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Unmarked garda car question!

  • 17-04-2012 09:26PM
    #1
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭


    Ok here's my story:

    I was on the M3 on my way home around 8.20. I'll be honest, over the speed limit. Coming up to the Dunboyne/Ratoath exit there is this car in the hard shoulder with hazards on:
    • Toyota Avensis
    • 04 D xxxx
    • Maroon
    • Saloon

    I was in my van with my lights on. On dipped beams, 6000k HIDs.

    As I pass it in the middle lane, there's a flash from the third brake light. I shouted and after I exited the motorway headed back on to see if I could see more of the car and driver
    • No obvious signs of lights on the bumper
    • No raised bit on the boot like an ANPR car
    • Chap wasn't in uniform, yakkin' on the phone as driving off, just himself in the car
    • "Normal" tax disc holder

    Now I have seen AGS using unmarked cars on the motorway before, bu usually they're pulled in inconspicuous places, no lights and a Garda leaning out the window with a gun.

    Is there a possibility that my lights caused a flash on the top of the rear screen?

    Does anyone know the unmarked cars the Traffic Corps use?

    If I get a fine and points so be it, I just want other peoples opinions on the car and not my driving.

    Thanks for reading :)


«1

Comments

  • #2
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,328 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    I think you're being paranoid a bit?


  • #3
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    I think you're being paranoid a bit?

    I really hope so! :D

    Force of habit, you never know who's around the next corner, who's behind you etc. I can't be too careful out there... :)


  • #4
    ger10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 58 ✭✭ger10


    Id say relax OP. Don't worry about it.
    I'd doubt the "gaurd" had a gun on you, caught you, then went on the phone straight away. As if he wanted to nab one person and his job was done :)

    I wouldn't worry man, these speed cameras have us all parnoid as fuuk.


  • #5
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Zero chance you will get anything in the post.


  • #6
    dar83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,102 ✭✭✭dar83


    RoverJames wrote: »
    Zero chance you will get anything in the post.

    Unless we all chip in and send you a lovely card or something. :D


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  • #7
    djimi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,234 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    It doesnt sound like it was a Garda to be honest.


  • #8
    john reilly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 409 ✭✭john reilly


    djimi wrote: »
    It doesnt sound like it was a Garda to be honest.
    it does to me


  • #9
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    I'd say it's 50/50. Kinda like that cat in the box (Schrödinger's cat)


  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    It doesn't matter if it was a Garda or not :)
    It wasn't a fixed camera, it wasn't a hair dryer (if it was they didn't follow him and act on it) and it wasn't a camera van.

    So no ticket for the OP.


  • #11
    Joe10000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,295 ✭✭✭Joe10000


    As above, no way was he checking speed. When you said you were over the limit I assumed you had been drinking and then you said you went back to get a look at the car I thought you must have been well over the limit to do that..


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  • #12
    Joe10000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,295 ✭✭✭Joe10000


    Sorry I just remembered something, I was behind an unmarked Garda car this morning and it had a camera mounted on the back shelf looking backwards, I assumed it was for reading number plates because I can't see them parking up somewhere to catch a speeding car.


  • #13
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    Joe10000 wrote: »
    As above, no way was he checking speed. When you said you were over the limit I assumed you had been drinking and then you said you went back to get a look at the car I thought you must have been well over the limit to do that..

    Whoops I should have said speed limit. Fixed now :)
    Joe10000 wrote: »
    Sorry I just remembered something, I was behind an unmarked Garda car this morning and it had a camera mounted on the back shelf looking backwards, I assumed it was for reading number plates because I can't see them parking up somewhere to catch a speeding car.

    I couldn't see anything on the back shelf of this particular car

    Edit: Things like this scare me
    gardai_ignoring_rules_of_road.jpg


  • #14
    166man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,569 ✭✭✭166man


    dgt wrote: »
    Whoops I should have said speed limit. Fixed now :)

    Edit: Things like this scare me

    What engines are in each of those yokes I wonder? Oh and is that unmarked Mondeo lowered a little?


  • #15
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    166man wrote: »
    What engines are in each of those yokes I wonder? Oh and is that unmarked Mondeo lowered a little?

    Usually 2.0 Petrols in the Mondeos.

    Don't know what the older Toyotas use, newer ones are diesel from what I've seen


  • #16
    For Forks Sake
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,247 ✭✭✭✭For Forks Sake


    166man wrote: »
    Oh and is that unmarked Mondeo lowered a little?

    Nope, I'd say the shocks are in ****e on it though


  • #17
    Joe10000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,295 ✭✭✭Joe10000


    I don't want to incrimate myself here but last week I got pulled by an unmarked Garda car at 3am and what I had done could have put me off the road if they had wanted to but all they were concerned about was whether the car was stolen and when it was clear that it wasn't they sent me on my way.

    So OP I don't think you have anything to worry about, they have bigger fish to fry.


  • #18
    foxinsox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,078 ✭✭✭foxinsox


    It sounds to me it was just a bloke yapping on the phone..

    04 ? I know there have been cutbacks but I don't imagine undercover would be using and 04 car (open to correction) unless they were deep deep undercover and if that was the case they'd hardly be watching for speeding.

    Although I did see a gaggle of Gardai exit from the rear of a battered Hiace and enter a house for a drugs bust - I was impressed.

