Gardai doing people at 9am outside school

Lord Nikon

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

quad_red

neuromancer wrote: »

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

What difference does it make where they check to see if people have paid motor tax?

Why do people have to be in their cars for the Gardai to check the motor tax?

naoise80

neuromancer wrote: »

, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

Which is what they should be doing.

Pay your tax.

Dermo

You shouldn't be driving without tax, if you got caught, pay the fine and learn your lesson

DonJose

neuromancer wrote: »

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

It'd be hard for them to catch someone driving without insurance/tax when they are not in the car

I've seen a lot of foreign regged cars dropping children off in school, they might be targeting VRT avoidance.

voxpop

neuromancer wrote: »

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

They can - its an offence for the vay-hicle not to be taxed and/or insured or not to have the discs displayed. They can issue parking fines aswell

vibe666

surely the idea of having your tax, insurance & nct on the inside of your windscreen is that it's visible at all times?

cosmic

It annoys me that I have to scrimp and save to pay my annual motor tax and some just people don't bother. Nice to see the Gardai out doing their job.

Lord Nikon

These cars were not moving, hence no one was driving them.

If I have on-street parking and I don't drive my car, and I get a fine for having no motor tax, is this right?

DonJose

neuromancer wrote: »

These cars were not moving, hence no one was driving them.

If I have on-street parking and I don't drive my car, and I get a fine for having no motor tax, is this right?

Is it a public road?

Paulw

neuromancer wrote: »

If I have on-street parking and I don't drive my car, and I get a fine for having no motor tax, is this right?

Yes, unless your car is registered as being off the road and not in use.

But, I'm sure that they are aware of cars that are residentially parked there and those who have parked up to drop kids off, etc. Easy to work out.

Great to see the Gardai being active on this, and they can check a good number of vehicles at the same time, in a small area.

Of course, since your tax was out, you're lucky they didn't impound the car.

antodeco

If the car is on public property, whether being driven or not, it MUST have valid tax. Doesnt matter if somebody was near it, in it, looking at it. Its MUST have tax in a public place.

murphthesmurf

Outside a school is the best place for them to be in the mornings. You see so many parents with young children in their cars without being properly secured or in child seats. People park ignorantly making it difficult and dangerous for children to cross the road. 2 very good reasons for them to be there. Plus when other motorists see the gardai they'll slow down making it safer for the children. Cant see the problem myself.

deelite

I've often spotted Gardai in Tesco Car Park checking the cars.

Lord Nikon

Maybe I'm annoyed by it because the GFs car was out of tax.

Motortax sucks, lump it on to the price of a litre of fuel, and I would be more happy. Pay as you drive

MagicSean

Probably done in response to complaints. The way people park outside schools is ridiculous. Double and triple parking just so their little angel won't have to walk an extra 100 meters to the school gate.

stevenmu

It's funny how every law suddenly seems harsh when people start getting done for it

Mr. Presentable

neuromancer wrote: »

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

If the situation is anything like my local school there will be people causing obstruction and nuisance dropping kids off as close to the door as possible.

Cars stopped on both sides of the road, across driveways etc. What if an ambulance had to get through?

I'd guess the residents have had enough and complained to the Gardai. The Gardai are being reasonable in allowing people to drop the kids off, but are making a statement by checking them. If it discourages even a few from driving right up to the school it'll be worth it.

I'm all for checking cars are taxed et al.

who the fug

Maybe because I am gone with 25 years , but I still believe that this attitude of the law applies to other people very very strange

Lord Nikon

Surely if you living near a school, you should be aware of people dropping there kids to school, and parking where they can. It's for 10 minutes in the morning at most anyway.

amiable

k_mac wrote: »

Probably done in response to complaints. The way people park outside schools is ridiculous. Double and triple parking just so their little angel won't have to walk an extra 100 meters to the school gate.

But they put on their hazards;)

Guy:Incognito

neuromancer wrote: »

Surely if you living near a school, you should be aware of people dropping there kids to school, and parking where they can. It's for 10 minutes in the morning at most anyway.

