This has been bugging me for a while

54and56 · 22-09-2016 09:00AM #1

Perhaps not the correct forum but as I can't find a "Garda" forum I hope this is the best spot, mods please feel free to move.

I notice in Dublin that some companies such as civil engineering, billboard advertising companies and in particular those maintaining bus shelters or swapping over the advertising posters in business shelters seem to be able to park in bus lanes, on pedestrian paths and on double yellow lines with impunity.

I can kind of understand state or semi state companies not getting tickets for such behaviour but do private companies actually have some sort of official free pass to park on paths, double yellow lines etc?

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 09:28AM

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Perhaps not the correct forum but as I can't find a "Garda" forum I hope this is the best spot, mods please feel free to move.

I notice in Dublin that some companies such as civil engineering, billboard advertising companies and in particular those maintaining bus shelters or swapping over the advertising posters in business shelters seem to be able to park in bus lanes, on pedestrian paths and on double yellow lines with impunity.

I can kind of understand state or semi state companies not getting tickets for such behaviour but do private companies actually have some sort of official free pass to park on paths, double yellow lines etc?

I for one much prefer Ireland's discretion / common sense approach to policing issues like this over the likes of England where a camera would be dishing out fines for behaviour like this and other technical rule infractions.

BattleCorp · 22-09-2016 09:31AM

Indricotherium wrote: »

I for one much prefer Ireland's discretion / common sense approach to policing issues like this over the likes of England where a camera would be dishing out fines for behaviour like this and other technical rule infractions.

That's grand until one of those vans causes an accident where someone gets injured or killed.

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 09:34AM

BattleCorp wrote: »

That's grand until one of those vans causes an accident where someone gets injured or killed.

That happens in places where fines are dished out as well. It's not a good deterrent.

Better street design is probably the full answer.

punisher5112 · 22-09-2016 09:37AM

Bus shelter operations would need their van close and over last few years they are all fitted with warning led lights.

Safer to have van just in behind where worker is shielded if there were an accident.

Garda would let these do their job as it's at times important cleaning/ maintenance and ad replacement.

BattleCorp · 22-09-2016 09:39AM

Indricotherium wrote: »

That happens in places where fines are dished out as well. It's not a good deterrent.

Better street design is probably the full answer.

It's better than allowing a free for all though.

Agreed, better street design is probably the full answer, but that only works when you are building things from scratch. You can't retrofit half of Ireland's streets too easily.

blackwhite · 22-09-2016 10:32AM

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Perhaps not the correct forum but as I can't find a "Garda" forum I hope this is the best spot, mods please feel free to move.

I notice in Dublin that some companies such as civil engineering, billboard advertising companies and in particular those maintaining bus shelters or swapping over the advertising posters in business shelters seem to be able to park in bus lanes, on pedestrian paths and on double yellow lines with impunity.

I can kind of understand state or semi state companies not getting tickets for such behaviour but do private companies actually have some sort of official free pass to park on paths, double yellow lines etc?

Ireland has a "sure I'll only be a minute" exemption from all parking laws; as can be witnessed by the number of cars (often including Garda vehicles) that are always parked dangerously at places like here whilst they nip in to grab a coffee/sandwich.

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 10:39AM

blackwhite wrote: »

Ireland has a "sure I'll only be a minute" exemption from all parking laws; as can be witnessed by the number of cars (often including Garda vehicles) that are always parked dangerously at places like here whilst they nip in to grab a coffee/sandwich.

And by and large the country gets on with it's business.

hullaballoo · 22-09-2016 01:40PM

Indricotherium wrote: »

And by and large the country gets on with it's business.

That's fine, but because the discretion is applied inconsistently, you end up with a situation where everyone else gets away with it all the time and the one time you say, "fcuk it, I'll only be a minute," you get done!

blackwhite · 22-09-2016 03:15PM

Indricotherium wrote: »

And by and large the country gets on with it's business.

The junction at Beggars Bush often gets blocked by traffic because of illegally parked cars at both the spot I linked to, and the chipper on South Lotts Rd beside it.

But sure that's all well and good because some lazy f*ckers couldn't be arsed walking the 30m extra from the legal parking spots on both streets.

foggy_lad · 22-09-2016 03:22PM

hullaballoo wrote: »

That's fine, but because the discretion is applied inconsistently, you end up with a situation where everyone else gets away with it all the time and the one time you say, "fcuk it, I'll only be a minute," you get done!

Then you end up with members in the Dail talking about quashed penalty points for (in)famous people and Garda whistle-blowers in hiding etc

markpb · 22-09-2016 03:37PM

Indricotherium wrote: »

And by and large the country gets on with it's business.

I hate the phrase "I'm alright Ted" but it perfectly describes your post. What about cyclists who have to join moving traffic to get past them? What about pedestrians trying to cross the road but have limited visibility because of them? What about ambulances stuck in traffic and can't get past because of them?

54and56 · 22-09-2016 04:06PM

markpb wrote: »

I hate the phrase "I'm alright Ted" but it perfectly describes your post. What about cyclists who have to join moving traffic to get past them? What about pedestrians trying to cross the road but have limited visibility because of them? What about ambulances stuck in traffic and can't get past because of them?

