Bad Experience being Pulled Over

Bogey Lowenstein

This is why we need bodycams on all guards. It might put people like him off joining the force in the first place if he can't throw his weight around with no consequences.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123704112#Comment_123704112

Current cameras have to be switched on to record - unless there’s a rule saying always on at traffic stops, then nothing stopping Gardai from keeping them switched off

Bogey Lowenstein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123706849#Comment_123706849

They should bring in a rule that if an arrest is not filmed on the bodycam all charges are dropped and the arresting officer gets disciplined- 3 strikes and you are looking for a job as a security guard. That would keep them on point.

con___manx1

Best way to deal with the garda is not to argue with them. I just say yesh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah to what ever they say. Got off once during covid for being on the phone. I got held up in one of those stupid covid check points and was late for a doctors appointment so had t call. Honestly never normally use my phone. I admitted it to the garda and she let me off. If I argued or was a bit of a dick I reckon I'd of got the fine in 5 working days.

Tenzor07

I'd say just "Suck it up" I'd say there's very very few people who haven't been pulled over by a Gard like this so just chalk it up to experience.

9935452

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123706926#Comment_123706926

It's getting more and more common though. Guards deciding to be asreholes.

I got stopped one day on the quad by an unmarked car. By the end of the conversation I got an apology from him as he didn't know quads could be registered ' insured and taxed.

The father another day had the tractor and cattle trailer going through a checkpoint. Guard told him his tractor wasn't insured. Father told him it was. Guard insisted it wasn't there was no disc displayed. The father said he didn't have to display a disc on an agricultural vehicle. The Guard went off in a rant that there was no need to explain the law to him as he was 11 years enforcing it.

The Father quoted him the section of the road traffic act that said he didn't need to display a disc and told him that there wasn't a need to explain the law to him eithre as he had spent 35 years as a Guard.

Was Then left off without any problem.

Girlfriend got stopped one night and was told by a guard that she was fucked as he had seen her on the phone.he insisted that he saw her putting the phone on the passenger floor ' when she saw him.

Stuck his head inside her window to look for the phone. Asked her where her phone was. She pointed at the phone mount on the windscreen on the rhs of the steering wheel beside his head.

His answer was **** off so . Don't come back here tonight . If I see you tonight again I'll do you.

I could go on and on.

I'm coming to the conclusion though that a driver facing dashcam might be needed as protection from these idiots.

Victor

Get a dash cam with audio.

Realise however that it will also catch the moments where you mess up.

9935452

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123707258#Comment_123707258

Then it was never on

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123707126#Comment_123707126

Nah it's always been the same…..actually much worse cos , now people have phone cameras and dashcams so people have a lot more options to protect themselves than in the past. Just don't try and be a "Facebook lawyer" or "Sovereign citizen"

Oscar_Madison

Some of the experiences here sounds like there’s some truth to that recent survey of traffic Gardai being disengaged from their work- sounds like many have lost their professionalism and are just using their badge to bully people - I’ve received two speeding tickets in over 30 years of driving - both were over 20 years ago- both guards were decent, professional and hell, I definitely deserved those fines.

A screaming guard over a relatively small driving matter really doesn’t do anything except get people’s back up- if you’ve done wrong then fine, issue the penalty but this faux anger and difkheadedness that they seem to go on with these days doesn’t achieve anything except piss people off even more- there’s no need for it.

3DataModem

Sometimes good ones have a bad day. Sometimes bad ones have a worse day.

I got massive grief from one many years ago who accused me for ignoring a "closed road" sign, however I had turned from a minor road (with no closed road signage) onto the closed road, and not taken the bigger signposted turn he accused me of. Terenure Villiage BTW.

He just didn't believe me. No matter what I said, no matter how polite I was, and just got angrier and angrier. Eventually I just stopped talking. Just gave him my name and address and told him to do whatever he wanted.

jackofalltrades

Has something like this happen once.

Overtook a Gard in a marked car on the N11/M11, I was doing 120 he was doing around 110. Just after I had pulled back to the left lane he turned on the lights and sirens. I pulled in. He was in a **** mood from the get go. Accusing me of doing 120 in a 100. I told him the speed limit was 120, he said it wasn't. I told him I'd happily go back with him and show him where the speed limit changed. He relented and told me I shouldn't be overtaking a Garda car and he'd never do it when he was off-duty. I said there nothing illegal about overtaking. Told me to produce my insurance at my local Garda station.