The law doesnt have a window of 10 minutes around 9 in the morning and again in the afternoon.


Much like the tax thats out at 9 o'clock outside the school is still out at other times of the day.

Matt Simis

cosmic wrote: »

It annoys me that I have to scrimp and save to pay my annual motor tax and some just people don't bother. Nice to see the Gardai out doing their job.

Meeeeeh. I annoys me I have to pay tax per car even if one of them isnt moving. I can only drive one car at a time.

Gardai dont like checking for tax, no one signs on to a police force to harass mothers outside schools for a piece of paper representing pie in the sky government funding.

Guy:Incognito

Matt Simis wrote: »

Meeeeeh. I annoys me I have to pay tax per car even if one of them isnt moving. I can only drive one car at a time.

Gardai dont like checking for tax, no one signs on to a police force to harass mothers outside schools for a piece of paper representing pie in the sky government funding.

So should there be a checklist and a ranking system for Gardai based on which laws they want to enforce?

and dont start this "harassing mothers£ lark to garner sympathy. Mothers are well aware of the rules and laws regarding driving before they set off. If they choose not to obey them, then just like the rsst of us, tough.

murphthesmurf

neuromancer wrote: »

Motortax sucks, lump it on to the price of a litre of fuel, and I would be more happy. Pay as you drive

This would make far more sense. The way road tax works is unfair. If you travel 5 miles per week in your car you pay the same road tax as someone who travels a thousand. They should abolish road tax and just put it onto the price of fuel, the more you drive the more you pay. The more fuel your vehicle burns, the more tax you pay. Instead of stinging everyone no matter how much driving you do.

-Chris-

That conversation's been had a miiiiiiiillion times.

Let's stay on topic please.

amiable

IMO it boils down to if your car is taxed, insured and an up to date NCT then you should have nothing to worry about.
Stay within the laws and you should be fine.
We have laws in this country for a reason and though it may not seem like it sometimes they are supposed to be designed for the good of all

Victor

neuromancer wrote: »

These cars were not moving, hence no one was driving them.

For the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, parking is part of driving.

Of course, if the gardai were there for the duration and didn't see a truck pull up delivering your car, your car pretty much had to drive there.

JustAddWater

If they took your info you'd have a little yellow business card sized piece of paper stuck on your wiper

It will have a reference with MT xxxx written on it, the reference number being the reference to the fine you should receive in the post shortly afterwards

In fairness I think 9am is a great time as most tax evaders will use the car at this time to either get to work or drop kids to school so it's really the best time to catch people

No tax, don't drive. Can't really fault the guards for doing what they have to

neuromancer wrote: »

don't know if they took the car details.

Voodoomelon

This thread was only going to go one way in fairness...

dnme

You could always put your kids on buses or get em bikes to go to school or even tell them about walking and how we used to do it.

(let the abuse begin)

07Lapierre

neuromancer wrote: »

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

This is a great idea! nothing i hate more than being stuck in a long line of traffic at a garda checkpoint. Why should I be inconvenienced when I've paid my road tax and insurance? ... fair play to the Garda. keep the roads clear for the rest of us

bazz26

neuromancer wrote: »

These cars were not moving, hence no one was driving them.

If I have on-street parking and I don't drive my car, and I get a fine for having no motor tax, is this right?

If it is not on private property then you are obliged by law to a. have your car taxed and b. display a valid tax disc on the car. Whether you are in the car or not makes no difference.

Fighting Irish

neuromancer wrote: »

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

So you should be allowed drive a stolen car with no insurance or tax if you're dropping kids to school? Or what's your cut off? Just no tax?

Matt Simis

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

So should there be a checklist and a ranking system for Gardai based on which laws they want to enforce?

and dont start this "harassing mothers£ lark to garner sympathy. Mothers are well aware of the rules and laws regarding driving before they set off. If they choose not to obey them, then just like the rsst of us, tough.

What an odd reply. I was just making an observation that the Gardai are not mean people out to slam down on the small guy.

