Done for taking a right turn

sandyg

I got done this morning at 7.30. It was on the road towards the docks just before the bridge there is a turn right onto West Road. I know the sign says "no right turn between 7.00 and 4.00". Guards were standing there. They gave me the lecture, read my licence and took the details and said that he would be issuing a summons within 2 to 3 months He said that i wouldnt get penalty points or a fine but would have to go to Court in Dublin. Does anyone know roughly what the outcome of it would be? i.e. fine?? (I know i was in the wrong):(

Bluetonic

Did you admit to knowingly take the wrong turn? If so you'll be in for the upper end of the fine scale and an endorsement, presuming you've already got a clean licence.

sandyg

its my first time ever being stopped. (driving 3 years). I admitted that i knew the sign was there and just said that i was in a rush to get to work and kept apologising.

ambro25

Wrong answer. Should have stated you didn't see the sign as you were watching for traffic, or you just followed the car in front (if there was one).

End of month is nearing as well, quotas to meet = Gardai are always picking people up in these "no right turn between such hour and such hour" little streets at month end.

There's a bad one of these in D6, can't remember name but perpendicular to Ranelagh Road, as you're driving near the south canal, across from Dartmouth Road.

I have never seen a Gardai there at any other time but between 21-22nd and 30th of any month. Street is so narrow, once you're in you're f@cked (as usually there's someone turning into it right behind you so you can't back out) - every other commuter in the area takes it to get to Leeson St via Dartmouth Road. Sure-fire trap, avoid at all costs at end of month.

garyh3

Hi Sandyg

I think the rule of thumb is never Ever! Ever! admit to anything regardless if you are wrong... because it will be used against you.... ! The fact that you admitted you saw the sign would look in the eyes of the law that you were knowingly breaking the law... (if that makes sence).

take it as a lesson learned

sandyg

I know. The Garda was a right Bo**ox. Looked about 24 and id say he really loves his job. Im just wondering now what is the worst that they can do to me when i go to court??

Bluetonic

Have a read of these.

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/transport/motoring/driving_offences.html?PHPSESSID=b1a6478e6f553fe5a8767f993cf9e79f

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/justice/pre_trial_issues/summons.html

If it goes to court it'll only go to the district court. As far as I was aware this sort of incident can't be punished by penalty points, only a fine (not sure of scale) and endorsement.

Your best bet would be to contact the Garda/Garda Station in question and ask can a fine be paid imediately in lieu of a summons.

As someone who takey a smiliar illegal turn every day to shave 20 minutes off my journey, I always check my mirrors before and after.... If you see a Garda just pop the bonnet and say you were pulling in as your car was (in your opinion) unsafe.

NUTLEY BOY

Bad luck there !

I hope that nice Garda cautioned you before inviting you to self-incriminate. You admitted seeing the sign but didn't you mean that you only saw it after commencing the turn given that you were focused on the other traffic ?

The way Dublin is going you will not be able to do a right hand turn in your own bed.

Watch out for the Ailesbury Road / Sydney Parade right turn when you come from Vincent's Hospital. I suspect that there may be no right turn there anytime during the week as the time sign was removed a few weeks ago. Probably connected with those stupid bus lanes that they are installing up as far as Merrion Gates.

Saw a good one yesterday. No right turn into Blackrock Clinic after 4 p.m. coming from town. So, pass by, go on 15 yards, turn right into the Texaco garage forecourt come out and turn immediately left to Blackrock Clinic. Can't be touched for it !!

Silvera

Isn't it a bit crazy that a person has to go to court for such a minor offence ?!

I believe it would be better just to issue on-the-spot fines for most (all?) traffic offences .......as is the case in most EU countries.

I know I would rather pay a fine than have all the hassle (and embarrasment!) of going to court ......plus it would free up Garda time and resources.

drdre

sandyg i got pulled around 2 years ago for illegal right turn in donnybrook and was told i would get summons to go to court and never ever got them.i think the guards wouldnot be arsed,if they were obeying the law i would have got 2 or more penalty points and a fine for taking that turn but they really donot care.(thats my story anyway so)

d22ontour

I can't believe the replies saying end of month quotas and the guard was a b***ox etc.At the end of the day the op broke the law so admitting it is justified in the sense that he may learn not to be reckless in his get to work quicker antics.

69 mustang

2-3 months sounds like hes pulling your leg he must be a sadist, wouldn't worry about it

unkel

Silvera wrote:

Isn't it a bit crazy that a person has to go to court for such a minor offence ?!

I believe it would be better just to issue on-the-spot fines for most (all?) traffic offences

Agree! What a waste of our tax money for it to go to court. On the spot fine and instant absolution - kinda like a hail mary ordered by the priest in the confession box

I admire the pragmatic but firm approach by the French police. Pay cash now, or we'll escort you to an ATM (do they take credit cards?)

69 mustang

d22ontour wrote:

I can't believe the replies saying end of month quotas and the guard was a b***ox etc.At the end of the day the op broke the law so admitting it is justified in the sense that he may learn not to be reckless in his get to work quicker antics.