Spot on. The culture of turning a blind eye to certain people/companies/entities breaking the law is just wrong IMO. If the bus shelter maintenance companies or ESB require their vehicles to be within X metres of where they are carrying out repairs they should make that case to the RTA or whoever is responsible and providing their case is proven be given permits for such vehicles to be able to park on double yellow lines or on footpaths etc provided they put out warning cones etc.

By having an informal or discretionary policy the number of people who feel they can ignore the rules of the road increases.

Off the top of my head I can think of the following who regularly park on double yellow lines or on footpaths as and when they wish for varying lengths of time in order to carry out their job and I've never once seen them get a ticket:-

- ESB
- Bin lorries
- AdShel/Moore O'Farrell
- An Post
- Council vehicles
- Bord Gais

It's not so much that the public purse is missing out on the value of unwritten tickets its that there's a reason you're not permitted to park on double yellows or footpaths and it's usually safety or traffic related but somehow the aforementioned companies convenience seems to trump public safety or free flowing traffic. Better to discommode thousands of people in traffic jams or reduce safety for pedestrians or cyclists than ask a few guys to park their truck in a safe location which might take a minute or two to walk to :rolleyes:

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 04:13PM

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Spot on. The culture of turning a blind eye to certain people/companies/entities breaking the law is just wrong IMO. If the bus shelter maintenance companies or ESB require their vehicles to be within X metres of where they are carrying out repairs they should make that case to the RTA or whoever is responsible and providing their case is proven be given permits for such vehicles to be able to park on double yellow lines or on footpaths etc provided they put out warning cones etc.

By having an informal or discretionary policy the number of people who feel they can ignore the rules of the road increases.

Off the top of my head I can think of the following who regularly park on double yellow lines or on footpaths as and when they wish for varying lengths of time in order to carry out their job and I've never once seen them get a ticket:-

- ESB
- Bin lorries
- AdShel/Moore O'Farrell
- An Post
- Council vehicles
- Bord Gais

It's not so much that the public purse is missing out on the value of unwritten tickets its that there's a reason you're not permitted to park on double yellows or footpaths and it's usually safety or traffic related but somehow the aforementioned companies convenience seems to trump public safety or free flowing traffic. Better to discommode thousands of people in traffic jams or reduce safety for pedestrians or cyclists than ask a few guys to park their truck in a safe location which might take a minute or two to walk to :rolleyes:

I think rigid enforcement of existing traffic regulations would cost a fortune, and wouldn't significantly improve traffic waiting times.

Maintenance of street furniture and deliveries/collections done at night is probably the better solution.

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 04:15PM

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Spot on. The culture of turning a blind eye to certain people/companies/entities breaking the law is just wrong IMO. If the bus shelter maintenance companies or ESB require their vehicles to be within X metres of where they are carrying out repairs they should make that case to the RTA or whoever is responsible and providing their case is proven be given permits for such vehicles to be able to park on double yellow lines or on footpaths etc provided they put out warning cones etc.

By having an informal or discretionary policy the number of people who feel they can ignore the rules of the road increases.

Off the top of my head I can think of the following who regularly park on double yellow lines or on footpaths as and when they wish for varying lengths of time in order to carry out their job and I've never once seen them get a ticket:-

- ESB
- Bin lorries
- AdShel/Moore O'Farrell
- An Post
- Council vehicles
- Bord Gais

It's not so much that the public purse is missing out on the value of unwritten tickets its that there's a reason you're not permitted to park on double yellows or footpaths and it's usually safety or traffic related but somehow the aforementioned companies convenience seems to trump public safety or free flowing traffic. Better to discommode thousands of people in traffic jams or reduce safety for pedestrians or cyclists than ask a few guys to park their truck in a safe location which might take a minute or two to walk to :rolleyes:

In other jurisdictions you can't look at a yellow line without getting a fine and traffic doesn't seem to move any better or worse for it.

MeatTwoVeg · 22-09-2016 04:22PM

I have long considered getting set's of "That's Not Parking!" stickers made up that I could slap on the windscreens of offending vehicles.

Indricotherium · 22-09-2016 04:44PM

MeatTwoVeg wrote: »

I have long considered getting set's of "That's Not Parking!" stickers made up that I could slap on the windscreens of offending vehicles.

The beauty of Ireland is you could just throw on the hazards and run over to do it.

No need to go arseing about with pay and display and all that.

Staplor · 22-09-2016 06:08PM

Not trying to be racist, but there's a shop near where i work and the owner consistently parks outside, on both the double yellows and the excuse for a footpath the council provide. I've tried talking to him about it and he pretends he cant speak English, yet he has no problem talking to the local kids at lunch who have to walk around his car on the busy road because he parks so close to the front of his premises. He's apparently known to councillors and others, yet nobody will confront him.

prinzeugen · 23-09-2016 11:37PM

BattleCorp wrote: »

That's grand until one of those vans causes an accident where someone gets injured or killed.

