Gardai stopped me for "speeding"

StevieG11

Driving home from work today 80 kmh zone I came up behind an old berlingo doing 50k so I waited a bit until we got around the bend had a good look as you can see maybe 300 metres straight ahead.
No cars coming so I indicated and pulled out and just as I was passing the berlingo, a car came over the hill "black mondeo" 150-200metres away. No worries plenty of time and space so i drove on for maybe 5 kilometres at the speed limit. All of a sudden black mondeo up behind me looked in the mirror to what seemed like 2 younglads in there early 20s.
5 seconds later blue lights on I pulled in thinking they wanted to get past me. They pulled in behind me and the driver got out maybe 25, wearing a hoodie, jeans.

Came to the window asked me for my license, gave it to him. He checked my window- all good. Asked me was I finished work I replied yes.
I asked why was I stopped he said I was "moving on" and 10 seconds later "I was close to the oncoming car" this was there mondeo. Both these accusations not true.

He just looked at my license didn't go back to the Garda car, didn't write anything down and handed it back to me and said we do this sometimes as we can find "troublemakers or things like that" told me I can go away I looked in the mirror they pulled a u-turn and went back the way they were originally going.

I just found the whole ordeal a bit strange. Can anybody shed some light or ideas.

Cheers

antix80

He gave you a good explanation from the sounds of it. Maybe you reminded him of someone they were looking out for.

sdanseo

Sounds like detectives who perhaps thought you were someone else.

Seems bizarre that they would stop you simply "because we get troublemakers sometimes" .

If you got the reg, which if as a person so concerned as to join boards to complain about it you should have, then phone the local Garda station and ask them to confirm it was in fact a Garda car.

RobAMerc

they cannot check your speed while travelling in the opposite direction as far as I know - and it sounds like they were just checking you weren't a yobbo.

As part of the "slow down" and "its a limit not a target" horesh*t we are bombarded with and people now regurgitate ad nauseam, it now appears overtaking at any speed anywhere any time without a presidential pardon is a mortal sin.

StevieG11

sdanseo wrote: »

Sounds like detectives who perhaps thought you were someone else.

Seems bizarre that they would stop you simply "because we get troublemakers sometimes" .

If you got the reg, which if as a person so concerned as to join boards to complain about it you should have, then phone the local Garda station and ask them to confirm it was in fact a Garda car.

Sdanseo. I didn't really get concerned until I got home and thought about it. If something like that doesn't happen you very often your first instinct is not to take there reg.

Maybe you might I don't know.

PsychoPete

Had something similar happen to me, two detectives in t-shirt and jeans stopped me. Done the usual checks and said they were looking for an A6 then went on their way. I wouldn't worry about it

StevieG11

RobAMerc wrote: »

they cannot check your speed while travelling in the opposite direction as far as I know - and it sounds like they were just checking you weren't a yobbo.

As part of the "slow down" and "its a limit not a target" horesh*t we are bombarded with and people now regurgitate ad nauseam, it now appears overtaking at any speed anywhere any time without a presidential pardon is a mortal sin.

No they can't check my speed if they are travelling towards me.

Bikerman2019

Nice to see the detectives are watching out around them. You caught their attention and they did a stop check.



Nothing more, nothing less. Dont worry about it. I hope they do it a lot more. Might clear some of the looneys off the road.

StevieG11

I agree with you 100%. But I was neither "moving on" or "close to the oncoming car" I would just be worried that I'll get a fine with penalty points in my front door in a few weeks time.

If they just pulled me o er and said this is a random stop I wouldn't mind as much it was just the reasons for the stop I don't understand.

Cookie_Monster

StevieG11 wrote: »

No they can't check my speed if they are travelling towards me.

why not? Do AGS cars not have radars?

ronivek

In your opinion you weren't speeding or doing anything untoward. We only have your memory and your word on that.

In their stated opinion you may have been. We don't have much more to go on there; but certainly cresting a hill and seeing a car overtaking in an 80kph zone they might reasonably suspect you could be exceeding the speed limit.

