Pulled over by Garda

Pops_20 · 07-04-2022 01:58AM #1

Hi Folks,

I was pulled over by a member of the Roads Policing unit earlier this week and it was the first time in 12 years of driving that I have been stopped.

I knew something was up as the garda car was hanging out In the fast lane of a dual carriageway but just behind me, and then the blue lights came on.

Pulled in when it was safe to do so ahead and it was a most unpleasant experience from then on. Basically straight away he approached my window and asked why I didn't stop straight away. His issue was with the angle of my number plate, which I can't really help as most 90s Nissans have a tilt bracket on the rear plate.

He told me to get out and come around to the rear of the car and told me I was standing too close. Asked for My license and took a picture of the front and back.

Then he walked around the car and checked inside and also checked wheels and tyres, then explained my number plate was not visible, and if im caught with it again, I will be prosecuted (for what?).

Asked where I was going to and where i was coming from, and asked how long I owned the car. All tax insurance and NCT is up to date. He already knew my name as he has the details on his iPad.

I've just been thinking back on this over the last few days - this can't be a normal experience when getting pulled in? Especially taking a picture of my license front and back and saying I could be prosecuted in future for the angle of my rear number plate?

As its the first time I've been pulled over, I would be interested to hear other people's experiences.

mk7r · 07-04-2022 02:06AM

What kind of car is it? the regs say the number plate must be mounted vertical or almost vertical, is it far off that? Might have just been a bad day for him.

wotzgoingon · 07-04-2022 02:21AM

Welcome to the club. I have never been stopped by a nice Garda. 12 years is some going and never dealing with them.

lawred2 · 07-04-2022 03:21AM

At least you had a numberplate. I've seen quite a few lads who seem to have decided that the numberplate ruins their custom colour schemes or something and done away with them altogether.

They'll prob never get pulled over though

Spook_ie · 07-04-2022 04:11AM

I would suspect that the car was fitted with ANPR and it was failing to recognise the plate, I must say I can't think what you mean by it being angled, any chance of a picture or model of the Nissan?

Mellor · 07-04-2022 04:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058240636/pulled-over-by-garda

If your number plate is non-compliant then he is right to pull you up on it. Sounds like he let you off, but if caught at you could be prosecuted - for a non compliant number plate. I'd assume checking license, tax, nct is normal.

spakman · 07-04-2022 05:04AM

How long have you owned the car? Maybe it has some history in the pulse system which made him suspicious

easygoing39 · 07-04-2022 07:00AM

I would have been more shocked if the guard was professional and polite in his conduct.

Buddy Bubs · 07-04-2022 07:06AM

Theres plenty of them out there that aren't very bright and that shines through with their interactions with the public quite often. I've a few friends in the garda and let's just say they're not the sharpest tools in the box.

Dempo1 · 07-04-2022 07:27AM

Whilst the issue with the angle of the plate may have caused to stop, it doesn't excuse rudeness or obnoxiousness for that matter.

Having a "Bad day" just doesn't cut it.

After scanning OP"s licence and having presumably looked vehicle details as both vehicles stopped it should have become clear, very quickly to the Garda that there was nothing to see here.

Whilst assuming the sequence of event as laid out by OP are accurate, I'd be sharing the experience with Phoenix Park by way of a complaint.

I've had little interaction with Gardai but those I have encountered are generally very professional and curtious but like any large organisation there'll always be a few people in that organisation who require a refresh in people skills training.

PsychoPete · 07-04-2022 07:44AM

If the plate is on a bracket then you should be able to straight it up some bit which might stop further hassle. There is a few Gardai that carry on like that when there's no need for it, if you're dealing with the public at least be courteous and respectful. Anytime I've had similar interactions with Gardai it's been in a modified car, I've every mod declared on the insurance so I'm not too worry about being pulled

antodeco · 07-04-2022 09:19AM

OP, just get some double sided tape and fix the number plate.

In terms.of when you say he was driving. behind you, I assume it was normal Garda car? Also, how long was he behind you, and was the driving lane, the one to your left clear at all?

Ash.J.Williams · 07-04-2022 09:21AM

i was stopped for speeding at the weekend by the nicest garda ever, most gracious exchange of 3 points

Fattybojangles · 07-04-2022 09:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892260#Comment_118892260

Complaining?? Christ that'd be funny they'd laugh you out the gate. Gard would say I pulled the fella over because of his illegal number plate he had an attitude on him didn't pull over straight away stood over me while I was performing my lawful checks etc etc. Just chalk it down as an unpleasant experience and move on.