Its a parked vehicle. If you hit it.. Well

prinzeugen · 23-09-2016 11:47PM

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Spot on. The culture of turning a blind eye to certain people/companies/entities breaking the law is just wrong IMO. If the bus shelter maintenance companies or ESB require their vehicles to be within X metres of where they are carrying out repairs they should make that case to the RTA or whoever is responsible and providing their case is proven be given permits for such vehicles to be able to park on double yellow lines or on footpaths etc provided they put out warning cones etc.

By having an informal or discretionary policy the number of people who feel they can ignore the rules of the road increases.

Off the top of my head I can think of the following who regularly park on double yellow lines or on footpaths as and when they wish for varying lengths of time in order to carry out their job and I've never once seen them get a ticket:-

- ESB
- Bin lorries
- AdShel/Moore O'Farrell
- An Post
- Council vehicles
- Bord Gais

.

This stopped being a legal thing and turned into a cyclists thing..

All of the above have rights to stop under some law for mail collections, lines down, burst mains etc.

Stupid post. Should ambulances get tickets as well?

Go read the Road Traffic Acts..

Kings Inns or bust · 24-09-2016 02:59AM

Many people and I'm tempted to say all of us at some point drive/park like bell-ends. There is sod all enforcement and it's amazing we don't have more road deaths, but there it is - we DON'T have that many road deaths so something seems to be working to some degree.

Esel · 24-09-2016 03:24AM

prinzeugen wrote: »

Its a parked vehicle. If you hit it.. Well

Brain: Engage mouth.

Staplor · 24-09-2016 05:39AM

Saw another one today, a butcher supplies business, sharpening big knives while double parked (blocking legally parked cars by parking on the road) but he had his park anywhere lights on

JimmyTClarke · 24-09-2016 06:22AM

Don't fret, my good man. Your hazard lights trump all road traffic acts once activated. It's not just said companies who can avail of this sacred maxim, try it for yourself.

Staplor · 24-09-2016 07:29AM

The gas bit was he was sharpening massive big ass butchers knives, like the massive machete type knife the butchers has. Right in the middle of the road, I guess nobody would confront a guy with a freshly professionally sharpened meat cleaver and machete, I certainly didn't!!!

Glass fused light · 24-09-2016 07:38AM

prinzeugen wrote: »

.

This stopped being a legal thing and turned into a cyclists thing..

All of the above have rights to stop under some law for mail collections, lines down, burst mains etc.

Stupid post. Should ambulances get tickets as well?

Go read the Road Traffic Acts..

A parked ambulance had been clamped at Dublin airport in an ambluance bay from memory the airport police maintained they had the authority and while they did apologise they made it clear that occupying the parking spot waiting for an occupant was a concession not a right.

irishtimes dot com/news/ambulance-clamped-at-dublin-airport- 1.415036

Glass fused light · 24-09-2016 07:49AM

Kings Inns or bust wrote: »

Many people and I'm tempted to say all of us at some point drive/park like bell-ends. There is sod all enforcement and it's amazing we don't have more road deaths, but there it is - we DON'T have that many road deaths so something seems to be working to some degree.

As we get older we acknowledge our bell-end self, so most of us realise the biggest crumple zones in a car are us, and we work harder at trying to avoid having to fix those bendie bits.
Its one of the reasons I like the new h&s ad for construction.

markpb · 24-09-2016 11:45AM

prinzeugen wrote:

All of the above have rights to stop under some law for mail collections, lines down, burst mains.]Go read the Road Traffic Acts..

I genuinely can't find anything to support this. Can you provide some links?

54and56 · 24-09-2016 06:06PM

prinzeugen wrote: »

.

This stopped being a legal thing and turned into a cyclists safety thing..

Fixed that for ya.

prinzeugen wrote: »

All of the above have rights to stop under some law for mail collections, lines down, burst mains etc.

I don't think private advertising companies like AdShel and Moore O'Farrell have carte blanche parking written into legislation. Perhaps I'm wrong.

The others make sense and I'm glad that's the case but why should some private companies be given a pass whilst others aren't?

prinzeugen wrote: »

.Stupid post. Should ambulances get tickets as well?

Go read the Road Traffic Acts..

Stupid post.

54and56 · 10-10-2016 09:30AM

So, this morning an Adshel van was parked in the bus lane of the Lower Kilmacud Road as the driver did something to the advertising panels on the bus shelter.

All over the city I've seen Adshel vans park in bus lanes, park on double yellow lines, park in cycle lanes and even park up on footpaths and not only does breaking the road traffic laws seem to be standard operating procedure for this business but they appear to do so with complete impunity, I have yet to see a Garda or Traffic warden issue them with a ticket.

They seem to think that by turning safety beacon/hazard lights on their vans it somehow makes them equivalent to the sort of public service or emergency service vehicles which are actually permitted to park where necessary and bus lanes etc.

Can anyone clarify if Adshel have some special permit or licence which absolves them from having to adhere to the road traffic laws the way all other businesses and individuals have to and if not why they are permitted to park wherever they want whenever they want including on a busy a busy commuter bus lane during rush hour?

magentis · 10-10-2016 09:33AM

Je suis adshel.

This has been bugging me for a while

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