Gardai abuse of the rules of the road

Kiss1037 · 05-09-2011 09:35AM #1

I know that the Gardai have leeway re the rules of the road , but i'm geting very pissed off seeing them break the rules of the road, day in , day out

This morning i saw , the gardai pass me in a bus lane definitely at speed , several minutes later , i called into the local petrol station to see same gardai car parked up and the gardai buying coffee, then i saw a garda cycle through a red light.

I think we should start a post with a list of there discrepencies , so that we may hold them accountable like the rest of us to the rules of the road.

BTW i have no issue with them if they are on urgent business.

seamus · 05-09-2011 09:40AM

I would rather the Gardai were able to move about freely and cover more ground, regardless of whether there's a current emergency, than pay them to sit in traffic all day.

Big Nasty · 05-09-2011 09:42AM

This more suited to motors or roads?

Only going to turn in to a gardai bashing thread here.

chin_grin · 05-09-2011 09:42AM

seamus wrote: »

I would rather the Gardai were able to move about freely, regardless of whether there's a current emergency, than have them sit in traffic.

Saw one in a car yapping away on her mobile while driving. Eejit.

hatrickpatrick · 05-09-2011 09:49AM

MCMLXXV wrote: »

This more suited to motors or roads?

Only going to turn in to a gardai bashing thread here.

*facepalm*

For the LAST time. Demanding that our police force be held to the same standards and the same laws as ordinary citizens is NOT "police bashing", it's called democracy. No one is above the law, be they enforcer or legislator.

Big Nasty · 05-09-2011 09:53AM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

*facepalm*

For the LAST time. Demanding that our police force be held to the same standards and the same laws as ordinary citizens is NOT "police bashing", it's called democracy. No one is above the law, be they enforcer or legislator.

I'm not disagreeing with you - I'm just telling you the way this thread is going to go on AH. It's hardly the first one of its type here - you should know that by now yourself.

si_guru · 05-09-2011 09:54AM

chin_grin wrote: »

Saw one in a car yapping away on her mobile while driving. Eejit.

IIRC the donut munchers are exempt from that law.

..didn't ye know they have driving super-powers? Anyway, why does any one think Gardai are some kind of benchmark for behaviour. It's no exactly brain surgery being a Gard.

Lollipops23 · 05-09-2011 09:55AM

I saw a Garda texting while driving last week, outside Lanigan's on the Quays.

hatrickpatrick · 05-09-2011 09:55AM

MCMLXXV wrote: »

I'm not disagreeing with you - I'm just telling you the way this thread is going to go on AH. It's hardly the first one of its type here - you should know that by now yourself.

I do, and I have never seen "garda bashing" threads here, only threads demanding that Gards follow the law and complaining that they get away with it when they don't.

To qualify as "bashing", the complaints have to be unreasonable, and they're usually not in the slightest.

TheZohanS · 05-09-2011 09:59AM

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless.

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

But anyway, rabble, rabble, 2 points for speeding and I'm bitter, rabble rabble, gardai are shìt, rabble, rabble let me drag my knuckles...

hatrickpatrick · 05-09-2011 10:01AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless.

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

But anyway, rabble, rabble, 2 points for speeding and I'm bitter, rabble rabble, gardai are shìt, rabble, rabble let me drag my knuckles...

Why should I get two points for speeding and not a Gard, if they're not doing so out of necessity but to get to the feckin' shops quicker?

Big Nasty · 05-09-2011 10:01AM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I do, and I have never seen "garda bashing" threads here

You've never seen a gardai bashing thread on AH!?! :eek:

LOL!

seamus · 05-09-2011 10:02AM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

For the LAST time. Demanding that our police force be held to the same standards and the same laws as ordinary citizens is NOT "police bashing", it's called democracy. No one is above the law, be they enforcer or legislator.

For proper enforcement, it stands to reason that the enforcers should be exempt from a number of laws while on duty in order to maximise their effectiveness.

If an ordinary citizen were to forcibly detain someone in order to execute an arrest, they could be charged with assault. Would you require that a Garda be subject to the same law?

A Garda who is off duty should absolutely be held to the same standard as everyone else, perhaps even more rigidly so.