LIGHTNING · 07-04-2022 09:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892165#Comment_118892165

Regardless of if OP was in the wrong there is still a right way to approach people. If I treated people like the way I have been treated by nearly every Garda I'd be fired. I don't see how they get a free pass

Dempo1 · 07-04-2022 09:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892649#Comment_118892649

If I've read the OP, there was nothing illegal discovered, was there a fix penalty notice issued🤔 was the car impounded 🤔 was the OP arrested.

The Garda involved from my reading of this situation had a rather large chip on their shoulders and serious attitude problem.

Having a bad day just does not cut it and bad manners and rudeness completely unacceptable.

Dempo1 · 07-04-2022 09:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892668#Comment_118892668

I agree completely and if I've read the OP correctly there was absolutely nothing found that even warrented a fix penalty notice. Seems to me the Garda was more annoyed at not finding anything wrong.

sam t smith · 07-04-2022 09:48AM

The number plate sounds a bit dodgy.

feelings · 07-04-2022 09:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892146#Comment_118892146

One warning and the car gets crushed if caught again, would sort that out that sort of nonsense pretty quickly. Penalties are much too lenient.

MarkR · 07-04-2022 09:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058240636/pulled-over-by-garda

Just to break it down to the bare essentials:

Garda asked you why you didn't stop straight away

Advised you why he stopped you.

Asked / told you to come around the back of the car.

Asked / told you not to stand so close.

Asked for and took pictures of your licence.

Checked your car for defects.

Left you off with a warning.

I'm not really seeing the issue here?

LIGHTNING · 07-04-2022 09:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892728#Comment_118892728

Not really, I have a classic Nissan and the number plate on the front is at this weird angle. It's perfectly readable but I could see some Garda doing similar to the OP.

LIGHTNING · 07-04-2022 10:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892753#Comment_118892753

Well done you completely missed the entire point of the OP's post 👌

Atlantic Dawn · 07-04-2022 10:10AM

Life is tough in this fascccccchhhhhhhtttttttt lane.

maestroamado · 07-04-2022 10:11AM

I suspect the car has history as said earlier... clearly the Gardai felt threatened when said standing too close... personally i do not think Gardai should be pulling cars over alone...

Dempo1 · 07-04-2022 10:13AM

I'll throw something out there. I've not personally had any dealings with Traffic Gardai and as I've said any dealings I've had with gardai, generally excellent and professional. I don't subscribe to Garda bashing and have great respect for the work they do, I actually know a few, not personally but casualy.

So, I live in the Midlands and I'm aware of Two Traffic Garda that are infamous with regard to their dealings with the general public. To my astonishment one even has a WhatsApp group dedicated to him (I'm absolutely not in this group) .

There's a perception, rightly or wrongly that a certain type is attracted to this Unit , am I wrong 🤔, I just don't know but I've certainly heard to stories about interactions with members of this Unit that are quite extraordinary and wouldn't be tolerateď in any other work setting.

I say again, there is absolutely no excuse for rudeness , I get the Job can be difficult but no more difficult than many other professions that involve interactions with the Public.

MarkR · 07-04-2022 10:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892815#Comment_118892815

What part did I miss? If you're talking about the OPs feelings, those aren't really relevant. It's what actually happened. They said it was unpleasant, but I don't see any of the actions of the guard as being unpleasant.

What do you think was unpleasant?

LIGHTNING · 07-04-2022 10:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892886#Comment_118892886

Of course the OP's feelings are relevant. Its the entire point of the post. There is a way of dealing with people and the Garda has failed to do so. Seen it myself in dealings with the Gardai myself in the past.

MarkR · 07-04-2022 10:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892921#Comment_118892921

OK. That means it's very subjective. What if it was the OP that was having a bad day? OP feels hard done by because he was pulled over. Garda meanwhile feels they were extremely professional, and let them off with a warning.

HalfAndHalf · 07-04-2022 10:27AM

To be fair if he’d sat behind me with no lights or siren for an age, then put the lights and siren on to pull me over and asked why didn’t you pull over straight away, I’d have said you should have put your siren on sooner I’m not a mind reader!

From the 1 side we’ve heard it sounds like yer man had a bit of a complex.

Wonky numberplate, crime of the century!

We have policing by consent in this country, so a little bit of good manners should be a default! Acting the maggot like he’s somehow better because he’s got a hat is not the way to go!

Dempo1 · 07-04-2022 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892864#Comment_118892864

Was that not more a Covid thing than feeling Threatened 🤔

ax530 · 07-04-2022 10:33AM

I understood NCT checks number plate if it passed NCT it is compliant ?

Pulled over by Garda

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