I think HE could be a SHE

Our man in Havana

unkel wrote:

Agree! What a waste of our tax money for it to go to court. On the spot fine and instant absolution - kinda like a hail mary ordered by the priest in the confession box

I admire the pragmatic but firm approach by the French police. Pay cash now, or we'll escort you to an ATM (do they take credit cards?)

No they don't accept credit cards because of possible chargebacks. Its strictly cash only.

ambro25

d22ontour wrote:

I can't believe the replies saying end of month quotas

Suit yourself - only going on factual experience here. Been commuting the way I've posted for over a year, take that street every morning, and seen the Gardai in that particular street 7 times, always in the last week of the month, never at the beginning or the middle of the month. QED, m8 :rolleyes:

Shane Smith

This is a joke. A court appearance for making illegal right turn which is only illegal a few hours of the day? Bull****:mad:

sandyg

And i was wondering where all the tax payers money was going - days out in Court for a minor traffic offences. Would have been hander just to give me the fine and let me pay it instead of the waiting game.

pedro ferio-vti

In fairness it is a joke but there's no need to go on about it, he's doing his job. But at least you can take something from it. I'm sure you won't do it again in a hurry.

ds20prefecture

I don't understand this. Most people here complain about fines as being purely means of instant revenue generation. Then when someone knowingly commits an offence, gets caught and warned (but not fined) as per the law there moaning about it being a waste of their time? Perhaps you think the no right turn is an unfair law? We have a process for changing laws in this country. It's slow and tedious, but if you chose to break the law instead don't whine about being inconvenienced when caught.

PS - in case you think I'm holier than thou, I constantly break the "no right turn" law, but if I'm caught I'll just take my medicine. Ditto speeding. If you can't take the punishment, don't do the crime....

ds20prefecture

sandyg wrote:

And i was wondering where all the tax payers money was going - days out in Court for a minor traffic offences.

Yeah. Wouldn't it be great if we could save all that money by NOT COMMITTING THE OFFENCES!!!!!

sandyg

Get of your high horse. I am accepting totally that i took the turn knowing that it is a no right turn and will take my punishment. Im just think that the punishment for such an offence if a bit over the top i.e. going to court. Id even accept penalty points and fine but as it is a minor traffic offence there are no penalty points for such an offence.

ds20prefecture

As I said, I'm not on high horse. I've committed the same offence. But as soon as I see the words "wasted tax-payers money" I see red. It is you that is wasted the tax payers money, tieing up a Garda's time when they could be out catching "real criminals". So don't be quite so sanctimonious about how that money is spent, please.

sandyg

I've committed the same offence.

It is you that is wasted the tax payers money, tieing up a Garda's time when they could be out catching "real criminals".

Eh So if you get caught speeing or doing what i did (as you say you do) then you would be wasting the gards time......

I think you could be contradicting yourself just a little bit!!!!:D :rolleyes:

ds20prefecture

sandyg wrote:

Eh So if you get caught speeing or doing what i did (as you say you do) then you would be wasting the gards time......

Absolutely

I think you could be contradicting yourself just a little bit!!!!:D :rolleyes:

Not at all - you see I wouldn't then come onto a public forum bleating about the Gardai wasting tax payer's money.

sandyg

I dont think you have read the thread properly as I was not as you say:

"I wouldn't then come onto a public forum bleating about the Gardai wasting tax payer's money."

.
If you did you would notice that it was Silera who mentioned it first and then some of other board members commented in agreement to which i also give my opinion. In my first post all i was asking for was advice from the other members:

Does anyone know roughly what the outcome of it would be? i.e. fine?? (I know i was in the wrong)

ds20prefecture

sandyg wrote:

And i was wondering where all the tax payers money was going - days out in Court for a minor traffic offences. Would have been hander just to give me the fine and let me pay it instead of the waiting game.

?

delly

As a sidenote, and since your talking about offences, your sig is in violation of the sig rules. Don't usually comment much on over the top sigs, but yours is a tad bit on the annoying side.

Seth Brundle

can we close this now please as its getting boring?

pedro ferio-vti

delly wrote:

As a sidenote, and since your talking about offences, your sig is in violation of the sig rules. Don't usually comment much on over the top sigs, but yours is a tad bit on the annoying side.

LOL Adblocked it as soon as I seen it

Silvera

unkel wrote:

Agree! What a waste of our tax money for it to go to court. On the spot fine and instant absolution - kinda like a hail mary ordered by the priest in the confession box

I admire the pragmatic but firm approach by the French police. Pay cash now, or we'll escort you to an ATM (do they take credit cards?)

I recall seeing a German Police (Polizi ?) documentary where they were pulling over speeding motorists.

They showed the motorist the video evidence, offender hands over his credit card, cop swipes it through his hand-held terminal, fine paid, offender gets a reciept and is on his way. Sorted.

In the same documentary they pulled over a cyclist and fined him ......for using his mobile phone !

