CSO conducting "census" checkpoints?

Turtle-TM

First off, this is info coming from a couple of different people as I haven't been out in the car this week

But 2 different people tell me that on the trim to navan road at the service station there was a Garda checkpoint set up, a squad car with lights flashing parked at side of the road, but the guards weren't manning the checkpoint, instead it was people from ( I presume) the central statistic office stopping people, one would take the reg down, and the other would ask the driver questions.

"Where are you coming from?, where are you going? What's the purpose of your travel to X? Do you drive there often?"

Like I said, I haven't come across this myself, otherwise I'd have found out exactly who they were and what was the purpose of their questions, and if I was required to stop and answer them. Because as far as I know only a Garda can stop traffic, and even if asked where are you going or what's your business, you don't have to answer (while still being polite obviously!)

Has any one come across one of these before? Is my theory on what it is right?

I'll try to source some more info from some people who may have come across it yesterday too

Stinicker

Sounds more like Social Welfare, I wonder if it was possibly signing day somewhere and they were watching for people drawing twice in different towns using different alias's and identities.

Toyotafanboi

Stinicker wrote: »

Sounds more like Social Welfare, I wonder if it was possibly signing day somewhere and they were watching for people drawing twice in different towns using different alias's and identities.

ah now that's all very elaborate!

Atlantic Dawn

I would have politely told them to go f themselves, they have no authority to ask you anything, nor have they any right to stop your vehicle. The Gardai and customs do have such powers.

Stinicker

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

ah now that's all very elaborate!

I understand it happens a good bit up around the border as you get people drawing the dole in both jurisdictions either side of the border.

Cheensbo

Hardly customs was it?

Senna

Turtle-TM wrote: »

Do you drive there often?"

Worst chat-up line ever.

Please Kill Me

Turtle-TM wrote: »

First off, this is info coming from a couple of different people as I haven't been out in the car this week

But 2 different people tell me that on the trim to navan road at the service station there was a Garda checkpoint set up, a squad car with lights flashing parked at side of the road, but the guards weren't manning the checkpoint, instead it was people from ( I presume) the central statistic office stopping people, one would take the reg down, and the other would ask the driver questions.

"Where are you coming from?, where are you going? What's the purpose of your travel to X? Do you drive there often?"

Like I said, I haven't come across this myself, otherwise I'd have found out exactly who they were and what was the purpose of their questions, and if I was required to stop and answer them. Because as far as I know only a Garda can stop traffic, and even if asked where are you going or what's your business, you don't have to answer (while still being polite obviously!)

Has any one come across one of these before? Is my theory on what it is right?

I'll try to source some more info from some people who may have come across it yesterday too

Yep, came across this on Monday morning (about 9.45am) at the Texaco/Supermacs just outside Trim. Big line of cars both directions only to be asked stupid questions. As if traffic isn't bad enough FFS!!!! :rolleyes:

Fred Swanson

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dgt

Must ask my dad, he drives up there everyday...

Good luck trying to get answers out of him though, 4 default answers would be "yes" "I don't know" "no" and "what part of no do you not understand" :pac:

Alkers

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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There's a legal obligation to fill out your census form.

Fred Swanson

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Nonoperational

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I would have politely told them to go f themselves, they have no authority to ask you anything, nor have they any right to stop your vehicle. The Gardai and customs do have such powers.

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Or you could just be helpful and answer a few anonymous questions...

Wheelnut

Sounds like a traffic survey.

I don't anything about this case but I was on several of them when I worked for Dublin Co Co about 1970.

Yes, there has to be a Garda there to stop traffic.

Yes, you are under no obligation to answer questions.

The questions can seem stupid but they have a purpose. For instance if you are going to work you probably have to meet a deadline and park all day, but if you are going shopping your time is more flexible and you will probably only need a few hours parking.

Of course there are assholes who must spend a long time lecturing junior survey workers about their constitutional right to say nothing, but they still expect the authorities to know where they want to go and to provide the roads to get there.

Private Joker

It sounds like an origin/detination survey. They are used by planners when planning a new road. Nothing more sinister than that.

They find out who the main users of the road are and where they are travelling to.

kbell

I passed by at about 10.15 and they had gone, all the signs and cones were still out in the road tho.

Fred Swanson

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Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

"why are you going to x?"

to ride your missus !


but seriously I wouldnt be answering this shoite.

yes the garda can stop me but can I just drive off from the cso without answering or stating that ?

ironclaw

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

yes the garda can stop me but can I just drive off from the cso without answering or stating that ?

Why do people get so uptight about answering a few anonymous survey questions? Its entirely different to being stopped by the charity chuggers in the street. If the Gardai are involved its obviously official business. The very same people will give out when the same road doesn't have X or Y changes, or if people are drawing the dole in various towns because surveys like this didn't take place.

