Motorcycle Garda Modus Operandi

McSpud

Driving from Dublin city quays through Stoneybatter onto Navan Road, had a Motorcycle Garda alongside me on the bridge so was able to watch him operate for a couple of minutes...

* He spotted a bicyclist go through red light at Luas stop, flashed on the lights pulled here in & gave out to her.
* Next up pedestrian traffic where I was stopped at red for 5-10 seconds, women on the far side was parked just before the lights so never looked & drove straight through red. Boy in blue flicks on the lights again, stops her in the middle of the road & gives out to her.
* Next up van who parked on footpath on Prussia street in full sight of Garda. He got the same treatment...

If we were an alien just arrived on the planet you would probably think his job is to turn on flashing lights & shout at people. I could laugh at as he couldn't go more than 200 feet before pulling someone in. On the other hand he didn't have any tickets to show for his work...

I wonder what the ratio is for getting tickets from guards...? We all benefit from the 'don't do it again' talk from time to time but driving through red light at pedestrian light surely warranted something...

recycle

He used his best judgement. From your post Id say he was spot on.

Dammed if you do - Dammed if you don't.

PCPhoto

paperwork = extra work ....... probably a court appearance. (too much effort - considering a severe yelling frightens almost as much)

I got pulled over for driving in Bus lane (it was 6.45pm) ... not defending it - but I was nice to the guy and he started accusing me of being on my phone at the same time (I remained calm and was polite) ....so I even gave him my phone so he could check last calls..... €80 fine and a stern talking to !!! (Dont do it again!!!)...no harm done.

seanybiker

recycle wrote: »

He used his best judgement. From your post Id say he was spot on.

Dammed if you do - Dammed if you don't.

Thats it exactly. Poor cops cant do anything without people making judgements about em.

thethedev

"FFS a ticket for going trhough a red light on a bicycle!! This is completely draconian, I mean wtf":p
Yeah, the Guards are expected to be on your side no matter what ya do:rolleyes:

Guy:Incognito

Whats needed is an easy to use computer system that logs minor things (manned by civilians, keep gards as far away from paperwork as possible, it's stupid have them spending hours doing paperwork that someone else could do for them) like illegal reg plates etc (like they do in the uk) that automatically issues a fines and/or points where appropriate if you are stopped and logged for an offence a set number of times. Warning people is all well and good but unless they are stopped by the same gard twice who then remembers them, the chances of any punishment for taking the piss is minimal.

CJhaughey

Stekelly wrote: »

it's stupid have them spending hours doing paperwork that someone else could do for them) like illegal reg plates etc (like they do in the uk)

I am sure I read recently that they are going to use two of those ANPR vans for the purposes of checking cars for Tax/Insurance

seanybiker

CJhaughey wrote: »

I am sure I read recently that they are going to use two of those ANPR vans for the purposes of checking cars for Tax/Insurance

Remember reading that. There is one in Kildare I think. Good idea me thinks.

Del2005

CJhaughey wrote: »

I am sure I read recently that they are going to use two of those ANPR vans for the purposes of checking cars for Tax/Insurance

They can't be used for insurance as there is no national database that they can pull the info from.

About time they started clamping down on tax dodgers. Will we start to see clone cars like the UK now since we've gotten ANPR?

CJhaughey

Del2005 wrote: »

They can't be used for insurance as there is no national database that they can pull the info from.

About time they started clamping down on tax dodgers. Will we start to see clone cars like the UK now since we've gotten ANPR?

If they see you with no tax, they pull you over, once they have your insurance disc it is a pretty simple matter to call the Ins company and check is the cert valid.
Granted not as handy as having a national database but still workable.

Thoie

Have you seen how tight those leather trousers are? He probably couldn't issue a ticket as he had nowhere to store the notebook

Anan1

Stekelly wrote: »

Whats needed is an easy to use computer system that logs minor things (manned by civilians, keep gards as far away from paperwork as possible, it's stupid have them spending hours doing paperwork that someone else could do for them) like illegal reg plates etc (like they do in the uk) that automatically issues a fines and/or points where appropriate if you are stopped and logged for an offence a set number of times. Warning people is all well and good but unless they are stopped by the same gard twice who then remembers them, the chances of any punishment for taking the piss is minimal.

That's a good idea. Another easy-to-implement one would be cameras policing bus lanes & on intersections linked to the traffic lights.

MercMad

I was very annoyed to see 4 Gardai on the Malahide road at Coolock, literally shooting fish in a barrel as they stopped folk driving down the buslane.

I know its annoying and breaking the rules but 4 of them. Meanwhile I can only imagine what crimes were taking place in the area.

Why not just 1 ??

Anan1

MercMad wrote: »

I was very annoyed to see 4 Gardai on the Malahide road at Coolock, literally shooting fish in a barrel as they stopped folk driving down the buslane.

I know its annoying and breaking the rules but 4 of them. Meanwhile I can only imagine what crimes were taking place in the area.

Why not just 1 ??

+1. And wouldn't a fixed camera be cheaper than even one Garda?

Cookie_Monster

Anan1 wrote: »

That's a good idea. Another easy-to-implement one would be cameras policing bus lanes & on intersections linked to the traffic lights.

There is a very simlplistic version of this opposite Shanganagh Cemetary. Not even sure what the point of it is.

igglou

Del2005 wrote: »

They can't be used for insurance as there is no national database that they can pull the info from.
ANPR?

My sister was pulled over recently (she wasn't doing anything wrong) and the guard walked around her car with a clipboard telling her he would be with her in a mo. He finally came to her window were she was all worried wondering what was going on. He then told her that they were testing a new Tax/Insurance system that scans car regs to see if the tax and insurance were current but that there were flaws on the insurance side as the insurance companies were not updating as often as they should and her reg showed as having no insurance even though it did. He said they were stopping cars to to get a record of incorrect readings to prove that the system was not working as it should. He apologised for delaying her and sent her on her way. Not before she was seen by her sis-in-law who promptly called her hubbie to say she had been pulled by the gardai!

From that I'd say that even though its not fully operational it is out there to check insurance.

dvpower

Stekelly wrote: »

Whats needed is an easy to use computer system that logs minor things (manned by civilians, keep gards as far away from paperwork as possible, it's stupid have them spending hours doing paperwork that someone else could do for them) like illegal reg plates etc (like they do in the uk) that automatically issues a fines and/or points where appropriate if you are stopped and logged for an offence a set number of times. Warning people is all well and good but unless they are stopped by the same gard twice who then remembers them, the chances of any punishment for taking the piss is minimal.

I think its called PULSE

McSpud

seanybiker wrote: »

Thats it exactly. Poor cops cant do anything without people making judgements about em.

That wasn't my main point. Was just amused by the fact teh garda couldn't go 200 feet without having to pull someone up. Probably says a lot about Irish drivers.

TBH I was surprised to see motor cycle garda at 7pm.