Unmarked Garda cars

axer · 26-09-2010 08:07PM #1

Hi,

Do all unmarked garda cars have alternating flashing front lights? or some sort of way of knowing that they are such when they are coming up behind you and want to let you know to they want you to move out of the way.

Thanks.

Random · 26-09-2010 08:09PM

they have blue lights and sirens which will let you know.

axer · 26-09-2010 08:30PM

Was just coming in on the M4 (it was extremely busy on the road) and this a$$hole comes flying out of the leixlip exit onto the motorway. When gets over to the overtaking lane he pulls to within a meter behind my car and flashes his lights (as in regular flashing of lights). He does this twice and I tap my breaks and give him the finger out of my window as I figure he is just another a$$hole on the road and I want him to pull back as tailgating is so dangerous. He then backs off a bit then.

When I finally get a chance to pull back to the 1st lane he drives up beside me on the overtaking lane and looks to give me the finger. I ignore him and he pulls in behind me again. Next he comes back out to the over taking lane and displays what looks to be a garda badge but as I was driving and it was dark I didn't really know for sure. He was definitely trying to make it look like a garda badge anyway I would assume.

Next he pulls ahead of me and drives into the hard shoulder (I presume expecting me to pull over). I keep going as I don't know who this idiot is. He takes off again over taking me and then driving on the hard shoulder attempting to block me taking any of the exits (very dangerously doing so).

Eventually he drives off.

Unfortunately I didn't get his reg as I was too busy trying to avoid hitting him as he was all over the place cutting in front of me etc.

Just wanted to know if he had rights to pull me over firstly considering that he did not have any markings on his car, he had no flashing lights of any sort, he attepted to show me something like a badge but I would have no way of knowing what exactly he was showing me. I don't know if he was a garda or just some d'ick pretending to be one.

If I had known in any way that the person was a garda or something I would have tried to pull over and let him pass on the motorway.

My best guess is he is a garda driving his private car acting like he owns the road in a very dangerous fashion.

Random · 26-09-2010 08:32PM

that really doesn't sound like garda behaviour to me. surely if they wanted to pull you they would have done so rather than trying 3 times and then driving off.

i don't suppose you got the reg or anything at all?

axer · 26-09-2010 08:34PM

Random wrote: »

i don't suppose you got the reg or anything at all?

Nope. Unfortunately not.

Just wanted to make sure that I did the right thing by not pulling over. I would assume I did.

Greenman · 26-09-2010 09:45PM

axer wrote: »

I tap my breaks and give him the finger out of my window as I figure he is just another a$$hole on the road

Do as you will OP but I'm not sure if this is a good reaction.:)

Zambia · 26-09-2010 11:12PM

axer wrote: »

Nope. Unfortunately not.

Just wanted to make sure that I did the right thing by not pulling over. I would assume I did.

I wouldnt have

Tefral · 26-09-2010 11:19PM

I personally wouldnt stop for nobody unless i saw the blue lights! I wouldnt give a shíte if it was the commissioner signalling me to pull over, No blue lights no stop.

Theres freeking lunatics out there, an im starting to hear more and more stories of carjackings going on, granted it seems mostly taxi drivers but i wouldnt be taking the chance.. If i was 90% it was a garda id drive to the nearest station and work it out there.

coolmoose · 26-09-2010 11:22PM

axer wrote: »

I tap my breaks and give him the finger out of my window as I figure he is just another a$$hole on the road and I want him to pull back as tailgating is so dangerous.

So is doing what you did. Extremely dangerous and not needed.

Just move in to the left lane, slow down without your brakes, he'll get the message eventually and speed off. Tapping your brakes could cause him to lock on his as a reflex, could result in him losing control and causing a massive pile-up...

I don't condone tailgating, but I don't condone dangerous reactions to it such as yours either.

M cebee · 26-09-2010 11:26PM

i got pulled over by one of these unmarked cars

didn't know it was the 'law' at all

testicle · 26-09-2010 11:26PM

coolmoose wrote: »

So is doing what you did. Extremely dangerous and not needed.