I see no issue what so ever in saying where I was and where I was going to. Just generally being polite. Does everyone have something to hide? Privacy doesn't exist any more lads.

In fact failing to answer a Garda's questons will probably just lead to further questioning from AGS if they had reason to believe you were being evasive. Whats to say a serious crime hadn't be committed 10 mins down the road? Are you going to say 'None of your business Garda'? Do you want you car stopped and searched? Yeah, I think I'll just answer the questions and drop the SAS 'Grey Man' attitude.

Sam Russell

I remember hearing a fellow on the radio in the 70s saying he was stopped in the North by a British Army checkpoint. A young sodier asked him 'Where are you coming from and where are you going?' He replied 'I've just come from Killnaman and I am going to Killmore.'

SniperSight

Jeez, just answer the fecking questions and try, try to get on with your life!!

corktina

I remember years ago a survey in Reading at rush hour causing huge tailbacks.Most drivers refused to open the window and others threw the survey back out on the road.They had to abandon it in the end as obviously the results of what info they did get would be meaningless.

furtzy

SniperSight wrote: »

Jeez, just answer the fecking questions and try, try to get on with your life!!

Exactly...sometimes you need to take a break from fighting the system

furtzy

Sam Russell wrote: »

I remember hearing a fellow on the radio in the 70s saying he was stopped in the North by a British Army checkpoint. A young sodier asked him 'Where are you coming from and where are you going?' He replied 'I've just come from Killnaman and I am going to Killmore.'

When asked where we were going to we always replied "home where you should be going". My Dad provided a classic moment at a checkpoint in Derry. We were stopped by a black soldier and when he looked at my Dad's licence he seen the Monaghan address to which he said "you're a long way from home sir" to which my Dad replied "you're not exactly under a banana tree yourself"!..even the soldier laughed

Supergurrier

Do they pull over the person being surveyed to the hard shoulder or just trap everyone behind them ?

I would go ape if i was late for work because some goody too shoes felt like spending 10 minutes in conversation.

Chris_Heilong

I am far too important to answer stupid questions, if I am in my car then I am going somewhere and these questions are just going to delay me.:pac:

Itsdacraic

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I would have politely told them to go f themselves, they have no authority to ask you anything, nor have they any right to stop your vehicle. The Gardai and customs do have such powers.

What a hero.
That would show them.

Red Crow

They are only doing their job. It seems like a pretty pointless and thankless task on the face of it. I'd love to know what it's for. Surely you'd have a right to know why this data is being collected? I'd have no problem answering a few questions but some of these CSO surveys take forever.

Taking a guess I'd imagine it's some EU wide car survey. Average drive time, average commute time etc.

antodeco

Driving around the country, Ive had the (mis)fortune of these happening.

Its basically looking at travel and traffic statistics.

Where are you travelling to?
Did you stop off anywhere else along the way?
Is it work related?
Where are you travelling from?
How often do you do this journey?

It can take about 10 minutes to answer.

ZENER

Nonoperational wrote: »

Or you could just be helpful and answer a few anonymous questions...

They're not anonymous though. They take down your Registration !

Ken

challengemaster

Wheelnut wrote: »

Of course there are assholes who must spend a long time lecturing junior survey workers about their constitutional right to say nothing, but they still expect the authorities to know where they want to go and to provide the roads to get there.

Its almost as if there's no better ways of collecting information in 2013 than unnecessarily stopping people on their commute.

Tigger

its normally the social
first time i waas stopped its went like this
sw:where are you coming from?
Tig: hi nice day isn't it? why do you ask where i'm coming from?
sw:err
tig: i'm comming from my home in ***
sw: where are you going
Tig: in what capacity are you asking these questions, i see the garda is stopping people but who are you
sw:err
Garda: where are you coming from?
Tig:****
Garda: where are you going
Tig: ****
garda etc etc


the sw guy stod beside the garda and wrote down all my answers sso i gave him my pps number so he could do all the research he likes



why on earth they can t say hello sir ; i'm doing a survey on behalf of the social to cut down on fraud..
then i'd have been helpful from the start

Atlantic Dawn

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I would have politely told them to go f themselves, they have no authority to ask you anything, nor have they any right to stop your vehicle. The Gardai and customs do have such powers.

With regards to asking you questions, everyone has the "authority" you are under no obligation to answer any questions from anyone, even Gardaí.

The Gardaí often ask where you're going, but that just a general question, you're not required to answer it.

