Off duty gardai speeding

Mr Lahey

Driving to Dublin on the portlaoise by pass today and saw a marked mondeo pulling in a lexus gs 300 on the opposite side of the road,has to have been for speeding. As they both came to a stop the guy gets out of the lexus, flashes an i.d to the garda who was just getting out of his car.
The garda gives him a wave and they both get back in to their cars and away. Now i know that they aren't going to book one of their own but if that was joe soap he would have had a fine and 2 points. Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

Thoie

May the Lexus was a doctor on the way to an emergency?

colm_mcm

could it have been a government car, many ministers have Lexus GS450h's

KTRIC

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

Yep

cabrwab

Id say government minister.
Unless you were stopped with them you don't know exactly what happened or who the person was.

But yeah they tend to let one of there own off!

Seth Brundle

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Driving to Dublin on the portlaoise by pass today and saw a marked mondeo pulling in a lexus gs 300 on the opposite side of the road,has to have been for speeding. As they both came to a stop the guy gets out of the lexus, flashes an i.d to the garda who was just getting out of his car.
The garda gives him a wave and they both get back in to their cars and away. Now i know that they aren't going to book one of their own but if that was joe soap he would have had a fine and 2 points. Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

you managed to see a lot going on there as you were driving by (and I take it that you weren't stopped as its a motorway!)!

Tipsy Mac

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

Yes normal traffic laws don't apply to Gardai whether on or off duty at any time in any place within the state.

Interceptor

Dang, I gotta get me one of them there Garda ID yokeys. Ebay d'ya think?

'cptr

BeardyGit

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Driving to Dublin on the portlaoise by pass today and saw a marked mondeo pulling in a lexus gs 300 on the opposite side of the road,has to have been for speeding. As they both came to a stop the guy gets out of the lexus, flashes an i.d to the garda who was just getting out of his car.
The garda gives him a wave and they both get back in to their cars and away. Now i know that they aren't going to book one of their own but if that was joe soap he would have had a fine and 2 points. Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

I can think of a whole host of completely valid reasons for the scene you've painted above playing out the way you describe. So can most I'm sure. Doctor, Detective, Ministerial driver (which would be a garda on duty I believe), Customs moving a seized vehicle etc etc etc.

So how about this - Instead of rubber-necking and passing judgement when you have NOTHING to back up your assumptions with, why don't you keep your eyes on your own side of the road and pay attention to what you're doing instead of what two stationary cars on the other side of the dualler are at? :rolleyes:

HerbSimpson

Gil_Dub wrote: »

I can think of a whole host of completely valid reasons for the scene you've painted above playing out the way you describe. So can most I'm sure. Doctor, Detective, Ministerial driver (which would be a garda on duty I believe), Customs moving a seized vehicle etc etc etc.

So how about this - Instead of rubber-necking and passing judgement when you have NOTHING to back up your assumptions with, why don't you keep your eyes on your own side of the road and pay attention to what you're doing instead of what two stationary cars on the other side of the dualler are at? :rolleyes:

You tell him Gramps :pac:

DUBLINHITMAN

Gil_Dub wrote: »

I can think of a whole host of completely valid reasons for the scene you've painted above playing out the way you describe. So can most I'm sure. Doctor, Detective, Ministerial driver (which would be a garda on duty I believe), Customs moving a seized vehicle etc etc etc.

So how about this - Instead of rubber-necking and passing judgement when you have NOTHING to back up your assumptions with, why don't you keep your eyes on your own side of the road and pay attention to what you're doing instead of what two stationary cars on the other side of the dualler are at? :rolleyes:

+1 i really despise rubber neckers .
when the gardai are at a accident they should pull people in that want to see the blood and guts and bring them in to meet the dead peoples family and let them see everything ,
really boils my blood ,
if people want to see blood and guts there's plenty of websites you can look at while stationary in your house on your couch and not causing another accident .
sorry for the mini high-jack but it sickens me

civildefence

Badge-flashing by speeding off-duty Gardai doesn't cut it anymore, esp if its the Traffic Unit who pull the car.

bbam

At our national school an off duty Garda will regularly turn up and pile 3 kids into the front of a van, one with no seatbelt. The terrible thing is his wife is being paid to pick up and mind these kids..
He'll often have 5-6 kids in the back going to under age football...