They then followed you for a distance to see if you were taking the piss; didn't see anything of note and just pulled you once they believed they had been spotted so they could check your license etc.

I don't see any issues here.

standardg60

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

Nice to see the detectives are watching out around them. You caught their attention and they did a stop check.



Nothing more, nothing less. Dont worry about it. I hope they do it a lot more. Might clear some of the looneys off the road.

+1

Stop worrying about it, they were doing their job, you are of no concern to them, the fact you were coming from work is all they wanted to hear.

StevieG11

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why not? Do AGS cars not have radars?

AGS not so much. The traffic Corp tend to have on most vehicles. AGS tend to sit in the car with a speed gun pointing at traffic and if someone is over the limit then they follow the vehicle. But AGS have tripod cameras where they can take pictures along with your speed but they tend to be set up outside a vehicle and they don't need to give chase as they have the speed + picture.

StevieG11

ronivek wrote: »

In your opinion you weren't speeding or doing anything untoward. We only have your memory and your word on that.

In their stated opinion you may have been. We don't have much more to go on there; but certainly cresting a hill and seeing a car overtaking in an 80kph zone they might reasonably suspect you could be exceeding the speed limit.

They then followed you for a distance to see if you were taking the piss; didn't see anything of note and just pulled you once they believed they had been spotted so they could check your license etc.

I don't see any issues here.

Yes it's my opinion and I see your point. They didn't follow me for a distance they arrived behind me like a fireblade so I was had no choice but to spot them.

I don't see the issue cresting a hill and seeing a car roughly 200m away and pulling in. As they would have also noticed the berlingo was a danger travelling just over half the limit with a broken left indicator light.

AllForIt

I think in such a situation I would't ask any questions and just get it over with as quickly as possible. I'm totally fine with random stop and search where there is no reason for it in the sense you weren't doing anything wrong or acting suspiciously in any way. Hence, 'random'. Contentious issue this in the UK atm of course.

However, I'm uncomfortable with this unmarked car business, not the unmarked car but specifically officers not in uniform wearing hoodies, casual clothes, with noting but a blue light stuck of the car rooftop to indicate the law.

I think officers could wear some kind of recognisable official Garda attire in an unmarked car and not be recognised as officers in the car. It doesn't have to be loud, i.e. glittery or garish uniform-y type of thing, but something toned down and recognisable, that would give you confidence that this guy or gal approaching you is in fact an officer.

Sierra Oscar

StevieG11 wrote: »

I agree with you 100%. But I was neither "moving on" or "close to the oncoming car" I would just be worried that I'll get a fine with penalty points in my front door in a few weeks time.

If they just pulled me o er and said this is a random stop I wouldn't mind as much it was just the reasons for the stop I don't understand.

I wouldn't worry about it. Highly unlikely you'll get a fine without being told that was going to happen. As you say yourself, they didn't take your details.

The Gardaí have a common law power to stop any motorist for the detection and prevention of crime. The reason for the stop doesn't have to be disclosed. For example, they might have been looking for someone in a similar car to you. They don't have to tell you that.

Infernal Racket

AllForIt wrote: »

I think in such a situation I would't ask any questions and just get it over with as quickly as possible. I'm totally fine with random stop and search where there is no reason for it in the sense you weren't doing anything wrong or acting suspiciously in any way. Hence, 'random'. Contentious issue this in the UK atm of course.

However, I'm uncomfortable with this unmarked car business, not the unmarked car but specifically officers not in uniform wearing hoodies, casual clothes, with noting but a blue light stuck of the car rooftop to indicate the law.

I think officers could wear some kind of recognisable official Garda attire in an unmarked car and not be recognised as officers in the car. It doesn't have to be loud, i.e. glittery or garish uniform-y type of thing, but something toned down and recognisable, that would give you confidence that this guy or gal approaching you is in fact an officer.

