Garda speed van on M50 this morning (25th)?

sk8board

was that a white garda speed van parked under the brdge at the M4 junct this morning?

I passed at about 7.10am, was probably over the 100kph

Atlantic Dawn

If it was a 2008 Transit then most likely yes.

joolsveer

Was it parked legally?

Atlantic Dawn

joolsveer wrote: »

Was it parked legally?

Gardai are expempt from the law for parking, could be parked in the overtaking lane and would still be legit.

sk8board

yeh, seemed to be in some sort of lay-by, at the end of the west link bridge and M4 off ramps, heading southbound

two guys chatting in the front in tee-shirts and no flashes (but I think those camaras don't);

is the camera auto or manual? maybe they hadn't got started yet

it was a new standard (clean) Transit yes, with 2 blacked out back windows

joolsveer

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Gardai are expempt from the law for parking, could be parked in the overtaking lane and would still be legit.

Can you specify the law which exempts them from obeying the normal laws?

almat1981

If it had 2 blacked out windows was proably just a van, the two lads in t-shirts Would be a give away too ,gardi have to be in uniform .(any time I've see someone in speed van they have been in uniform any the van only has one blacked out window and one semi clear ,ie has a square witch the camera points out of so as not to distort the photo.

Atlantic Dawn

joolsveer wrote: »

Can you specify the law which exempts them from obeying the normal laws?

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2004/en/act/pub/0044/sec0027.html

27.—Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49 and 50 (inserted by sections 10 and 11, respectively, of the Act of 1994), 51A and 52 (inserted by sections 49 and 50, respectively, of the Act of 1968) and 53 of the Principal Act and sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Act of 1994, do not apply to a driver of a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or the use by a member of the Garda Síochána of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member or a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda Síochána, where such use does not endanger the safety of road users.

82dgolf

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Gardai are expempt from the law for parking, could be parked in the overtaking lane and would still be legit.

(where such use does not endanger the safety of road users)

Esel

almat1981 wrote: »

If it had 2 blacked out windows was proably just a van, the two lads in t-shirts Would be a give away too ,gardi have to be in uniform.

Do you seriously believe that a speeding photo is not valid unless the garda operating the camera was in full uniform? Novel defence you have there - let us know how you get on in court.

Shield

almat1981 wrote: »

gardi have to be in uniform

Better tell all those Gardai in plain clothes, because they think they are empowered to discharge the duties of a Garda as per their attestation oath regardless of what they wear. Ignore them if they point and laugh at you.

Cookie_Monster

the cameras do flash, but only if dark enough to be needed.
Possibly a works van though?

trad

How about 2 builders waiting for their mate to slide down the embankment from the N4 so that they can bring him to work. Vans regularly drop off and pick up their mates under M50 bridges rahter than take off ramps. Being going on since the M50 opened.

helimachoptor

On a side note, anyone got an idea on when the camera(s) at knocklyon will be operational?

djimi

While its not correct to say that gardai have to be in uniform, from my experience its unusual to see guards who are operating a speed camera not to be in uniform. I know thats not to say they will always be in uniform, but Id say the van you saw probably wasnt the guards. Probably, not definately...

Also, while they are exempt from parking laws, Im pretty sure this does not extend to parking on the outside lane of a motorway; not without serious just cause anyway...

almat1981

esel wrote: »

Do you seriously believe that a speeding photo is not valid unless the garda operating the camera was in full uniform? Novel defence you have there - let us know how you get on in court.

What I had been trying to suggest is that it was most likely a builder/ motorway worker, pulled over. Used to work beside one of the larger stations every time a speed van pulled out of that station the Garda were in uniform. Sorry for the mis quote ,understand that plain clothes officers do occasionally make traffic stops , but in the main it's uniformed traffic cops. Sorry shouldn't have said "have".

etcetc

noticing a lot more garda speed camera vans the last week or two

they have a new10d white one with garda markings on it and a picture of camera on the back of it

if your on tonlegee road its parked up on the path after the traffic lights at millbrook road

also noticed last week on ballymun road after traffic lights at DCU

And it was parked up on fairview strand just before the bridge last sunday morning

now i need to find out what speed limit limit is on fairview strand if not 60 im fubbered

any other sightings?

VinnyTGM

Just wait till November, then you'll be tasting the rainbow.

xMelanieOx

Probably a silly question but dont suppose anyone knows if the direction of the van matters when the camera gets you?
I was travelling down the Trim Rd today and on the opposite side of the road the Garda Van was facing me, I was over the limit... Does it take the photo from the front? Or would that van of been positioned on that side of the road to focus on traffic on that side of the road coming from behind it?

Esel

Afaik, the camera operates from the rear of the vehicle.