Traffic corp vacancies.. good or bad move?

meathmannn

Any members after applying for the traffic vacancies in DMR ?

5 of us on my unit have thrown in our names, but getting mixed feedback about the possible move.

Good or bad move? Anyone know what the deal is with getting courses there?
Is the Castle still the same as it was a few years ago, i.e. lots of grumpy senior guys with an attitude? or have they lightened up?

And does it effect future creer prospects, i.e. taking you away from fighting crime, knowing the local heads etc?

Any of you guys went last time? how long before interview + results, and how are you finding it?

djtechnics1210

Depends on what your looking for in the job.... if your currently in a ctf, drugs unit job id definitely give it a miss.


I never had any interest in joining traffic though.... but thats just me.
Ask nice guy always, he'll tell ya all about it id say

Hooch

To be honest I cant comment really. Traffic in the DMR and in the sticks is a different ball game. Here we are like a task force and can be as proactive as we like. If you get info....run with it. Burglary.....run with it. Section 15 MDA.......run with it.

Cant see it being the same as the DMR. Dont think I would be applying for DMR traffic, unless you want the courses - car, bike, van, truck and advanced courses. You'll get courses alright and of course Traffic will lead to promotion, as will all avenues of the job depending on how you work. But the problem is that Traffic in DMR is just that....Traffic. Now im only going on second had info from listening to people but thats my two cents.

By all means I would push members in the country to join traffic.....i'd have reservations about DMR.

Just my two cents, i'll help answer anything I can!

mcguiver

My unstanding of DMR traffic is that they want you to only do traffic, and nothing else. I've driven for them (Oscar Tango), and they have a great fleet, and the best of gear.

The obvious advantages I would see are that it takes you away from station duties, posts etc, and get you out and about a lot. I'm not sure what the current situation is with courses.

I'm sure it must be nice to just specialise in one area, you know what it's like in uniform, you could do shoplifter, public order, fraud, rape, etc. etc. everday is different, but with traffic you'll quickly know the traffic laws very well.

Most of my traffic buddies just wanted an excuse to wear leather trousers all day!!:D

Any DMR traffic around to give their expert opinion??

timmywex

Just out of interest, Do traffic do the same shifts as ordinary units?! In terms of hours/rotations?!

norrie_1001

In the country anyway they don't cover the full 24 hours like in the 3 relief system. They do the 8 hour shift but that's where the similarity ends. One unit will start at 7am in the morning and the last unit would finish up at 3am. Therefore in the country there is no traffic corps on between the hours of 3am and 7am. Not sure about DMR though.

Hooch

norrie_1001 wrote: »

In the country anyway they don't cover the full 24 hours like in the 3 relief system. They do the 8 hour shift but that's where the similarity ends. One unit will start at 7am in the morning and the last unit would finish up at 3am. Therefore in the country there is no traffic corps on between the hours of 3am and 7am. Not sure about DMR though.

Above not true in all districts/divisions. Traffic generall work 8-4am on Friday/saturday nights and in cities its 10-6am.

Depends on location

AlekSmart

It`s interesting for an outsider to note that there`s a level of seperation between Traffic and the "Rest" of AGS.

However I would think that`s as it should be,and perhaps it needed to be to a far greater extent in the past.

For example,this years Slane Concert and the attendant Transport problems underlined the absolute need for a Pro-Active Garda Traffic Corps role.

One of the most interesting aspects for me this year was the lack of Visible Traffic Units,M/Cycle or FWD mounted and as events unfolded it sure did show....even prompting many people to Talk to Joe about it :mad:

Going back many years to the Popes Visit,Eurovisions,EU Summits,Visits of Uncle Sam`s and the like I have always found the Traffic Corps to be highly skilled,proficient and clear thinking.

However those qualities have,on many occasions,been seen to be at odds with their own colleagues on "ordinary" duties.

As a matter of interest,is there a seperate chain of command for Traffic Corps operations on any given event or are they expected simply to be part of the main event ?

Hooch

AlekSmart wrote: »

As a matter of interest,is there a seperate chain of command for Traffic Corps operations on any given event or are they expected simply to be part of the main event ?