    OP - I wouldn't be worrying if I was you.


  • #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    166man wrote: »
    What engines are in each of those yokes I wonder? Oh and is that unmarked Mondeo lowered a little?

    Nothing out of the ordinary :)

    The unmarked one is a 2.0 petrol, the marked one is a 1.8 petrol.
    foxinsox wrote: »
    ...........

    04 ? I know there have been cutbacks but I don't imagine undercover would be using and 04 car (open to correction) unless they were deep deep undercover and if that was the case they'd hardly be watching for speeding............

    He said unmarked, not undercover :)


  • #20
    foxinsox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,078 ✭✭✭foxinsox


    RoverJames wrote: »
    He said unmarked, not undercover :)

    same idea though, is it not?

    If it was unmarked maybe it was undercover?

    As in being unmarked could disguise it?

    So therefore it could be undercover?

    :pac:

    I still reckon it was a lad yapping on his phone.


  • #21
    Terrontress
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,967 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    foxinsox wrote: »
    RoverJames wrote: »
    He said unmarked, not undercover :)

    same idea though, is it not?

    If it was unmarked maybe it was undercover?

    As in being unmarked could disguise it?

    So therefore it could be undercover?

    :pac:

    I still reckon it was a lad yapping on his phone.

    I believe that with unmarked, they don't care whether you know it is Gardai or not. Usually not marked to save €€€.

    Undercover you aren't suppose to know it is Gardai.


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  • #22
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    foxinsox wrote: »
    same idea though, is it not?

    If it was unmarked maybe it was undercover?

    As in being unmarked could disguise it?

    So therefore it could be undercover?

    :pac:

    I still reckon it was a lad yapping on his phone.

    There's an ex undercover car not to far away from me. 98 RN Camry 2.2.... There's a difference from what I can see :)

    Here is where the car was parked


  • #23
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    foxinsox wrote: »
    same idea though, is it not? .......

    Nope, unmarked ones have the extra aerials, sh1t on the dash, box of latex gloves on the parcel shelf, visible flashy lights built into the rear clusters, brake light and extra ones on the side.

    Undercover vehicles are essentially unspottable to most of us.


  • #24
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    RoverJames wrote: »
    Nope, unmarked ones have the extra aerials, sh1t on the dash, box of latex gloves on the parcel shelf, visible flashy lights built into the rear clusters, brake light and extra ones on the side.

    Undercover vehicles are essentially unspottable to most of us.

    This car had no aerials on the roof or anything on the shelf :)

    It's just the flash that's bothering me! :(


  • #25
    a_v525
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 323 ✭✭a_v525


    dgt wrote: »
    As I pass it in the middle lane, there's a flash from the third brake light. I shouted and after I exited the motorway headed back on to see if I could see more of the car and driver

    Sorry OP but actually LOL'd at that, I imagine the flash scared you? Or your tourettes kicked in


  • #26
    foxinsox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,078 ✭✭✭foxinsox


    Apologies for the confusion lads:

    I'm old school, cars without Garda logos on them in my mind are:

    unmarked
    undercover
    branch
    drug squad

    It is just language/words, I get what you mean though, when I replied I meant any of the above, I see my aul ones error now :o

    But if it was an unmarked car with a Gardai hanging out of it with a speed gun thing - then it is obivously Gardai.

    If not it could be any of the above or just a bloke yapping on the phone.

    :)


  • #27
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    a_v525 wrote: »
    Sorry OP but actually LOL'd at that, I imagine the flash scared you? Or your tourettes kicked in

    To quote myself I shouted "F*CK!!!!" as I'm sure a lot of people would do the same :pac:


  • #28
    Terrontress
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,967 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    dgt wrote: »
    foxinsox wrote: »
    same idea though, is it not?

    If it was unmarked maybe it was undercover?

    As in being unmarked could disguise it?

    So therefore it could be undercover?

    :pac:

    I still reckon it was a lad yapping on his phone.

    There's an ex undercover car not to far away from me. 98 RN Camry 2.2.... There's a difference from what I can see :)

    Here is where the car was parked

    I'm not sure if a 2.2 Camry would be classed as an undercover car. I've never known anyone to drive them other than Gardai.

    Undercover cars could have a taxi sign or be a council van or else something really mundane like an Astra.

    If I were a criminal and saw a Camry, Mondeo, Avensis or Focus then I would treat it with caution.


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    foxinsox wrote: »
    Apologies for the confusion lads:

    I'm old school, cars without Garda logos on them in my mind are:

    unmarked
    undercover
    branch
    drug squad................

    I'm the same, a lad I knew years back told me about the actual undercover cars, I wouldn't have known otherwise tbh :)


  • #30
    Mister Jingles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭Mister Jingles


    I wouldn't think too much of it OP. Yes it wouldn't be unusual to see a 04 Garda car, in fact where I live there's a 03 and 00 still going about. However, and I'm open to correction on this that the traffic corps didn't have mk2 avensis due to their ****e steering and handling.


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  • #31
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,497 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Terrontress wrote: »
    I'm not sure if a 2.2 Camry would be classed as an undercover car. I've never known anyone to drive them other than Gardai...............

    My neighbour has a 1997 2.2 Camry from new, he was a accountant or something and it was a company car. Loads of them around as Taxi and hackney cabs a few years ago too.


This discussion has been closed.
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