What would you suggest? The whole idea of being in plain clothes is not to be recognised. Why would they wear something identifiable if the whole idea is to be anonymous?

slipperyox

Did they identify themselves as gardai? ali express sells blue lights

touts

StevieG11 wrote: »

Driving home from work today 80 kmh zone I came up behind an old berlingo doing 50k so I waited a bit until we got around the bend had a good look as you can see maybe 300 metres straight ahead.
No cars coming so I indicated and pulled out and just as I was passing the berlingo, a car came over the hill "black mondeo" 150-200metres away. No worries plenty of time and space so i drove on for maybe 5 kilometres at the speed limit. All of a sudden black mondeo up behind me looked in the mirror to what seemed like 2 younglads in there early 20s.
5 seconds later blue lights on I pulled in thinking they wanted to get past me. They pulled in behind me and the driver got out maybe 25, wearing a hoodie, jeans.

Came to the window asked me for my license, gave it to him. He checked my window- all good. Asked me was I finished work I replied yes.
I asked why was I stopped he said I was "moving on" and 10 seconds later "I was close to the oncoming car" this was there mondeo. Both these accusations not true.

He just looked at my license didn't go back to the Garda car, didn't write anything down and handed it back to me and said we do this sometimes as we can find "troublemakers or things like that" told me I can go away I looked in the mirror they pulled a u-turn and went back the way they were originally going.

I just found the whole ordeal a bit strange. Can anybody shed some light or ideas.

Cheers

You say overtook a car with 300m visibility but the Mondeo appeared as you were on the wrong side of the road with just 150-200m visibility ahead. In an 80kph zone two cars both travelling at that speed toward each other will close the 150m gap between them in just over 3 seconds.

I'd say you're lucky they didn't book you for dangerous driving.

L1011

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why not? Do AGS cars not have radars?

Fixed radar/lidar? No

Also, the maths required to correct for a reading an approaching vehicle while moving is complicated.


They can form an opinion that you were driving carelessly/dangerously without a speed reading regardless.

babi-hrse

It's perfectly reasonable to ask for a badge. There was an absolute loon driving a Mondeo on the way to Brittas bay who drove a wx reg Mondeo and had a Garda badge concealed the face of it just showed the emblem and started using very questionable lingo he got from a film like I'm going to put an alert out on this car if I catch you speeding again I'll nail you to the wall. There's going to be an apb same Ross Kemp looking arsehole was spotted later on that evening driving the same stretch of road. Conclusion. He found the Garda badge and is playing cop. I hope he tried that **** on an actual Garda and got done.

j4vier

I’d be also questioning if they were legit or not.

There was something in the news a while back about a fake undercover Garda who got caught only because he stopped a real undercover Garda Car.

An Ri rua

slipperyox wrote: »

Did they identify themselves as gardai? ali express sells blue lights

If I wasn't breaking any law that I was aware of, I wouldn't stop for them. I'd stick on my hazards to let them know I'm aware of them and then move into the centre lane and head for a petrol station or anywhere there's witnesses. These days, it could be anyone with a blue light. Ali Express as someone has said.
At the very least, I would have insisted on IDs and what station they're operating out of. I'd then have rang that station to confirm.
No way I'd acquiesce to 2 gobsh1tes in hoodies. Depends, maybe if you're in an urban area and they're playing Crockett & Tubbs. But down the country, not a chance.

Ps Op...is that you Phil?

It would be well worth running your mobile as a dashcam using Daily Roads Voyager. I do and it's ideal and low maintenance in clearing the videos when the commute is done. Livesaver in many regards.

AllForIt

Infernal Racket wrote: »

What would you suggest? The whole idea of being in plain clothes is not to be recognised. Why would they wear something identifiable if the whole idea is to be anonymous?

What I would suggest is in my previous post.

I don't know how you can see what anyone is wearing in a car behind you unless you have x-ray vision.

s1ippy

An Ri rua wrote: »

If I wasn't breaking any law that I was aware of, I wouldn't stop for them. I'd stick on my hazards to let them know I'm aware of them and then move into the centre lane and head for a petrol station or anywhere there's witnesses. These days, it could be anyone with a blue light. Ali Express as someone has said.
At the very least, I would have insisted on IDs and what station they're operating out of. I'd then have rang that station to confirm.
No way I'd acquiesce to 2 gobsh1tes in hoodies. Depends, maybe if you're in an urban area and they're playing Crockett & Tubbs. But down the country, not a chance.