No a Traffic Corps member is still a Garda. Same rank, same pay, same job IMO. I would never make a difference between Traffic and regular. When asked where im stationed etc I say the station.....not Traffic Corps, XY station. I dont make a difference apart from our call sign

Traffic members are usual requested by regular members for Traffic related matters like forged discs and serious RTCs but thats the same as requesting any other specialised unit within AGS. Traffic do however take over certain events for Traffic, but only on the request of the local Supt or on direction of the chief.

deadwood

Plenty of Traffic Corpse members will tell you their job is traffic law enforcement, not traffic management!

To see a traffic man actually directing traffic is a rare and beautiful sight.

The poise, the movement of the wrist, using two fingers in a flicking motion where a nordinry guard has to use his whole arm. The saggy bum on the leathers that looks like a full nappy, the floppy cap. Poetry.

bryanmurr

deadwood wrote: »

Plenty of Traffic Corpse members will tell you their job is traffic law enforcement, not traffic management!

To see a traffic man actually directing traffic is a rare and beautiful sight.

The poise, the movement of the wrist, using two fingers in a flicking motion where a nordinry guard has to use his whole arm. The saggy bum on the leathers that looks like a full nappy, the floppy cap. Poetry.

u try keep a cap in good nick after havin it squashed into the pannier

as for the leathers, do u not think the black is very slimming :cool:

and to quote some of the lads from the office " we're a traffic unit not a traffic accident unit" when the call about someone reversing into the neighbours car in a housing estate during rush hour

meathmannn

Maybe subconciously I just want to have an excuse to wear leather trousers!:P

Cheers for the responses.

Mixed feedback all around really, would love to hear from any of the last batch that went to the Castle.

Turner

Before you wear the leather trousers you have to pass the motorcycle course....

And trust me, its a very hard course.

But it will improve your riding no end :)

bryanmurr

meathmannn wrote: »

Maybe subconciously I just want to have an excuse to wear leather trousers!:P

Cheers for the responses.

Mixed feedback all around really, would love to hear from any of the last batch that went to the Castle.

i went in oct 07, to be honest, it depends how badly u want out of where ya are and what ur interests in the job are. cant see vacancies comin in many other specialised units for a while given the recruitment freeze

FGR

Wouldn't mind getting a shot in traffic - but again it varies massively from division to division.

I've seen in some divisions that the local Traffic unit will dig in on a Saturday night when the local unit is up the walls whereas in other divisions it's rare to see Traffic; nevermind hear them on the radio.

bryanmurr

ForegoneReality wrote: »

Wouldn't mind getting a shot in traffic - but again it varies massively from division to division.

I've seen in some divisions that the local Traffic unit will dig in on a Saturday night when the local unit is up the walls whereas in other divisions it's rare to see Traffic; nevermind hear them on the radio.

dmr traffic will assist when required, but as we operate off a diff channel we dont hear alot of the more minor stuff eg the public order stuff etc

trad

Interesting to see how the view of the job has changed since my time. I was one of those senior guys with attitude as someone eluded to, but I will pass on your comments. I did 10 years in the Castle. Alex Smart must be of the same vintage as myself as I was at all the events he mentioned.

From experience you need a different mind set for traffic as opposed to crime. You have to be proactive, a clear thinker and be prepared to do mundane tasks such as directing traffic. From what I see all the "younger" members are interested in is clocking up penalty points rather that dealing with the public. When the traffic units were set up in the 60's they were known as the "courtesy cops". Whens the last time you said thank you to a member of the public?

If you are interested in career advancement stick with whatever you are doing, traffic is a vocation not a career move.

Hooch

trad wrote: »

When the traffic units were set up in the 60's they were known as the "courtesy cops". Whens the last time you said thank you to a member of the public?

If you are interested in career advancement stick with whatever you are doing, traffic is a vocation not a career move.

Well said

deadwood

Can you join traffic if your parents are married?

Hooch

deadwood wrote: »

Can you join traffic if your parents are married?

O god your harsh little man!!!!

i'll give you b*****d!!!!!

trad

deadwood wrote: »

Can you join traffic if your parents are married?

True case in front of a most contrary pedantic Judge in the Dublin District Court a head up for threathening and abusive language, part of the evidence was he called the member a bastard. The judge adjourned the case until the member produced his birth cert. Head convicted.