Lurching · 05-09-2011 10:07AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless.

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

But anyway, rabble, rabble, 2 points for speeding and I'm bitter, rabble rabble, gardai are shìt, rabble, rabble let me drag my knuckles...

If this is the case, why are these driving courses not available to members of the public to reduce the number of road deaths?

Eitherway, this is a cop-out (pardon the pun). It doesn't matter how good a driver a Gard is, using bus lanes and talking on a phone etc is illegal.

Lustrum · 05-09-2011 10:08AM

From the Road Traffic Act 1961...

(2) Part VI of this Act shall not apply to—

(a) a vehicle owned by the State or a person using such vehicle in the course of his employment,

(b) a vehicle under seizure by a person in the service of the State in the course of his duty or a person using such vehicle in the course of his employment, or

(c) a member of the Garda Síochána or an officer of any Minister using a vehicle for the purpose of a test, removal or disposition of the vehicle pursuant to this Act or any regulation thereunder.

I suppose if it pisses you off that much you could always apply and join them!

TheZohanS · 05-09-2011 10:09AM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Why should I get two points for speeding and not a Gard, if they're not doing so out of necessity but to get to the feckin' shops quicker?

Why should a garda get assaulted practically daily when dealing with asswipes in his job and not you?

Life is unfair.

tayto lover · 05-09-2011 10:10AM

chin_grin wrote: »

Saw one in a car yapping away on her mobile while driving. Eejit.

I believe they are exempt this law.

Bosco boy · 05-09-2011 10:11AM

si_guru wrote: »

chin_grin wrote: »

Saw one in a car yapping away on her mobile while driving. Eejit.

IIRC the donut munchers are exempt from that law.

..didn't ye know they have driving super-powers? Anyway, why does any one think Gardai are some kind of benchmark for behaviour. It's no exactly brain surgery being a Gard.

I've a feeling your no brain surgeon yourself!

Snakeblood · 05-09-2011 10:11AM

seamus wrote: »

For proper enforcement, it stands to reason that the enforcers should be exempt from a number of laws while on duty in order to maximise their effectiveness.

If an ordinary citizen were to forcibly detain someone in order to execute an arrest, they could be charged with assault. Would you require that a Garda be subject to the same law?

A Garda who is off duty should absolutely be held to the same standard as everyone else, perhaps even more rigidly so.

Yeah, but in order to be exempt from a particular law, the gardai should be exempted explicitly from that law. It shouldn't be just open to interpretation. As far as I'm aware, Gardai aren't allowed go down the bus lane to get to the shops, unless someone is robbing those shops.

TheZohanS · 05-09-2011 10:12AM

Lurching wrote: »

If this is the case, why are these driving courses not available to members of the public to reduce the number of road deaths?

Eitherway, this is a cop-out (pardon the pun). It doesn't matter how good a driver a Gard is, using bus lanes and talking on a phone etc is illegal.

These courses are available to the general public, google "advanced driving courses".

Mr. Incognito · 05-09-2011 10:12AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

Pretty sure there are a fair chunk of them driving under super's letters and it doesn't matter if you are the Dukes of Hazard if you are texting or on the phone or distracted.

Cop's flout the law all the time. In every country in the world- with power comes abuse. Simples.

Bannasidhe · 05-09-2011 10:13AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless.

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

But anyway, rabble, rabble, 2 points for speeding and I'm bitter, rabble rabble, gardai are shìt, rabble, rabble let me drag my knuckles...

I have no penalty points. I have taken (and passed) advanced driving courses in the UK and Australia. I have worked at Templemore as a training consultant. Yes, I believe the emergency services need to be allowed flexibility when responding to calls. However, I object when I see (as I did last week) a guard sitting in her car in traffic (she was in the lane next to me for a good 10 minutes) chatting and then texting on her mobile and then pull someone over 5 minutes later for doing the same thing. The guard was using a mobile phone while driving - this is against the law. She was not responding to a call-out. Indeed, after she issued a penalty notice to the driver she stopped, the same guard had time to pop into Tesco for milk.