And illegal.

DOC09UNAM · 26-09-2010 11:30PM

Was it a red '10 ford mondeo with 4 aerials on the roof?
Probably not an undercover if this doesn't round right.

Michael Angelo. · 27-09-2010 12:54AM

axer wrote: »

He was definitely trying to make it look like a garda badge anyway I would assume.

I assume it could have been anything

Maybe this motorist wanted to overtake you, however found his path blocked because you were driving in the overtaking lane :rolleyes:

Your reaction to it as described by you was highly dangerous, theres two of ye in it though!!!!

source · 27-09-2010 06:30AM

Never ever ever ever ever tap your breaks to stop someone driving behind you, I remember doing the Hibernian Ignition course many moons ago, and they asked what you'd do when greeted with a situation like this.

Their take on it was, pull over and let him pass. If you're offended by his driving or think it's dangerous, take the reg and call the local Garda Station. Their reason being, you don't know what has that driver driving like they are. They could be a doctor rushing to see a patient, they could be a concerned parent rushing their child to hospital etc etc.

What you did was, endanger traffic, I say this because you or I don't know how another motorist will respond to break lights flashing while driving at speed.

And another thing, don't drive in the overtaking lane, you even referred to it as such in your post. But didn't indicate whether you were overtaking or simply driving in it. From your post I believe you were driving in it, this isn't clever or safe.

You have over 4,000 posts, meaning you've been around these boards for a while now. Would you try to be a backseat mod? or would you report a post if you saw something that's not right? I'm betting you'd report it. Dangerous driving is the exactly the same, if you see something dangerous or unsafe on the roads call the real life mods, you'll get them at 999 or 112, ask for the Gardai as they're more commonly known. They'll sort the situation out for you. no need to do something dangerous like hitting your breaks or flipping the bird.

axer · 27-09-2010 08:41AM

Greenman wrote: »

Do as you will OP but I'm not sure if this is a good reaction.:)

I tapped the breaks not to slow down but just to flash my break lights.

axer · 27-09-2010 08:44AM

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

I assume it could have been anything

Maybe this motorist wanted to overtake you, however found his path blocked because you were driving in the overtaking lane :rolleyes:

Your reaction to it as described by you was highly dangerous, theres two of ye in it though!!!!

There was nothing wrong with my reaction as I did not slow down when I tapped the breaks. It was to show the driver that driving up my hole was not going to give him enough time to slow down quick enough in the event I did have to break. Also I tapped them for split seconds which would not cause an over reaction from a driver.

I was entitled to be in the overtaking lane as I was firstly overtaking cars and secondly the left lane was so congested that I would have had to pull in close in front of a car on the left lane which would have been dangerous. As soon as space opened up in the left lane I pulled in. I was not holding up traffic in any way. There is nothing illegal in doing that.

axer · 27-09-2010 08:47AM

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

I assume it could have been anything

Yep, it could have been anything. He definitely wanted to give the impression that he was a garda but how hard is it to get a fake garda badge and then show it in the dark. The manovures he did to block me taking exits were extremely dangerous. Im sorry I didnt get his reg to make a complaint to gardai but then again if he was a garda and an a$$hole would he be able to get me back in someway? I would be concerned about that.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Maybe this motorist wanted to overtake you, however found his path blocked because you were driving in the overtaking lane :rolleyes:

Definitely not the case as I was over taking cars and could not go faster than I was as there was traffic in front of me.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Your reaction to it as described by you was highly dangerous, theres two of ye in it though!!!!

I wasn't dangerous as I didn't slow down at all. I just tapped my breaks to show my break lights.

axer · 27-09-2010 08:53AM

foinse wrote: »

Never ever ever ever ever tap your breaks to stop someone driving behind you, I remember doing the Hibernian Ignition course many moons ago, and they asked what you'd do when greeted with a situation like this.

Their take on it was, pull over and let him pass. If you're offended by his driving or think it's dangerous, take the reg and call the local Garda Station. Their reason being, you don't know what has that driver driving like they are. They could be a doctor rushing to see a patient, they could be a concerned parent rushing their child to hospital etc etc.

