called wigwag) are actually tapped into the highbeams and they work all the time weather the headlights are on or not,., normal beams wouldnt be bright enough to attract the attention they need to get people out of the way.,

Sindub

I noticed the same thing early on this week. An unmarked garda car with no rear lights. I was wondering was it just some scanger with a sireon ???

It was pretty dangerous as it onyl had rear break lights and was going in and out between all the traffic.

patrickc

yeh ive notied it numerous times and always on unmarked mondeos, that once they have their strobe lights on the back lights arn't lit up.

Victor

I'm wondering is someone systematically screwing up the lighting, thinking they are doing it correctly.

antodeco

Ok, I could understand front lights not working, to emphasise the blue lights. But no rear lights? Unless they enjoy following people from in front :rolleyes:

D_murph

CarLover wrote: »

I believe if you slap your lad out whilst the Gard is peering in your window they usually just let you off with a warning...

Ha ha brilliant :D:D:D:D