Seth Brundle

Silvera wrote:

In the same documentary they pulled over a cyclist and fined him ......for using his mobile phone !

You will never see that here as all cyclists strictly obey the laws!

testicle

delly wrote:

As a sidenote, and since your talking about offences, your sig is in violation of the sig rules. Don't usually comment much on over the top sigs, but yours is a tad bit on the annoying side.

Pots, Kettles and a dark shade of white come to mind....

Silvera

kbannon wrote:

You will never see that here as all cyclists strictly obey the laws!

.....things might change when a certain boards.ie *cough* member soon dons his uniform !;)

Kristok

d22ontour wrote:

I can't believe the replies saying end of month quotas and the guard was a b***ox etc.At the end of the day the op broke the law so admitting it is justified in the sense that he may learn not to be reckless in his get to work quicker antics.

Well i never really believed in quotas before but there was a guard who left the force on the late late show last night who admitted that there is an unoffical quota and if you dont give enough tickets by the end of the month you get called in and given out to so usually the last week of the month they have to try give tickets for things they wouldnt at the start of the month. As for the right turn thing well you shouldnt have admitted you did it on purpose thats looking for trouble ive done that before and just claimed I was lost and missed the sign even thought that was a complete lie.

Victor

Would this be what you are talking about?

http://www.dublincity.ie/living_in_the_city/getting_around/by_car/traffic_disruptions/east_wall_road.asp

BrianD

ambro25 wrote:

Wrong answer. Should have stated you didn't see the sign as you were watching for traffic, or you just followed the car in front (if there was one).

End of month is nearing as well, quotas to meet = Gardai are always picking people up in these "no right turn between such hour and such hour" little streets at month end.

There's a bad one of these in D6, can't remember name but perpendicular to Ranelagh Road, as you're driving near the south canal, across from Dartmouth Road.

I have never seen a Gardai there at any other time but between 21-22nd and 30th of any month. Street is so narrow, once you're in you're f@cked (as usually there's someone turning into it right behind you so you can't back out) - every other commuter in the area takes it to get to Leeson St via Dartmouth Road. Sure-fire trap, avoid at all costs at end of month.

In that case he should get a fine for stupidity and or careless driving.

Is the road in Ranelagh you refer to is Northbrook Road where you can't turn right onto Ranelagh Road towards the city. However you can from Dartmouth Road parallel to it. Or is it the lane way opposite Dartmouth Rd?The reason for these no right turns is traffic management. Unfortunately those who don't oblige hold up everyone else. I haven't seen a copper at either ... they all seem to be outside the ministers residence further up the road texting each other. Given the lack or proactive and balanced policing in this country one wonders if quotas is the only way to get these guys out and enforce the law.

ambro25

BrianD wrote:

In that case he should get a fine for stupidity and or careless driving.

- EDIT: got you now. Careless driving perhaps (though much paperwork, very doubtfully any cooperating witness (I wouldn't :twisted:), and onus of proof in Court on Gards, with charge based solely on single verbal admission = not likely for the Gard to see this through) As for stupidity, well, that's (i) a matter of personal judgement (ii) totally inappropriate to this situation (iii) and not chargeable, to boot I'd reserve that judgement very much, since we're here trying to avoid admission of wilful breach of Road Rules, not stating factual driving behaviour :rolleyes:

BrianD wrote:

Is the road in Ranelagh you refer to is Northbrook Road where you can't turn right onto Ranelagh Road towards the city. However you can from Dartmouth Road parallel to it. Or is it the lane way opposite Dartmouth Rd?The reason for these no right turns is traffic management. Unfortunately those who don't oblige hold up everyone else. I haven't seen a copper at either ... <snip>.

It's 'the lane way opposite Dartmouth Rd'. Coppers usually next to the Garage on left corner at "mini T-junction", when you turn in (illegally of course) from the road parallel to Ranelagh Road. Seen them there regularly at month end, though not yet this month.

BrianD

[QUOTE=ambro25
It's 'the lane way opposite Dartmouth Rd'. Coppers usually next to the Garage on left corner at "mini T-junction", when you turn in (illegally of course) from the road parallel to Ranelagh Road. Seen them there regularly at month end, though not yet this month.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that from Mountpleasant Road a no right turn during rush hour only (or did you say that already)?

It's funny with Irish drivers the way they assume that PERSONAL needs overide the community needs e.g. it's ok to take that no right turn, use the bus lane, run a red light, overtake the stopped bus into oncoming traffic because can't you see I'm running late?

ambro25

BrianD wrote:

Isn't that from Mountpleasant Road a no right turn during rush hour only (or did you say that already)?

Never noticed applicable times, tbh - but yeah, that's the one.

BrianD wrote:

It's funny with Irish drivers the way they assume that PERSONAL needs overide the community needs e.g. it's ok to take that no right turn, use the bus lane, run a red light, overtake the stopped bus into oncoming traffic because can't you see I'm running late?

You should expand that to anyone else's needs, really