Ps Op...is that you Phil?

It would be well worth running your mobile as a dashcam using Daily Roads Voyager. I do and it's ideal and low maintenance in clearing the videos when the commute is done. Livesaver in many regards.

Is that legal, not pulling over when they indicate that you should?

ronivek

s1ippy wrote: »

Is that legal, not pulling over when they indicate that you should?

The probability of a 'fake Garda' pulling you over is so fantastically remote that you would be an idiot to assume any car with sirens and/or blue lights trying to pull you is anything other than a Garda car.

Indeed I would be very surprised if this wasn't one of the stock excuses that career criminals and scumbags of various calibre use if they're ever pulled over after trying to evade the Gardai.

In general if you see a vehicle behind you with blue flashing lights and/or sirens which appears to be attempting to pull you over; pull over as soon as you reasonably can or you're risking arrest and prosecution.

Parsnips

you must have a right scumbag face on ya

Just typical garda acting the clowns. Ide say they catch alot of dodgy car contents by pulling people over on any excuse.
At least he told you to move on.

bobchowhut

RobAMerc wrote: »

they cannot check your speed while travelling in the opposite direction as far as I know - and it sounds like they were just checking you weren't a yobbo.

As part of the "slow down" and "its a limit not a target" horesh*t we are bombarded with and people now regurgitate ad nauseam, it now appears overtaking at any speed anywhere any time without a presidential pardon is a mortal sin.

if they have a detectot in car they can check your speed coming towards them.thats what they do in America unmarked car then they radio ahead and another car stops you. the gards checked the license plate before he stopped the car so knew whow was driving.they do it to find the drug dealers who drive fancy cars every stop goes into a database.you got stopped for illegal overtaking
i was filled once pulled into a house the garda went flying past i was gone before they could do a u turn unmarked cars are not really interested in traffic violations they don't want to do the paperwork

StevieG11

StevieG11 wrote: »

AGS not so much. The traffic Corp tend to have on most vehicles. AGS tend to sit in the car with a speed gun pointing at traffic and if someone is over the limit then they follow the vehicle. But AGS have tripod cameras where they can take pictures along with your speed but they tend to be set up outside a vehicle and they don't need to give chase as they have the speed + picture.

You are talking like they are separate organisations with separate equipment.

An Ri rua

An Ri rua wrote: »

If I wasn't breaking any law that I was aware of, I wouldn't stop for them. I'd stick on my hazards to let them know I'm aware of them and then move into the centre lane and head for a petrol station or anywhere there's witnesses. These days, it could be anyone with a blue light. Ali Express as someone has said.
At the very least, I would have insisted on IDs and what station they're operating out of. I'd then have rang that station to confirm.
No way I'd acquiesce to 2 gobsh1tes in hoodies. Depends, maybe if you're in an urban area and they're playing Crockett & Tubbs. But down the country, not a chance.

Ps Op...is that you Phil?

It would be well worth running your mobile as a dashcam using Daily Roads Voyager. I do and it's ideal and low maintenance in clearing the videos when the commute is done. Livesaver in many regards.

You may as well keep driving to the station because that's where you will end up

By all means ask for ID but this idea that you can simple decide where and when to pull in, it's not going to work

amadangomor

ronivek wrote: »

The probability of a 'fake Garda' pulling you over is so fantastically remote that you would be an idiot to assume any car with sirens and/or blue lights trying to pull you is anything other than a Garda car.

Indeed I would be very surprised if this wasn't one of the stock excuses that career criminals and scumbags of various calibre use if they're ever pulled over after trying to evade the Gardai.

In general if you see a vehicle behind you with blue flashing lights and/or sirens which appears to be attempting to pull you over; pull over as soon as you reasonably can or you're risking arrest and prosecution.

There was a man done for impersonating a Guard where I'm from.

He had ambition to get into the Guards but had mental issues. Somehow procured a uniform and got caught out raiding rural pubs after hours.

amadangomor

slipperyox wrote: »

Did they identify themselves as gardai? ali express sells blue lights

Definitely a concern if they didn't show their ID.

