Garda personal cars

Redgirl82 · 15-01-2019 11:09AM #1

This is a bit of an odd question but it was a discussion at weekend and nobody seemed to know if correct or not. Basically, a Garda cannot have a large engine car for personal use until they do an advanced driving course in the Garda.

The person who said it seemed full sure it was true. Said they can max out at a 1.4 engine and that is why you see lots of new Garda in small cars. Once qualified for a while they can do the driving course and then buy a bigger engine car.

No idea myself and nobody could say if it was true or not. Just wondering if anyone has heard this.

The conversation came up because I drove past a young Garda in a Garda car that day. He looked about 12 but I know he wasn't, maybe I am just getting old.. He had an older Garda with him who looked like he was giving him a lesson. :P The car was a Mondeo or something Garda like but I would guess it was 1.9/2ltr something

Henry Ford III · 15-01-2019 11:19AM

Surely they can own and drive whatever they like privately?

Dravokivich · 15-01-2019 11:21AM

We tell young folks to get small cars. Why would the Gardaí be different?

Midnight_EG · 15-01-2019 11:23AM

What you heard is bollix

James Bond Junior · 15-01-2019 11:24AM

I asked a friend who is a Traffic Corp member something similar recently. The threshold is 200bhp. He had not the required advanced driving course so he was unable to drive the biturbo insignia's as they were in excess of 200bhp.

Edit: Just reread the OP, what a load of rubbish. Garda managment couldn't have any say on what a Garda drives in their private lives. On the job is a different matter obviously.

Tacitus Kilgore · 15-01-2019 11:25AM

They get jailed if they are caught wearing their hat in their private car too, so they do.

You see young Gardai in small cars because they're on low salaries, starting out.

Redgirl82 · 15-01-2019 11:26AM

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I asked a friend who is a Traffic Corp member something similar recently. The threshold is 200bhp. He had not the required advanced driving course so he was unable to drive the biturbo insignia's as they were in excess of 200bhp.

So maybe this person had it half right. They seemed to think it was based on engine size and they had to be restricted.

15-01-2019 11:26AM

While on the job maybe.
Personal cars, sure a load of them have fast ****ing bikes.

Tacitus Kilgore · 15-01-2019 11:30AM

Redgirl82 wrote: »

So maybe this person had it half right. They seemed to think it was based on engine size and they had to be restricted.

Nah, they had it right in the sense that they can't drive the 'high powered' Garda vehicles until they're trained to drive them.

They can drive whatever the fupp they want on their own time.

JoeA3 · 15-01-2019 11:41AM

Friend of mine is a Guard and he's had a string of performance cars in the last 10-12 years... GTI's, VRS's, etc. Currently he's in a Seat Cupra.

It's his personal car... I don't think what you heard has any basis in reality.

Reati · 15-01-2019 11:46AM

Redgirl82 wrote: »

This is a bit of an odd question but it was a discussion at weekend and nobody seemed to know if correct or not. Basically, a Garda cannot have a large engine car for personal use until they do an advanced driving course in the Garda.

Are you sure it wasn't personnel not personal that was the word used?

Garda personnel can t drive a large bhp car without a training course makes sense

Isambard · 15-01-2019 11:57AM

i expect some Gards drive low powered cars because it suits their usage. Same as any other group of people.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 15-01-2019 12:23PM

Absolute rubbish. There are no restrictions on what private cars they can drive.

RobbieMD · 15-01-2019 03:25PM

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I asked a friend who is a Traffic Corp member something similar recently. The threshold is 200bhp. He had not the required advanced driving course so he was unable to drive the biturbo insignia's as they were in excess of 200bhp.

Edit: Just reread the OP, what a load of rubbish. Garda managment couldn't have any say on what a Garda drives in their private lives. On the job is a different matter obviously.

The max power a Garda on CBD1/2 can drive without the advanced course is 85kw/tonne power rating. That generally covers most 2lt cars, although the bulk of the current fleet is 1.6/1.7 diesel Hyundai’s.

And no management can’t interfer in what car a member drives in his/her own time

PrettyBoy · 15-01-2019 07:02PM

Redgirl82 wrote: »

This is a bit of an odd question but it was a discussion at weekend and nobody seemed to know if correct or not. Basically, a Garda cannot have a large engine car for personal use until they do an advanced driving course in the Garda.

The person who said it seemed full sure it was true. Said they can max out at a 1.4 engine and that is why you see lots of new Garda in small cars. Once qualified for a while they can do the driving course and then buy a bigger engine car.

Don't believe anything that gimp tells you in future.

MrMusician18 · 16-01-2019 01:49AM

Gardai often use their own personal vehicle on official business. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a personal vehicle that was high powered, they wouldn't be allowed to use that vehicle on official business until they had done the driving course. Perhaps it's something like this that's gotten lost in translation?

There is no restrictions on them owning or operating high powered vehicles while off duty, no more than any other person anyway.

Garda personal cars

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