Stopping for an unmarked garda car question ?

pudzey101

Heard on the radio today about criminals impersonating gardai , its pretty easy get blue flashing lights on ebay etc ... whats the law on stopping for an unmarked car ? Can you drive to a safe location (petrol station etc) or what ?

heres a link to a case that happend to a woman

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/woman-assaulted-by-man-impersonating-garda-after-being-stopped-by-car-with-blue-flashing-light-34441592.html

L1011

The advice is to drive (legally) to a public place with people present *or* the nearest Garda station. In some areas, either of those options could be a very, very long distance away.

You are also allowed use your phone when driving to contact emergency services, if you are that uncertain its genuine. AGS twitter has recommended this along with driving to a station.

As goes the law - I would presume it would be failure to obey Garda instructions - an unmarked car is not giving clear instructions I would argue.

pudzey101

L1011 wrote: »

The advice is to drive (legally) to a public place with people present *or* the nearest Garda station. In some areas, either of those options could be a very, very long distance away.

You are also allowed use your phone when driving to contact emergency services, if you are that uncertain its genuine. AGS twitter has recommended this along with driving to a station.

As goes the law - I would presume it would be failure to obey Garda instructions - an unmarked car is not giving clear instructions I would argue.

But say you do choose to drive to a public place or closest garda station woudnt you be done for failing to stop if they where genuine garda ? its a tricky question tho from reading what happend that woman in the link above i wont be stopping unless its a marked car

K.Flyer

After similar occurances in Co. Kildare, Kildare Garda gave advice to motorists if they believed that they were being stopped by a fake Garda car...

Garda advice if you think you are being stopped by Fake Garda Car

There is a legal obligation on motorists to stop when indicated to do so by the Gardaí.

"So, in the event that you are signalled to stop by blue lights on an unmarked Garda Car and ONLY if you have any reason to doubt that this is a genuine Garda stop, then we would advise the following:
1. Keep all doors and windows locked.
2. Slow down/Stop near a lit area or house if possible.
3. Immediately call 999/112 or a family member, give them your exact location and keep the line open.
4. Engage with whoever stopped you, through a very slightly open window and look for Garda ID (Black leather folder type with Garda Crest and ID card).
5. Make it apparent to the person with whom you are conversing that you are on phone to Gardai/family member.
6. If for any reason you feel threatened or under attack, sound your car horn continuously and attempt to drive off.

"If the above happens immediately contact Gardai if you are not already in contact with them.

U.K. Police offer similar advice, but advise drivers to signal to acknowledge to the request and if in doubt to drive on at a steady pace to a safe area.

Ask The Police

L1011

pudzey101 wrote: »

But say you do choose to drive to a public place or closest garda station woudnt you be done for failing to stop if they where genuine garda ? its a tricky question tho from reading what happend that woman in the link above i wont be stopping unless its a marked car

You had zero proof they were genuine. Uniforms (which not all wear anyway) are invisible at night and also easily fakeable; anyone can get blue lights.

AGS have unmarked cars other than Mondeos these days also.

MarkAnthony

pudzey101 wrote: »

But say you do choose to drive to a public place or closest garda station woudnt you be done for failing to stop if they where genuine garda ? its a tricky question tho from reading what happend that woman in the link above i wont be stopping unless its a marked car

It's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

pudzey101

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

Best thing iv read all week :D:D:D

MarkAnthony

pudzey101 wrote: »

Best thing iv read all week :D:D:D

I blatantly stole it from someone here, who no doubt stole it somewhere else!

Atlantic Dawn

The basics for me stopping...

• Car must only have a tax disc on window
• Car must have Dublin reg
• Car must be 1.4 or faster

If not all 3 are correct I will not stop no matter what badge/id they wave.

pudzey101

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The basics for me stopping...

• Car must only have a tax disc on window
• Car must have Dublin reg
• Car must be 1.4 or faster

If not all 3 are correct I will not stop no matter what badge/id they wave.

tho if they came right up your arse it'd be hard see tax,reg and what litre it is :eek:

its bad times when i have to post up a question like this with the robbery's/burglary's going on :rolleyes:

GM228

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The basics for me stopping...

