Are the Irish Prison Service allowed to use the Bus Lane?

Gotham

I know Gardaí have nearly free reign of the roads, but these guys aren't Gardaí.

I ask this question because I saw a prison service van driving around Dublin and at least twice in less than 5 minutes used a bus lane to skip traffic on two different roads. It didn't seem like they were in a particular rush either.

Here's a picture of the type of van they were using just to clear things up.

Zambia

Its the prison "Bus", when you use one with windows they tend break glass and run away.

Victor

I suspect they are operating under an exemption and will have had specific instructions from the Garda for dealing with specified situations.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2010/en/act/pub/0025/sec0087.html

Exemptions for emergency vehicles.

87.— (1) Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2010 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49, 50, 51A, 52 and 53 of the Principal Act, sections 12, 13 and 15 of the Act of 1994 and sections 4 , 5 , 12 and 14 of this Act, do not apply to—

(a) the driving or use by a member of the Garda Síochána, an ambulance service or a fire brigade of a fire authority (within the meaning of the Fire Services Act 1981 ) of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member, or

(b) 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.

(2) Section 27 of the Act of 2004 is repealed.

However, if they are over-doing it feel free to report them to the local station.

Gotham

Zambia wrote: »

Its the prison "Bus", when you use one with windows they tend break glass and run away.

Very clever indeed Mr Zambia.

Victor wrote: »

I suspect they are operating under an exemption and will have had specific instructions from the Garda for dealing with specified situations.

Thanks Victor, I knew this might be a possibility, I didn't see any Garda escort but that's not to say it's even required or a Garda wasn't present in the vehicle.
Either way, I'll keep an eye out for it, I know where they were headed.

Bepolite

Personally I'd rather have a van full of prisoners get to and fro as fast as possible.

Five Lamps

Perhaps the number of seats on board would qualify it as a 'bus'.

ScouseMouse

They are exempt. They get a little permit which gets displayed in the windscreen

hullaballoo

superscouse wrote: »

They are exempt. They get a little permit which gets displayed in the windscreen

Prove it.

vector

hullaballoo wrote: »

Prove it.

I have seen a red rectangle sticker on the windscreen of Ministers cars saying they are allowed to use bus lanes, perhaps Prison vans have a similar sticker to remove any doubt? I'd imagine not though. They are clearly marked as being prison vans so a Garda could see that without need for a sticker

Gotham

superscouse wrote: »

They are exempt. They get a little permit which gets displayed in the windscreen

Is that speculation or actual knowledge?

Well, this is the actual van in question, granted the photo is taken at a different time, but there is only one disc on the window and it looks like a tax disc.
http://i.imgur.com/NA5YvNh.jpg

EDIT:
I found another image of a different van on the internet, It looks like they only have a tax disc.
http://i.imgur.com/rhqOSiN.jpg

ScouseMouse

I deal with the prison service but cannot say to much.

The sticker was in the top right hand corner as you look at the windscreen. This was displayed in an unmarked corrolla and was used for prisoner transport and running around.

ScouseMouse

vector wrote: »

I have seen a red rectangle sticker on the windscreen of Ministers cars saying they are allowed to use bus lanes, perhaps Prison vans have a similar sticker to remove any doubt? I'd imagine not though. They are clearly marked as being prison vans so a Garda could see that without need for a sticker

I think the one I saw was red and was signed by a superintendant.