I'd be ringing the local station to see if they are they legit.

Allinall

Parsnips wrote: »

you must have a right scumbag face on ya

Just typical garda acting the clowns. Ide say they catch alot of dodgy car contents by pulling people over on any excuse.
At least he told you to move on.

If they do, then how are they acting the clown?

antix80

amadangomor wrote: »

Definitely a concern if they didn't show their ID.

Not at all. You've been watching too many US cop shows.

amadangomor

antix80 wrote: »

Not at all. You've been watching too many US cop shows.

Really?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/investigation-underway-after-man-impersonating-garda-attempts-to-pull-over-undercover-officers-39118103.html

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/dublin-predator-impersonating-guard-lure-12648709

JeffKenna

antix80 wrote: »

Not at all. You've been watching too many US cop shows.

If I were pulled over by two young lads in hoodies I'd be hoping to see their ID.

Parsnips

Parsnips wrote: »

Just typical garda acting the clowns. Ide say they catch alot of dodgy car contents by pulling people over on any excuse.

'acting the clowns' ?
Doing their job you mean

TheChizler

If you've ever looked at the Garda Traffic thread they're always catching people for drugs or no tax or insurance after they've come to their attention for doing something out of the ordinary, often something quite minor. They saw an overtake that might have just looked dodgy but at that stage you're on their figurative radar. Nothing to worry about.

Psychiatric Patrick

StevieG11 wrote: »

Driving home from work today 80 kmh zone I came up behind an old berlingo doing 50k so I waited a bit until we got around the bend had a good look as you can see maybe 300 metres straight ahead.
No cars coming so I indicated and pulled out and just as I was passing the berlingo, a car came over the hill "black mondeo" 150-200metres away. No worries plenty of time and space so i drove on for maybe 5 kilometres at the speed limit. All of a sudden black mondeo up behind me looked in the mirror to what seemed like 2 younglads in there early 20s.
5 seconds later blue lights on I pulled in thinking they wanted to get past me. They pulled in behind me and the driver got out maybe 25, wearing a hoodie, jeans.

Came to the window asked me for my license, gave it to him. He checked my window- all good. Asked me was I finished work I replied yes.
I asked why was I stopped he said I was "moving on" and 10 seconds later "I was close to the oncoming car" this was there mondeo. Both these accusations not true.

He just looked at my license didn't go back to the Garda car, didn't write anything down and handed it back to me and said we do this sometimes as we can find "troublemakers or things like that" told me I can go away I looked in the mirror they pulled a u-turn and went back the way they were originally going.

I just found the whole ordeal a bit strange. Can anybody shed some light or ideas.

Cheers

Did they have the proper identification that showed they are Guards?

Ash.J.Williams

StevieG11 wrote: »

Driving home from work today 80 kmh zone I came up behind an old berlingo doing 50k so I waited a bit until we got around the bend had a good look as you can see maybe 300 metres straight ahead.
No cars coming so I indicated and pulled out and just as I was passing the berlingo, a car came over the hill "black mondeo" 150-200metres away. No worries plenty of time and space so i drove on for maybe 5 kilometres at the speed limit. All of a sudden black mondeo up behind me looked in the mirror to what seemed like 2 younglads in there early 20s.
5 seconds later blue lights on I pulled in thinking they wanted to get past me. They pulled in behind me and the driver got out maybe 25, wearing a hoodie, jeans.

Came to the window asked me for my license, gave it to him. He checked my window- all good. Asked me was I finished work I replied yes.
I asked why was I stopped he said I was "moving on" and 10 seconds later "I was close to the oncoming car" this was there mondeo. Both these accusations not true.

He just looked at my license didn't go back to the Garda car, didn't write anything down and handed it back to me and said we do this sometimes as we can find "troublemakers or things like that" told me I can go away I looked in the mirror they pulled a u-turn and went back the way they were originally going.

I just found the whole ordeal a bit strange. Can anybody shed some light or ideas.

Cheers

Did you cross a double white?