• Car must only have a tax disc on window
• Car must have Dublin reg
• Car must be 1.4 or faster

If not all 3 are correct I will not stop no matter what badge/id they wave.

Not all Garda cars are D reg (most are), they have a number of non D reg which are previously seized cars in use with the force.

I guess you won't be stopping for their 1.1/1.3 Yaris, their 1.2 Fiesta or their 1.2 Puntos either!

L1011

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The basics for me stopping...

• Car must only have a tax disc on window
• Car must have Dublin reg
• Car must be 1.4 or faster

If not all 3 are correct I will not stop no matter what badge/id they wave.

Good luck telling what discs are in the window and the engine size behind you in the dark.

Also, AGS have plenty of significantly sub-1.4 cars down to Yaris size and non D regs.

Actually, its relatively hard to read the reg of a car behind you at night also now that I think of it.

Useful to know that I just need a 1.8 D reg Mondeo to pull you over as a faker though!

the_pen_turner

im very concerned about this .
I know of one case where a garda uniform was stolen and was retrieved in a known criminals house.
I know because a sergeant told me along with 2of the criminals neighbours.


I would be very un easy stopping at night for any guard let alone an unmarked car.
I live at least 15 minutes from a station that would be open.

if I was up a back road there would be no way I would stop. who is to know who is impersonating a garda

Little CuChulainn

What exactly do people think will happen? Pull over, leave engine on, look door, roll window down a couple of inches. Talk to Garda. If they ask you to do anything other than hand your licence through the window, tell them you would prefer to go to somewhere with more light so you can look at their ID. Or ask what station they are from and tell them you just want to ring and confirm they are legit.

Fakediamond

Also, for routine stops, they will pull in behind you. If any car tries to block you in front, beware!

Of course if you've been driving like a maniac/suspect in an armed robbery etc, they might try and box you in!

2RockMountain

Are there any credible reports of bogus stops being a real problem here?

K.Flyer

2RockMountain wrote: »

Are there any credible reports of bogus stops being a real problem here?

Doing a search for "Bogus Garda Cars" throws up some results from different counties.

Little CuChulainn

2RockMountain wrote: »

Are there any credible reports of bogus stops being a real problem here?

There were a couple in Meath the last year or two where the car was taken when the owner got out of the car. I've not heard of any others.

jenny smith

GM228 wrote: »

Not all Garda cars are D reg (most are), they have a number of non D reg which are previously seized cars in use with the force.

I guess you won't be stopping for their 1.1/1.3 Yaris, their 1.2 Fiesta or their 1.2 Puntos either!

seized cars? seized from criminals?

L1011

CAB seizures

Bongalongherb

K.Flyer wrote: »

After similar occurances in Co. Kildare, Kildare Garda gave advice to motorists if they believed that they were being stopped by a fake Garda car...

Garda advice if you think you are being stopped by Fake Garda Car



U.K. Police offer similar advice, but advise drivers to signal to acknowledge to the request and if in doubt to drive on at a steady pace to a safe area.

Ask The Police

What good would any of that do if they are criminals impersonating a garda ? If they are pointing a gun at you through the window there is nothing you can do. On back roads I wouldn't stop, I'd indicate to acknowledge them and drive to a garda station, no point in taking chances like this.

Discodog

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

What exactly do people think will happen? Pull over, leave engine on, look door, roll window down a couple of inches. Talk to Garda. If they ask you to do anything other than hand your licence through the window, tell them you would prefer to go to somewhere with more light so you can look at their ID. Or ask what station they are from and tell them you just want to ring and confirm they are legit.

Won't do you much good when they smash the window.

frag420

L1011 wrote: »

CAB seizures

Dodgy taxis ha ha

K.Flyer

Bongalongherb wrote: »

What good would any of that do if they are criminals impersonating a garda ? If they are pointing a gun at you through the window there is nothing you can do. On back roads I wouldn't stop, I'd indicate to acknowledge them and drive to a garda station, no point in taking chances like this.

