Misunderstanding with Garda

donegaLroad

A few nights ago I was leaving relatives to a late bus (2am) to Dublin airport when I came upon a Garda car stopped at the side of the road with its lights flashing, so I stopped. It looked like there was either an accident or an obstruction up ahead. Then the garda waved her flashlight over and back, and it honestly looked to me as if I was being called forward, so I drove forward with the intention of continuing on the journey, only to be stopped by the garda and she indicated to me to reverse back again, which I did.

It turned out that I wasn't being beckoned forward, and that she was waving the flashlight over and back as a signal to stop. She seemed a bit annoyed, and proceeded to take my name and address, and the reg of the car. I explained that it was a genuine mistake on my part and that I thought I was being called forward. Her words to me was 'there is no point in lying about it..' which left me a bit speechless, I didn't want to get into an argument with her at the side of the road.

It turned out that it was traffic lights that weren''t working and there was roadworks which had been left in a dangerous state so the gardai had to direct traffic there until the morning when the workers arrived back.

She seemed to be speaking into her radio for about a minute, then she didn't say anything else to me. As I was given the go ahead to drive on, I spoke up and said really sorry about the misunderstanding to which she replied 'its ok, stay close to the right hand side of the road as your passing the obstruction, good night'.

I wonder will I hear anything again about this. I wasn't told I had committed any offense, I hadn't been speeding and the car is taxed, insured and NCT etc.

accensi0n

Probably just a couple of years.

flaneur

Maybe she was just checking the car wasn't stolen or wanted for some reason, as from her perspective, you appeared not to stop?

If you are concerned, ring the Garda station in that area and just explain what happened and that you just want to be 100% sure that there was no need to follow up.

These things happen and they're not ogres. Just give them a ring and see what the story is.

Synthol

Yes, you're going to court and will get between 2-15 years and a fine between €250-€5000 depending on the circumstances. As it seems like you don't have any criminal record and your car had nct, insurance and tax, you are looking at doing minimum time which will be 2 years or the judge might cut it down to 2 years probation.

Mod
And the comedians have arrived.
Synthol, pls take a month's holiday from this forum

rizzodun

It'll be grand, don't worry about it.

A few years ago I was heading to work about 7:30 in the morning on the N4 dual carriageway from Sligo when I met a Garda van at the sliproad just outside town, he was walking along the road with a sign and I slowed down, he waved me on so I kept going, only to see him running back around when I passed him in my rearview mirror.

Realised about 2km up the road that a truck was on fire and he was setting up a diversion, and was in fact beckoning for me to take the sliproad.

On the plus side, wanted to get off early and most others heading in my direction were 30-40 mins late for work. Pretty sure he had my reg but never heard a thing. Result!

Ash.J.Williams

Death penalty definitely

flaneur

Synthol: that's EXTREMELY unlikely to be the case.

It was a misunderstanding of the signal and the driver made every effort to rectify the situation and the Garda basically bid him good night and told him to be careful.

Sounds like fairly normal traffic police interaction to me.

Synthol

rizzodun wrote: »

It'll be grand, don't worry about it.

A few years ago I was heading to work about 7:30 in the morning on the N4 dual carriageway from Sligo when I met a Garda van at the sliproad just outside town, he was walking along the road with a sign and I slowed down, he waved me on so I kept going, only to see him running back around when I passed him in my rearview mirror.

Realised about 2km up the road that a truck was on fire and he was setting up a diversion, and was in fact beckoning for me to take the sliproad.

On the plus side, wanted to get off early and most others heading in my direction were 30-40 mins late for work. Pretty sure he had my reg but never heard a thing. Result!

You're going to court buddy

Synthol

flaneur wrote: »

Synthol: that's EXTREMELY unlikely to be the case.

It was a misunderstanding of the signal and the driver made every effort to rectify the situation and the Garda basically bid him good night and told him to be careful.

Sounds like fairly normal traffic police interaction to me.

Mod deletion

rizzodun

Synthol wrote: »

You're going to court buddy

Come to think of it, there's been a sliver Mondeo parked across from my house for the last 3 years. I've even sold the car I broke the law in...

elperello

OP if you were looking for a comedian you would have gone to the Palladium.

On a serious note, you have nothing to worry about.
Those minor mis-understandings happen all the time .
If the Garda was going to take action she would have followed different procedures.