Also, outside a car, unless the Gardaí suspect an offense has being committed, you don't have to give them your details, but that's a whole different thread.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

ive nothing to hide myself but I mean if im out driving I probably need to be somewhere by a certain time and dont need this thing on the way.

example, a person has work at 9am and leaves at 8:30 to be there at 8:55 ...they dont need a 10 min survey and need to he somewhere

if it was a murder or something nearby and I saw the getaway car then fair enough or an actual garda check point doing the tax nct insurance and driving licence less than 30 second job then no worries

if its the social then why do they need tk stop traffic to check this ? I mean the social and post offices all have pps numbers, they cant use that ?

TheBody

There was one of these surveys being done just outside Mullingar this morning. On the road to Castlepollard.

_Kaiser_

Sam Russell wrote: »

I remember hearing a fellow on the radio in the 70s saying he was stopped in the North by a British Army checkpoint. A young sodier asked him 'Where are you coming from and where are you going?' He replied 'I've just come from Killnaman and I am going to Killmore.'

That list of Thanks make it better tho! :P

Some real heroes here refusing to answer a few simple questions. Love the way the guard got involved in one case above and the lad had to answer the questions then

JerCotter7

I'd just reply that I don't have time now sorry. Same I do to telemarketers. A few simple questions turns into so many stupid redundant questions.

coylemj

As usual this type of exercise brings out the paranoia in people. I haven't come across one of these surveys for a while but it can't have anything to do with social welfare because they don't ask you for any personal details, more like where are you coming from and going to and that's it. There are people doing this type of survey all the time in Dublin airport, they catch you when you're hanging around at the departure gate and ask you where you're flying to and if it's business or pleasure.

If you're not prepared to even provide that (anonymous) data then don't complain when they don't build roads in the right places in 10 years time.

JerCotter7

JerCotter7 wrote: »

I'd just reply that I don't have time now sorry. Same I do to telemarketers. A few simple questions turns into so many stupid redundant questions.

There is a big difference between this and telemarketing. We all like to complain about traffic etc and these surveys look like they are looking at traffic volumes etc on particular routes which may lead to improvements down the line.

It might well make no difference but for the sake of a few mins once off its worth doing.

LIGHTNING wrote: »

What`s the problem with not answering? I wouldn't answer that's my choice, I am not trying to fight the system or anything like that. I would politely refuse to answer and drive off.

Whats problem with answering? (unless you really happen to be in a mad rush on the particular occasion). There is no reason not to answer other than acting the boll*cks and being awkward.

keithclancy

Could they not capture the information in the Census rather than cause traffic jams

Fred Swanson

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R.O.R

I'd welcome such a distraction to break up the long, tedious, boring, repetitive, repetitive, repetitive, commute.

The Maverick

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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I think you're on to something there. OP clearly stumbled upon a checkpoint rounding up people to go to a concentration camp.

Turtle-TM

Thanks for the replies, seems my theory was right.


I don't get the whole "why not just answer the questions?!!"

It's that attitude that has a lot of guards thinking they can do what ever they want, then when they are questioned about it either back down or try to cause more issues. I had a detective come over to me and ask all sorts of questions at a tax check point once, didn't make an issue as I had the kid in the car, but the sight of someone under 40 in a big luxury car seems to spark their interest, even when it's taxed, insured, nct'd etc. I've had the same from gards walking home from town in the past.

If I came across one of these checkpoints I'd simply say I don't want to answer or I don't have time, and if pressed I'd ask the gard exactly what act of legislation he'd like to envoke to force me to answer the questions of a civil servant!

But if you feel the need to do everything your told to do, or feel like your being told to do knock your self out.

Turtle-TM

Turtle-TM wrote: »

If I came across one of these checkpoints I'd simply say I don't want to answer or I don't have time, and if pressed I'd ask the gard exactly what act of legislation he'd like to envoke to force me to answer the questions of a civil servant!

In other words acting the bol*ocks for no reason other than to annoy people going about their work and think your a big man because you didn't answer a few simple questions.

Fred Swanson

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Fred Swanson

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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No not answering simple questions because people want to exercise their right not to over a few simple questions is acting the bol*ocks imo. Its the very same as people not wanting to answer a guard at a check point asking where you're coming from and where you're going even though it doesn't make any difference and just delays the person who wont answer and may even land them in trouble rather than just answering and getting back on their way.

Especially when something like this may actually be beneficial for road users.

gowley

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I am not going to get into why I don't. I am waiting for the usual response to these type of topics:

"If you have nothing to hide, I don't see what the problem is".

if you have nothing to hide i dont see what the problem is

Play To Kill

I've been stopped by these a couple of times when I lived in Cork, I drive a van for work and first a garda took my driving licence details and then had a look at the tax and insurance discs and a quick check at tyres etc, then an inspector for the social welfare and revenue took my pps number and asked if I was self employed and was I on any social welfare payments and was I registered as self employed. All was fine on both occasions and I was allowed on my way, customs were also there but didn't bother with me and just waved me on.

Fred Swanson

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