I totally agree with you.
U.K. Police do advocate that if you feel suspicious about the vehicle asking you to stop, that you indicate to acknowledge them and continue to drive at a steady pace to an area you feel safer, e.g. Local Police Station or an area with lots of people.
I don't think legit Garda would try to pull you over on a remote dimly lit road anyway unless your driving was giving them serious cause for concern. I would think for their own safety they would wait for a place where they can get a good look at who is in the car, rather than taking unnecessary chances themselves.

bmwguy

2RockMountain wrote: »

Are there any credible reports of bogus stops being a real problem here?

Yes it happened to one guy I know near celbridge in kildare. 2 guys but he fought them off, he is a bit of a headcase. He didn't see any weapons and when they realised he was going to make it very difficult they just gave up.

He was about 3 miles from either Lucan Garda station or leixlip Garda station (i am not sure where celbridge station is but it's not close to where he was anyway) I couldn't imagine real Garda being too happy following him that distance so I don't think that's a realistic option, bottom line is most people will pull in

Bongalongherb

bmwguy wrote: »

Yes it happened to one guy I know near celbridge in kildare. 2 guys but he fought them off, he is a bit of a headcase. He didn't see any weapons and when they realised he was going to make it very difficult they just gave up.

He was about 3 miles from either Lucan Garda station or leixlip Garda station (i am not sure where celbridge station is but it's not close to where he was anyway) I couldn't imagine real Garda being too happy following him that distance so I don't think that's a realistic option, bottom line is most people will pull in

I don't care if the garda station is 20 miles away, If I feel suspicious at all about them, I will drive the twenty miles to the station. I'll explain it to them there.

Little CuChulainn

Discodog wrote: »

Won't do you much good when they smash the window.

Then you drive off. It's not rocket science.

Never stop for blue lights alone.(unmarked)
Sound the horn and flash your indicators, if they don't sound the siren, don't stop

shar01

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/shining-a-light-on-fake-garda-34613280.html

I would head to nearest Fire Station - no guarantee the garda station would be open or manned.

Discodog

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Then you drive off. It's not rocket science.

So a hammer, metal bar or whatever smashes your side window & probably hits you too. Can you imagine how a vulnerable or female driver might react?

Spanish Eyes

TBH most people would stop if they see blue flashing lights behind or in front of them.

I honestly don't know what I would do myself, it would depend on the circumstances/time of night and so on.

Would I get a fright? Yes of course I would, and instinct tells you to STOP and obey.

So a man in a Garda uniform walks from a car with blue flashing lights and then.....

Jayzis you are scaring the life outa me here.

Nomis21

I drove Trucks in the UK. We were given a printed notice which we were supposed to hold against a closed window if we were stopped by ANY police car. It read:

"I have no authority to open my door or window for you. I will follow you to the nearest police station".

Little CuChulainn

Discodog wrote: »

So a hammer, metal bar or whatever smashes your side window & probably hits you too. Can you imagine how a vulnerable or female driver might react?

If they are that eager for your car they are just going to pull across in front of you. There are three types of hijackings in this country. People already in the car forcing the driver out, pulling the driver out of the car through an unlocked door, convincing the driver to get out and robbing them. I am not aware of a single incident where the kind of force you are describing has been used, successfully or not.

Sure why stop for a marked Garda car or a checkpoint? They could have robbed the car too. And the uniforms. If you want to spread a little fear why stop at unmarked cars?

L1011

Discodog wrote: »

So a hammer, metal bar or whatever smashes your side window & probably hits you too. Can you imagine how a vulnerable or female driver might react?

This isn't go to happen.

If someone is trying to nick a car for further use, a smashed laminated side window* or a seat full of fragmented toughened glass and blood isn't bog all use to them. You are being hysterical here.

If you are simply looking to rob someone you aren't going to go to this effort.

*which are increasingly common, and won't allow a hammer through anyway.

.red.

This is a Legal Discussion thread, you wouldnt see as much nonsense in After Hours lol