Gardai Caution

Anna23

Quick question, got stopped by the Gardai today at around 14.00 pm, as I went onto the bus LANE well half of my car was on the bus LANE as I was waiting to turn into my estate, there was a lot of traffic on the other lane so half my car was on the bus lane and half on the correct lane, anyway I argued my point to the Gardai for about 30 minutes as I refused to leave with a 60 euro fine, as the whole system going into my estate is so badly organized and done. At the end of it he basically said OK, then consider this a caution. But before all this he took down my name, address and number as he intended on giving me a fine, and at the end after I told him my reasons and admitting that yes I have made a mistake, as I didn't want to hold back traffic who was behind me, he basically gave me a caution, while he said this he went back to his note book and went to where he wrote down my details and made a note and said fine its a caution. Did I get a fine or did I not get a fine??? cause I don't know what or how to interpret it???

vedwards

I'd see it for what it is...a caution... a slap on the wrist and be thankful. After all, they are human.

Anna23

Oh I am thankful if it was only a "formal caution" my problem is the fact that he took down my details and he did make a note beside my name but could he forget he gave me the formal caution by the time he gets to the office to put them in the system, and later on get a fine, can I contact him and remind him hey you said i only got a formal caution, I have his Gardai number as well???

carmel27

Wait and see what happens, ie if you get a letter or whatever.
I wouldnt go annoying him just yet. You acknowledged you were wrong, he acknowledged that you had little choice. Just sit it out and see if you get mail!
Oh, and, probably best not to go down the whole "hey you said" route with him!

Anna23

Oh yes of course I wouldn't say it that way but if I do get a fine can I contact him and remind him of the fact that he only issued a "formal caution"?

carmel27

Oh yeah, Id definitely get back onto him if you do get it, but by the sounds of it, you wont hopefully.
Good luck:)

Anna23

Ah thanks a milll hope not to get it.

Bosco boy

The Garda was just using his own discretion, it's just a caution on the side of the road, the fact that he has your details means nothing, you obviously made a good case after he took them down, the only record is in his notebook and he'll probally never look at it again. Forget about it!

Reloc8

You didn't receive a formal caution - he just told you to consider it a caution/take it under advice/don't do it again.

Presuming he was being genuine in doing so and/or doesn't forget that he apparently doesn't intend ticketing you you'll be fine. If you were to receive a ticket however you wouldn't have any defence to it based on 'he told me I could consider it a caution'.

Anna23

Well I hope so, he also didn't ask me to produce anything to the Gardai station, within 10 days, as I have heard that's what should have happened. Thanks for all the advice, lesson learned.
He did have my driving license though as I did have it with me so I did show him. Ah I will let you know if I did or didn't get a fine.