I drove off and he was following me closely. I pulled off at the next junction and he kept following me. So eventually I just pulled in and stopped. And after about 3 minutes he left.

In fairness I've had Gards in the past let me go when I could have got in a lot of bother. So I just brushed it off as someone having a bad day. Mad sure to get a dashcam after that.

_Kaiser_

Had an experience on the M7 where an unmarked i40 started tailgating me in busy morning traffic while I was in the right lane moving with the rest/overtaking others - you know the sort.. You look in your rearview and it's like they're in your back seat.

Anyway.. I drove on and he starts weaving left and right in the lane behind me and eventually puts the lights on. I wait for a gap in the left lane and let him on and pull back in behind him where he starts the same nonsense with the car that had been ahead of me.

At this point I took the reg and rang Dublin Castle. Eventually traced it back to a station down the country and rang them for a chat - all while still on the road to Dublin with the guy in sight.

Spoke to the guys Sergeant who to be fair was not impressed and told me he'd call him to have him pull in for a chat (we were just beyond Newlands Cross at this point) which he did.

Out he gets with an attitude but after my asking why he was trying to get into my back seat and bullying his way past others on a road known for frequent accidents he piped down and apologised.

Left it there but got a call from the Sergeant a few minutes later asking how it went and if I wanted to make a complaint. I thanked him for his help but was happy enough with the outcome so didn't take it any further.

Tenzor07

I know a dude, stopped at a Garda checkpoint, was asked for drivers licence and proof of insurance, said the licence was at home and the valid insurance disc was in the front window.. was told to produce.. then he got 2 x court summons in the post to appear for no licence or insurance… phoned the Garda to complain.. Gard said he will take care of it… Keystone Cops!!

con___manx1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123704112#Comment_123704112

The garda are a joke at this stage. They cant keep anyone in the garda. Low pay and cant put a finger on anyone without getting in serious trouble. I know a garda in one station and they told me 4 garda have resigned over poor pay and working conditions in the last 2 months.

When I was younger you would of been more afraid of the garda as they could give you a good beating if they wanted. No camera phones in those days. I feel the op is very unlucky because there is very few garda doing traffic duties compared to what there used to be. I commute on one of the busiest commuter belt roads and I rarely see them. Used to see them the whole time before covid.

if they bring In them bodycams there will be alot more garda resigning.

Dr Turk Turkelton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123709715#Comment_123709715

Would the ones that resign over having to use a bodycam not be the ones we should be looking to get rid of anyway?

Win win I say.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123709715#Comment_123709715

Personally, I think having Gardai who could give you a good beating if they wanted is not really something to be cherished.

It's more akin to vigilante justice than actual police.

But then AGS isn't actually a professional police force in many ways as we've seen time and again over the years. Probably needs a ground-up restructure to make real changes - but that'll never happen because as a country we seem to prefer the nod and wink culture anyway.

pjdarcy

You can get a front and rear dashcam in Halfords for about 200 quid. They're easy enough to install but if you're not up to it, they offer an installation service too. Sounds like you really need it OP

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123709715#Comment_123709715

Not surprised to hear that. What else can you expect in a country where you have scumbags regularly strolling out of court laughing, with yet another suspended sentence to add to their 150+ previous convictions, thanks to their Legal Aid brief, paid for by you the taxpayer of course.

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123709715#Comment_123709715

Low pay is not a feature of the organisation. It is a highly paid job for a job that has an entry requirement of a pass Leaving Certificate. A year 1 salary of €46,638 to €48,504 (depending on shift patterns) is not "low pay". These figures are slightly undercounted as guards, like all public employees, have received recent modest % raises under collective agreements.

"Garda Trainees will receive an allowance of €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training. Accommodation and food is provided while resident in the Garda College from Sunday to Friday. Garda Trainees attest after 36 weeks and begin on a salary of €37,311 (as of 1 October 2024), rising incrementally to €57,985 per annum after 8 years." Source: Public Jobs website

"It is important to recall that the Garda pay scale does not represent the full earnings of a Garda as it does not include any allowances. Gardaí assigned to frontline duties work the Garda Roster which attracts unsocial hours payments. Such payments amount to between 25% and 30% of their earnings." Source: Minister for Justice, Dail Debate, Apr 2016

Rushden

The entry requirement is to get into the college. Its a level 7 degree then that you've to go through before you're actually qualified. Pay wise I think the starting salary is fair for new recruits, granted its a job of very high responsibility, scrutiny, terrible hours and dealing with all sorts of terrible situations for less than 50k a year. Looking at the payscale I think the top of the payscale could be maybe 10k a year higher.