Thankfully (and perhaps at odds with your POV) Gardai usually excercise discretion as we enforce our laws with people, not machines.

johnb25

k_mac wrote: »

Probably done in response to complaints. The way people park outside schools is ridiculous. Double and triple parking just so their little angel won't have to walk an extra 100 meters to the school gate.

Agree that the the parking outside schools is chronic, but there is a catch 22 here......the more cars outside and on route to schools the more dangerous it is to let kids walk or cycle....it perpetuates itself.

Iwannahurl

Matt Simis wrote: »

Meeeeeh. I annoys me I have to pay tax per car even if one of them isnt moving. I can only drive one car at a time.

Gardai dont like checking for tax, no one signs on to a police force to harass mothers outside schools for a piece of paper representing pie in the sky government funding.

I have heard it said that the Garda power of discretion is their greatest power. However, I would be very concerned if Garda officers were deliberately turning a blind eye to traffic (and parking) offences on the basis of questionable quasi-political objections like the one you suggest.

That said, I would suggest that any officer so inclined would do well to remember where there salary comes from. If Gardai don't like checking for tax-related offences then perhaps they shouldn't be employed in a public service funded by taxpayers.

My own view is that a school is a public place where significant numbers of motorists are likely to gather, and therefore it's an efficient use of resources to do a Motor Tax enforcement operation in such a spot. While they're at it they should issue Fixed Charge Notices for illegal parking, especially on footpaths. I am sick to the back zoobies of the way motorists on the school run just take over pedestrian facilities as if they had divinely ordained rights above those of people arriving at the school on foot or by bike.

Now, if only I could persuade my local AGS to get off its blue-uniformed behind and do the same kind of blitz in my neighbourhood...

Matt Simis

Iwannahurl wrote: »

I have heard it said that the Garda power of discretion is their greatest power. However, I would be very concerned if Garda officers were deliberately turning a blind eye to traffic (and parking) regulations on the basis of questionable quasi-political objections like the one you suggest.

In my many conversations with them I have not questioned their motives on not following up on tax.. Im not insinuating they are using "quasi-political objections" to base their discretion on.

Fighting Irish wrote: »

So you should be allowed drive a stolen car with no insurance or tax if you're dropping kids to school? Or what's your cut off? Just no tax?

Lol, you forgot to add "drive a stolen car to Ram raid the Centra on the way to school and maybe run down the Lollypop Lady" for good measure.
Try not to equate no tax with Lord of the Flys anarchy.

kwalshe

my local AGS has started to crack down aswell on this.
Now all we need to look after is the trailers with no lights or markings, the idiots who sit idly in overtaking lanes and dopes on phone and I'll be happy.... Oh and tractors on motorways

BostonB

Next they'll been enforcing speed limits and dangerous driving.

Where will it all end...

Fighting Irish

Matt Simis wrote: »

Lol, you forgot to add "drive a stolen car to Ram raid the Centra on the way to school and maybe run down the Lollypop Lady" for good measure.
Try not to equate no tax with Lord of the Flys anarchy.

breaking the law is breaking the law, or is it not?

Dartz

Tax disk on bike reads 04-03

I think that might be a record.

Shane732

neuromancer wrote: »

I'm sure anyone who was dropping the kids to school this morning at Laurel Lodge, Castleknock noticed the gardai checking peoples cars. i was in the other halfs car this morning and the tax was out, but don't know if they took the car details.

Most of the cars they were close to had no one in the car, parked on the side of the street.

Seems a bit harsh to target drivers this way, if this was the case they could just walk around all day checking everyones car, without the owner inside.

So why wasn't the car taxed?

slimjimmc

JustAddWater wrote: »

If they took your info you'd have a little yellow business card sized piece of paper stuck on your wiper

It will have a reference with MT xxxx written on it, the reference number being the reference to the fine you should receive in the post shortly afterwards

In fairness I think 9am is a great time as most tax evaders will use the car at this time to either get to work or drop kids to school so it's really the best time to catch people

No tax, don't drive. Can't really fault the guards for doing what they have to

Do Gardaí still give out tickets? I thought they stopped doing that a long time ago and instead just record your details then post the penalty notice out to you.