StevieG11

Psychiatric Patrick wrote: »

Did they have the proper identification that should they are Guards?

No identification.

StevieG11

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Did you cross a double white?

Nope. I crossed a single broken white line when starting and finishing the overtake procedure.

Brock Turnpike

StevieG11 wrote: »

Nope. I crossed a single broken white line when starting and finishing the overtake procedure.

Where did the incident take place?

StevieG11

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Where did the incident take place?

Why do you ask?

Brock Turnpike

StevieG11 wrote: »

Why do you ask?

Just interested to know where the over taking took place. Get a clear picture of whether the two lads should have had any cause for concern based on the oncoming traffic they saw. Since that it was they seemed to suggest.

Psychiatric Patrick

amadangomor wrote: »

There was a man done for impersonating a Guard where I'm from.

He had ambition to get into the Guards but had mental issues. Somehow procured a uniform and got caught out raiding rural pubs after hours.

Not just going around in cosplay or stopping cars, but actually raiding pubs and such?

He is to be admired that his mental issues did not quash that ambition

Psychiatric Patrick

StevieG11 wrote: »

No identification.

That is a bit scary to be honest.

They are supposed to show ID , aren't they ?

Back in December I was in the car freezing my nads off waiting for the credit union to open. Put up my hood and collar and nodded off.

Next thing I knew there was knocking at the window. Two detectives and they both showed identification - though I was bit addled and couldn't tell what it looked like.

Bikerman2019

Psychiatric Patrick wrote: »

That is a bit scary to be honest.

They are supposed to show ID , aren't they ?

Back in December I was in the car freezing my nads off waiting for the credit union to open. Put up my hood and collar and nodded off.

Next thing I knew there was knocking at the window. Two detectives and they both showed identification - though I was bit addled and couldn't tell what it looked like.

So a hoody on and face obscured, sitting outside a credit union early in the morning? Bravo the cops. Fairly obvious why they questioned you. Very similar to the OP, you popped up on radar due to circumstances, they took note, checked you out, left you to it, then went for donuts

Psychiatric Patrick

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

So a hoody on and face obscured, sitting outside a credit union early in the morning? Bravo the cops. Fairly obvious why they questioned you. Very similar to the OP, you popped up on radar due to circumstances, they took note, checked you out, left you to it, then went for donuts

It wasn't a hoodie. It was a coat.

And I wasn't complaining or criticising the detectives. The point of my story was that they showed me ID when I was indeed being suspicious, so therefore I would expect them to show identification in a random check or less serious case when people might just be going about their business.

micosoft

StevieG11 wrote: »

I agree with you 100%. But I was neither "moving on" or "close to the oncoming car" I would just be worried that I'll get a fine with penalty points in my front door in a few weeks time.

If they just pulled me o er and said this is a random stop I wouldn't mind as much it was just the reasons for the stop I don't understand.

Gardai cannot just do a "random" stop. Under common law they have to form an opinion there was a reason to stop you or have a check-point to stop everyone - and even then there must be a reason e.g. Tax. Hence the "lame" reason.

Were you to take it to court (illegal stop)... all he needs is to say he formed an opinion that you were speeding and a bit close to another vehicle.

Bikerman2019

Psychiatric Patrick wrote: »

It wasn't a hoodie. It was a coat.

And I wasn't complaining or criticising the detectives. The point of my story was that they showed me ID when I was indeed being suspicious, so therefore I would expect them to show identification in a random check or less serious case when people might just be going about their business.

Hoody / coat / woolyhat. It is all the same. I am only to delighted to be stopped like that. I wish they would do it more. I was working late one night, very late, and my van was outside my premises.


My phone rang. It was the guards asking me to let them in to check on my welfare. It was out of the ordinary and they were looking out for me. I let them in and they checked I was not under duress.


I was delighted and thanked them. It is good they are doing their jobs. Now in the OP's case, it is a irrelevant arguement (to me anyway) if they showed ID. They were happy you were fine, so went on their way. Good stuff. Next time they could catch a car full of drugs/guns/whatever.


A necessary inconveinience.