There was no room to pull on the left lane as it was extremely congested and I was overtaking traffic at the time. The guy was being an a$$hole and I had no space to pull in but did as soon as there was space to pull in. On top of that the guy was so close to me that it would have been dangerous to slow down to try and feed into the left lane as he was so close.

foinse wrote: »

What you did was, endanger traffic, I say this because you or I don't know how another motorist will respond to break lights flashing while driving at speed.

I didnt endanger traffic since I did not slow down. If a driver such as that cannot respond to breaklights lighting for split seconds while at speed then they are a danger on the road anyway.

foinse wrote: »

And another thing, don't drive in the overtaking lane, you even referred to it as such in your post. But didn't indicate whether you were overtaking or simply driving in it. From your post I believe you were driving in it, this isn't clever or safe.

My apologies if I did not make it clear that I was overtaking on the overtaking lane and traffic was highly congested on both lanes so while I was still over taking the left lane I could not go any faster as I did not want to be driving right up behind someone else. There was no space in the left lane as cars were very close to each other but as soon as there was space I pulled in. Also I usually find that people that drive in the overtaking lane tend to call it the fast lane and not the overtaking lane but apologies for not being clear.

foinse wrote: »

You have over 4,000 posts, meaning you've been around these boards for a while now. Would you try to be a backseat mod? or would you report a post if you saw something that's not right? I'm betting you'd report it. Dangerous driving is the exactly the same, if you see something dangerous or unsafe on the roads call the real life mods, you'll get them at 999 or 112, ask for the Gardai as they're more commonly known. They'll sort the situation out for you. no need to do something dangerous like hitting your breaks or flipping the bird.

Giving him the finger is not dangerous and I did not hit my breaks, I just tapped them to show him the lights for split seconds. It worked too as he backed up when he got the message.

pa990 · 27-09-2010 10:23AM

just drive in the left lane.

axer · 27-09-2010 10:28AM

pa990 wrote: »

just drive in the left lane.

Always? Except when overtaking I assume you mean?

Noopti · 27-09-2010 10:36AM

pa990 wrote: »

just drive in the left lane.

Did you even read the OP's clarification above?

Smcgie · 27-09-2010 10:42AM

I once drove away from 2 lads standing in plain clothes at the entrance to my estate. Turned out to be the boys in blue doing random checks in a random area. I drove on because they were neither in uniform or a squad car. Then the car (granted it was a mondeo) followed me flashing the headlights. No blue lights no siren.

So I pulls over and he runs up to the car door and starts pulling at the door handle and roaring get out get out! So I get out and he says why didn't you stop! I says honest to god I didn't know who you where. He said were the gards and you have just failed to stop when requested.

This stage I'm pissed with his over aggressive manner and I asked him for his garda number.

He said don't get smart with me! It was only when he give me a chance then to explain that:

1)they were in plain clothes
2)no marked car
3)no blue light/siren when following me
4)when I requested his I'd he said don't get smart with me.

It was only when he actually produced his badge did I then allow myself to believe he was a garda.. A very unprofessional one at that.

axer · 27-09-2010 10:51AM

Smcgie wrote: »

It was only when he actually produced his badge did I then allow myself to believe he was a garda.. A very unprofessional one at that.

Thats what I was trying to find out here i.e. could someone get themselves into trouble for now stopping for gardai when there is no indication that they are gardai. Surely it is reasonable to not stop for someone just because they flash their lights - who knows who that person is and what they might be planning to do.

RoadRunner · 27-09-2010 10:59AM

If he was a cop he probably could have tried to get you for dangerous driving. Whether you realise it or not, hitting the brakes while someone is close behind you at motorway speeds isn't clever. Cop or not you instigated the altercation (although it sounds like he's a right dickhead).

Corcioch · 27-09-2010 11:06AM

axer wrote: »

Thats what I was trying to find out here i.e. could someone get themselves into trouble for now stopping for gardai when there is no indication that they are gardai. Surely it is reasonable to not stop for someone just because they flash their lights - who knows who that person is and what they might be planning to do.