One law for them and another for us...

BeardyGit

bbam wrote: »

At our national school an off duty Garda will regularly turn up and pile 3 kids into the front of a van, one with no seatbelt. The terrible thing is his wife is being paid to pick up and mind these kids..
He'll often have 5-6 kids in the back going to under age football...

One law for them and another for us...

The law would be applied to that Garda the same way it would to you or me if he were stopped by Traffic Corps.

I know this will be an unpopular thing amongst a huge number of petrol heads here on boards, but I reckon the more Gardaí with the T.C. mentality, the better.

The fact that those lads apply the law to all and sundry means nobody's beyond the law when it comes to motoring offences, even 'fellow' members. Doesn't matter who you are. And I like that, a lot. With those lads it's not like some get away with it while you don't, it's that NOBODY gets away with it.

Now, where did I put that crotch shield and hard hat....

Seth Brundle

Maybe the lexus driver simply reminded the garda that he couldn't do him for speeding or whatever as he wasn't wearing his garda hat!

Jip

Perks of the job. You don't complain when you see someone getting free lunch or food in restaurants they work in.

But then again it could have been some country lad using the oul "Ah jaysus garda I'm just up for the day, I don't know the road" and the garda asked for his ID to prove he's not a Dub. Actually I wonder if Dubs could get away with the same thing if they get done out in the whest or somewhere, doubt it.

hobochris

Id say he was either a Gard or a diplomat(They have diplomatic immunity from our laws unless the country they represent allows them to be prosecuted.)

BeardyGit

kbannon wrote: »

Maybe the lexus driver simply reminded the garda that he couldn't do him for speeding or whatever as he wasn't wearing his garda hat!

Funny.

alias no.9

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Driving to Dublin on the portlaoise by pass today and saw a marked mondeo pulling in a lexus gs 300 on the opposite side of the road,has to have been for speeding. As they both came to a stop the guy gets out of the lexus, flashes an i.d to the garda who was just getting out of his car.
The garda gives him a wave and they both get back in to their cars and away. Now i know that they aren't going to book one of their own but if that was joe soap he would have had a fine and 2 points. Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

All you saw was somebody stopped by a marked Garda car. You don't know who they were or why they were stopped, just that the Garda appeared satisfied that no further action was required once they had identified the driver.

Sids Not

Interceptor wrote: »

Dang, I gotta get me one of them there Garda ID yokeys. Ebay d'ya think?

'cptr

:)I know a man....do you want a disabled one too....;);)

TwoShedsJackson

Thoie wrote: »

May the Lexus was a doctor on the way to an emergency?

Someone on this board always thinks a speeder 'could be a doctor going to hospital' or something :rolleyes: nearly as bad as the 'high horse brigade'

BeardyGit

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Someone on this board always thinks a speeder 'could be a doctor going to hospital' or something :rolleyes: nearly as bad as the 'high horse brigade'

Well done TwoSheds, you made the first clichéd reference to the high horse brigade. Bravo. You win. Now, take a bow and exit stage left.

Hooch

Mr Lahey wrote: »

Driving to Dublin on the portlaoise by pass today and saw a marked mondeo pulling in a lexus gs 300 on the opposite side of the road,has to have been for speeding. As they both came to a stop the guy gets out of the lexus, flashes an i.d to the garda who was just getting out of his car.
The garda gives him a wave and they both get back in to their cars and away. Now i know that they aren't going to book one of their own but if that was joe soap he would have had a fine and 2 points. Are gardai above the law on traffic violations?

As already pointed out AGS have Lexus cars. Specialised unit who shall not be named have them. If he walked back and "flashes his I.D." then he would be on duty. Flash you badge off duty for the wrong reason at your peril.......