It smacks of one law for us/another law for them - haven't we had enough of that sh*ite in Ireland?

tayto lover · 05-09-2011 10:15AM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I do, and I have never seen "garda bashing" threads here, only threads demanding that Gards follow the law and complaining that they get away with it when they don't.

To qualify as "bashing", the complaints have to be unreasonable, and they're usually not in the slightest.

Could you point out a post where you have actually defended the Gardai ?
I think you are a bit of a basher yourself.

splashthecash · 05-09-2011 10:17AM

I past by a gardai car parked on a double line just in front of a T junction bend - saw him coming out of a shop with a sausage roll and coffee...just pised me off. If I was to have gone up to him, I'd probably be accused of "being smart or cheeky"

ShiresV2 · 05-09-2011 10:18AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

I wish that were true but look here, in 2006 when we were flush with the cash:

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that, the number of gardaí who are driving Garda cars generally and have chief superintendent’s permission [is] 2013

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of gardaí appointed to the Traffic Corps in the past 12 months who are driving on chief superintendent’s permission [is] 17

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2006/02/09/00116.asp

It's depressing that we're not affording these guys proper training when the same set of organisations are constantly on at the average user about about road safety.

TheZohan wrote: »

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless

I don't get the begrudgers. If the cops can get somewhere quicker because they can exceed the speed limit or use a bus lane, even if it's just to buy more doughnuts, then fair play to them. I wish I could do that, I can't, but why begrudge them.

chin_grin · 05-09-2011 10:20AM

tayto lover wrote: »

I believe they are exempt this law.

Who Guards the Gardaí! Somebody please think of the children. Rabble rabble, etc.

Although that is shocking to me. Didn't know that! Why can't they put bluetooth sets in their vehicles then?

rounding tattenham Corner · 05-09-2011 10:24AM

The gardai for their own safety should follow the rules of the road. Since the average IQ of a garda is much lower than the average person, so they need to put all their limited intelligence into concentrating on the road.

si_guru · 05-09-2011 10:28AM

Bosco boy wrote: »

I've a feeling your no brain surgeon yourself!

You are quite correct I am not a brain surgeon.

hardCopy · 05-09-2011 10:29AM

TheZohan wrote: »

Another garda bashing thread...awe bless.

Gardai have to take advance driving courses to drive garda vehicles, they're a damn sight better drivers than most that will post on this thread.

But anyway, rabble, rabble, 2 points for speeding and I'm bitter, rabble rabble, gardai are shìt, rabble, rabble let me drag my knuckles...

Actually, a massive number of gardai don't get to do the course because there is a long back log. All they need to drive a car is a full license and a letter of exemption from their chief. The only need to do the course to drive a van or motorbike

seamus · 05-09-2011 10:30AM

chin_grin wrote: »

Although that is shocking to me. Didn't know that! Why can't they put bluetooth sets in their vehicles then?

It's not necessarily that simple unless you can get all the bluetooth headsets to sync with all the phones.

The actual problem is that even in the good times the funding provided to the Gardai was quite poor. Their radio system up until a couple of years ago (2008 or 2009 afaik) was still an old (1980s) standard wide open to scanners and had relatively poor coverage - for many units, the mobile phone provided better coverage along with a completely secure line. When you're working scum-infested areas, the last thing you need is for the scum to know where you're going before you do.

They've since moved to TETRA, but I'm not sure if that's complete at this stage.

However, since TETRA is still a form of broadcast radio (effectively), they will still need to use mobiles to get in direct contact with other members.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/ididojqlkf/rss2/

tayto lover · 05-09-2011 10:31AM

chin_grin wrote: »

Who Guards the Gardaí! Somebody please think of the children. Rabble rabble, etc.

Although that is shocking to me. Didn't know that! Why can't they put bluetooth sets in their vehicles then?

There was an article in the papers awhile back about the Gardai having to use their own mobile phones to take official calls in the cars because their radio system is so outdated it won't work and you talk about bluetooth. The Gardai were threatening to refuse to use their own phones in protest at the poor radio system in that article. Also rather than talk about the way the Gardai are driving I would like to know how many un-roadworthy vehicles they are driving again due to Govt cutbacks it seems.

Gardai abuse of the rules of the road

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