No they couldn't, not unless a Garda had clearly identified themselves.

In fairness, the entire situation you described sounds needless . . . .if you see someone driving in a manner your not happy with do NOT start "tapping" your brakes and sticking your fingers up at them, that behaviour could land you in court, could get you in trouble . .

. . .and it simply esclates situations . . .like the one you encountered. Would the whole situation have escalated like it did if you hadn't started tapping on brakes and sticking up fingers??

You never know why a car behind you may be speeding and trying desperately to get past you . . . .it could be a genuine emergency, there could be someone in need of help badly in that car.

Garda often get called to escort civilians in their own cars on the way to hospital with medical emergencies, geniune cases where life is at risk . . . . the next speeding driver someone sees could be one of these folks without a Garda escort . . . .unlikely but its still a chance

So just move out of the way as soon as you can . . . . . .when its safe to do so. . . .

And if you have your doubts about the driving, if you think its dangerous driving and not a geniune emergency then by all means report it to Gardai . . ..there and then if you have a handsfree kit or afterwards if not.

But dont get caught up in road rage and make a situation even worse. . . . like happened in the tale you've described.

. . . .and ya, the other guy sounds like an Asshole.

axer · 27-09-2010 11:22AM

Corcioch wrote: »

. . .and it simply esclates situations . . .like the one you encountered. Would the whole situation have escalated like it did if you hadn't started tapping on brakes and sticking up fingers??

Considering it would have been dangerous for me to pull in as the left lane was completely congested I think the person behind me got the message to pull back since they did pull back. It would have been different if there was a siren or something as then at least the other drivers around me would have been aware of what was going on (if in fact it was a garda behind me) thus would have made room for me to pull out of the way.

The other alternative I could see happening is the driver behind me staying that close to me all the way until I could pull over or worse still I manage to get into the first lane and the car behind me speeds ahead to another car ahead - to someone who panics and possibly dangerously tries to pull into the left lane thus easily causing an accident that I would more than likely have ended up in.

While I agree my actions were road rage as such I did not slow my car down in any way when I tapped the breaks, I didn't have to stick my finger out at the person but he was so dangerously close and I had nowhere to pull out of the way and the guy behind me got the message and pull back from me so my actions, while not ideal got the message across.

deadwood · 27-09-2010 12:43PM

They're called BRAKES!

the_syco · 27-09-2010 02:41PM

Smcgie wrote: »

I once drove away from 2 lads standing in plain clothes at the entrance to my estate. Turned out to be the boys in blue doing random checks in a random area. I drove on because they were neither in uniform or a squad car. Then the car (granted it was a mondeo) followed me flashing the headlights. No blue lights no siren.

So I pulls over and he runs up to the car door and starts pulling at the door handle and roaring get out get out!

If this happened to me, I'd have probably just kept going. I stop for no-one, unless they are clearly Gardai.

Sofa King Great · 27-09-2010 04:23PM

the_syco wrote: »

If this happened to me, I'd have probably just kept going. I stop for no-one, unless they are clearly Gardai.

Traffic wardens, or people in control of animals too!

coolmoose · 27-09-2010 06:11PM

axer wrote: »

I did not hit my breaks, I just tapped them to show him the lights for split seconds. It worked too as he backed up when he got the message.

That's not the point, he's not to know if you were slowing down or not, it can of course cause a reaction from a driver of slamming on their brakes as many Irish drivers seem to drive based on the brake lights of the vehicle in front of them.

What you did was dangerous, and if you don't realise that then you're as bad as the lad who was in the car behind you. You could have caused an accident just as easily as he could have.

Have a read of any advanced driving manual and nowhere will you see it mentioned to tap your brakes to frighten the driver behind or give them a hint/message.

coolmoose · 27-09-2010 06:13PM

Sofa King Great wrote: »

Traffic wardens, or people in control of animals too!

I think he meant in the sense of trying to pull him over whilst driving?

Unmarked Garda cars

Comments