On the posts about Traffic Corps.......sure their not that bad:D:D:D:D

*Tripper*

Wether this is true or not we all know it goes on. The one advantage to privatised speed cameras is that the Guards could get a taste of their own medicine for a change.

Sids Not

Gil_Dub wrote: »

The law would be applied to that Garda the same way it would to you or me if he were stopped by Traffic Corps.

I know this will be an unpopular thing amongst a huge number of petrol heads here on boards, but I reckon the more Gardaí with the T.C. mentality, the better.

The fact that those lads apply the law to all and sundry means nobody's beyond the law when it comes to motoring offences, even 'fellow' members. Doesn't matter who you are. And I like that, a lot. With those lads it's not like some get away with it while you don't, it's that NOBODY gets away with it.

Now, where did I put that crotch shield and hard hat....

...what world do you live in.....??..La La land me thinks..

JHMEG

Gil_Dub wrote: »

So how about this - Instead of rubber-necking and passing judgement when you have NOTHING to back up your assumptions with, why don't you keep your eyes on your own side of the road and pay attention to what you're doing instead of what two stationary cars on the other side of the dualler are at? :rolleyes:

I don't normally comment on those types of posts, but that one is seriously ridiculous. Supposing there is an assault or rape going on on the hard shoulder?

Drummerboy08

Ah lads, who gives a fcuk. There was obviously a reason that the Garda let the Lexus away. Whether he was a Garda on duty, or a doctor on call, or a flying pig in the front seat is not for the OP, nor anyone else not involved to pick holes in.

For all we know, it could have been a HSE driver transporting vital organs to a hospital.

I love how people come on here, and berate the Gardai - "oh, I saw a guard pull a car over, but then he let him go". You saw what looked like that, but you have absolutely no idea what actually happened. As other posters have said, if people actually concentrated on the road rather than rubbernecking, it would make the roads a lot safer.

FFS, give the Gardai a chance. They are not all out to get you, and they dont all give each other a pat on the back when they pull a fellow member over for speeding. OP, if someone stole you car, or broke into your home, you'd be praying for the Gardai. But yet, when you see something on the road, you jump to conclusions and now apparently the Gardai are all corrupt. A Garda's job is hard enough without people picking holes in their work.

No doubt, we'll get a load of newly registered posters on here now, spouting on about what Gardai and where are on the take etc.

I laugh sometimes when I see peoples opinions on Guards being let off by other guards for minor traffic offences. Looking out for your fellow workers goes on in every job in the country. I would not have a problem with the situation the op has described if it was what actually happened(though I'm doubtful it was) as If I was a guard I would definitely expect to be let go with speeding tickets etc within reason of course.

agent_smith

A good pal of mine was pulled doing 160kph on the m50. He was on called in for an emergency in vincents and was on his way. Apparantly garda just took his id. He told the garda he had to get in for emergency. The traffic corps guys gave him escort most of the way to vincents. Gardai use their discretion when and where. I just felt that I should come in here and point out some of the decent things the traffic corp do as well.

BeardyGit

JHMEG wrote: »

I don't normally comment on those types of posts, but that one is seriously ridiculous. Supposing there is an assault or rape going on on the hard shoulder?

Ah come off it now. How about instead of dreaming up extreme situations like that, how about you suppose there's a car slowing down in front of you and you're too busy rubbernecking and speculating to yourself about the situation on the opposite side of the dual carriageway to notice it?

Care to speculate about that? No, didn't think so, as it wouldn't suit your argument. I mean FFS, it was a marked Garda car pulling a Lexus over. It's not like there was a scene from Mad Max playing out across the median with marauding rapists swinging chains at some young wan in her punto :rolleyes:

When you're driving a car at the guts of 100Kph or whatever the OP was doing, their attention should be on the road ahead, not on the other side of the road, instead of rubber necking on a scene where the Gardaí were in attendance. This was not a car on its roof with nobody around, someone beating the ****e out of their wife with no-one to stop them, a toddler walking in the hard shoulder or anything else like that. A glance and no more would have been more than enough.....

DiarmaidGNR

Does anyone know what the entry requirements are for the guards?....