Even looking at the superintendent salary seems quite low considering the number of staff and policing area they'd be responsible for, dont think they'd be availing of allowances for an extra 20% either .

Either way as with any organisation with well over 10000 employees, there'll be very good ones and very bad ones and a lot in the middle, the bad ones get the stories

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123702979#Comment_123702979

I've been driving 40+ years and never been pulled over. Gardai don't do it for the craic.

Odd logic. 'I've never had an experience of this and my lack of experience is what gives me the knowledge to pronounce with confidence in the topic'.

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710816#Comment_123710816

The entry requirement is still a pass leaving certificate. Then you receive job training. I can't find any official figs on how many fail to complete the training due to inability (rather than voluntary quitting). It is an attractive career for many - 6,785 people applied for the campaign in March 2025. Granted not all would meet the requirements.

It is not a job for everyone as the type of work will only appeal to some. Similar to other careers. But the hours don't seem that 'terrible' to me; 2 10hr days, 2 10hr nights and 4 days off. The nature of that work is that you will be needed on weekends/public holidays etc. hence the additional 25%-30% on top of gross earnings. I assume that those hoping for a 9-5 and weekends off are not applying to be a guard. Personally I'm not interested in working weekends so it's not a job for me, but neither is retail, hospitality, or medical.

I agree that the bad stories are more likely to get attention and that there are plenty of fine employees in that organisation. But I don't agree that its a low paid job.

Tenzor07

Early retirement, job for life, heavily unionised, opportunity to move into a range of different roles, never have to worry about working for a U.S multinational who may up sticks at any time… what's not to like about a life in the Gards?

Rushden

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710851#Comment_123710851

Fairly sure its 2×12hr days then 2×12hr nights. I agree its not low paying but like I said I think the upper end of the scale could be a bit higher

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123711203#Comment_123711203

You're correct. I'm incorrect. Google has set me straight!

"It is understood that “core” policing function units, such as regular response gardaí, will remain on a four on four off 12-hour per shift rotation. They will have a reduced annual leave of 29.5 days.

The non-core units, such as Roads Policing Units, detectives and Community Policing will work a 10 hour shift duration with a complicated set of six on four off tours of duty. They will have 35 days annual leave."

con___manx1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710771#Comment_123710771

It Takes time to be on decent pay and alot of the new lads don't think its worth the wait as the work load and stress is to much.

In the usa police are paid more if they work in a bad neighbourhood. It should be the same here.

Did you see the video of the two garda being attacked with the knife on Capel street '? All they have to defend themselves with is a bat.

In The UK they have tasers. We need to protect outer gardai more and pay them better depending on where they are stationed. I mentioned in a previous post. One of the gardai I know told me 4 garda have resigned from his station in dublin in The last few months.

The Pay must not be worth it if that's happening.

9935452

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123712991#Comment_123712991

I wouldn't be in a rush to arm the guards even with tazers.

You catch one on a bad day and you will end up tazered. And there are plenty of them having a bad day.

Also against paying them more for working in a bad neighbourhood. It confuses things. Plenty of cities n towns with a bad neighbourhood ' you would end up with a situation where they wouldn't go to a bad area because they weren't getting paid for being there.

Regarding the guards quitting. Imo it's the cost of living in dublin at tge start when the wages aren't great that drives them away.

And most likely the reality of the work kicks in.

A family member wanted to join at one stage as he thought it was spending the days in a patrol car with lights n siren on the whole time and getting to stop the people who are on their phones' not indicating ' generally causing a nuisance.ie the people who he would find annoying

con___manx1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123713082#Comment_123713082

I'm not sure you have noticed but they have hobbits in the Garda now that need a tazer. They wouldnt tackle that lad in Capel street with the knife in a million years. It's only a matter of time before something bad happens to one of them.

I wouldn't be worried about them having a bad day now and tapzering me. They wouldn't have a reason to. I would love all those scum bags getting a good zap off one tho. Proper medicine for them.

Dublin Calling

I think a large cause of the lack morale in the Guards is due to our justice system. More precisely the lack of proper sentencing. If you spend your career working hard but don't see meaningful results, you eventually get pissed off at the job.