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Is this illegal?

  • 04-08-2015 10:36AM
    #1
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭


    Last night there was a speed trap at Blanchardstown where two of our wonderful gardai were standing on the flyover over the M3 pointing their hairdryers north.. As usual, they make sure to set is up where there are no speed limit signs. Is it legal for them to mount such a trap? Just asking. First time I have seen them do it from the bridge. Normally it's a hair dryer or van on the M3 itself under one of the bridges


«13

Comments

  • #2
    galljga1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭galljga1


    I cannot see why not.


  • #3
    ectoraige
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭ectoraige


    No, why would it be illegal?


  • #4
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Which part do you think is illegal?


  • #5
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Of course it's legal. And there are speed limit signs when you enter the speed zone. They are often on the flyovers.


  • #6
    galljga1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭galljga1


    ectoraige wrote: »
    No.

    I would see it as legal. Why do you think it is not? Is it the elevation of the site being used?


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  • #7
    wylie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭wylie


    ectoraige wrote: »
    No.

    Yes


  • #8
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,085 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    I don't see why it wouldn't be legal.

    If you're breaking the speed limit, the Gardai are entitled to use any reasonable measures to detect that. They don't have to make you aware of where they are.

    It's not called a speed "trap" for nothing!


  • #9
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    Last night there was a speed trap at Blanchardstown where two of our wonderful gardai were standing on the flyover over the M3 pointing their hairdryers north.. As usual, they make sure to set is up where there are no speed limit signs. Is it legal for them to mount such a trap? Just asking. First time I have seen them do it from the bridge. Normally it's a hair dryer or van on the M3 itself under one of the bridges
    It's not the M3 at Blanchardstown, and if it was a flyover on the N3 at Blanchardstown there are signs.


  • #10
    Old Perry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭Old Perry


    No signs doesnt mean no speed limits. People obeying the law and driving sensibly have no need to worry about such 'traps'.


  • #11
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,606 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Your supposed to be aware of the speed limit.


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  • #12
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    Are you actually trying to say that if there isn't a sign right there then you can't be speeding? Have you heard of a phenomenon called 'remembering what the speed limit is'?


  • #13
    seenitall
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,766 ✭✭✭seenitall


    galljga1 wrote: »
    I would see it as legal. Why do you think it is not? Is it the elevation of the site being used?

    Q: Is this illegal?
    A: No.


  • #14
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭Ally Dick


    Zillah wrote: »
    Which part do you think is illegal?

    Is it illegal to stand over the road on the flyover? Could they do so in the dark where you couldn't see them? It was bright last night mind


  • #15
    Duke O Smiley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,103 ✭✭✭✭Duke O Smiley


    So what did they catch you at OP?


  • #16
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭Ally Dick


    kylith wrote: »
    Are you actually trying to say that if there isn't a sign right there then you can't be speeding? Have you heard of a phenomenon called 'remembering what the speed limit is'?

    At one stage, the speed limit went from 120 to 60 for roadworks. Then back up to 80. Then down to 50, then up to 100 on the M50. Ridiculous, isn't it?


  • #17
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,574 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    Is it illegal to stand over the road on the flyover? Could they do so in the dark where you couldn't see them? It was bright last night mind

    Why do you need to see them? :confused:

    If they are on the bridge you aren't going to be running them over.


  • #18
    donegaLroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭donegaLroad


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    At one stage, the speed limit went from 120 to 60 for roadworks. Then back up to 80. Then down to 50, then up to 100 on the M50. Ridiculous, isn't it?

    I remember the drop to 50 somewhere along that stretch..

    this is interesting


  • #19
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭Ally Dick


    awec wrote: »
    Why do you need to see them? :confused:

    They're supposed to be visible. Otherwise they're entrapping. Next thing you know a scarecrow in a field has a hairdryer hidden it it


  • #20
    lawred2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,207 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    It's not the M3 at Blanchardstown, and if it was a flyover on the N3 at Blanchardstown there are signs.

    you probably didn't see the earlier signs


  • #21
    horse7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,048 ✭✭✭horse7


    So if your speeding ,do they drive after you or send out letter?


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  • #22
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,574 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    They're supposed to be visible. Otherwise they're entrapping. Next thing you know a scarecrow in a field has a hairdryer hidden it it

    They were visible enough for you to spot them and create this thread.


  • #23
    wylie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭wylie


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    They're supposed to be visible. Otherwise they're entrapping. Next thing you know a scarecrow in a field has a hairdryer hidden it it


    She did see them, remember she saw them on the bridge.


  • #24
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    At one stage, the speed limit went from 120 to 60 for roadworks. Then back up to 80. Then down to 50, then up to 100 on the M50. Ridiculous, isn't it?

    Ridiculous it may be, but as long as each limit is posted you should be following it.


  • #25
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,574 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    horse7 wrote: »
    So if your speeding ,do they drive after you or send out letter?

    The hairdryer needs to stop you I think.

    I think there's usually a guard waiting on a bike / in a car to go after and stop anyone that is seen to be speeding.


  • #26
    Ally Dick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭Ally Dick


    Duke O Smiley wrote: »
    So what did they catch you at OP?

    I jammed on. Think I was doing 74 before I copped them. Depends on if I was in the 80 or 50 zone


  • #27
    Roger_007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,886 ✭✭✭✭Roger_007


    The more important question is : 'is this a known accident-prone stretch of road'. The Gardai always maintain that their road safety resources are concentrated on known dangerous roads and 'black spots'. The motorways are much safer than other roads.
    I live on a small country road where the speed limit is 80kph. I have been here 15 years and have never seen or heard of the Gardai operating a speed check on my road, despite the fact that it seems to be a favoured road for 'boy racers'.
    The scenario described by the OP is simply a case of the Gardai bumping up their statistics. It has very little to do with road safety.


  • #28
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    kylith wrote: »
    Are you actually trying to say that if there isn't a sign right there then you can't be speeding?
    There was a thread last week where some lad was complaining that there was no "no littering" sign around bottle banks. He was caught littering on CCTV and was complaining about the lack of signs, wondering if he could get off.


  • #29
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,574 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Roger_007 wrote: »
    The more important question is : 'is this a known accident-prone stretch of road'. The Gardai always maintain that their road safety resources are concentrated on known dangerous roads and 'black spots'. The motorways are much safer than other roads.
    I live on a small country road where the speed limit is 80kph. I have been here 15 years and have never seen or heard of the Gardai operating a speed check on my road, despite the fact that it seems to be a favoured road for 'boy racers'.
    The scenario described by the OP is simply a case of the Gardai bumping up their statistics. It has very little to do with road safety.

    The reduced speed limit is usually because of narrow lanes, frequent exits (and therefore frequent lane changes) combined with high traffic volumes.

    Or else roadworks.

    The speed limit isn't set lower just for the craic.


  • #30
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,574 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    I jammed on. Think I was doing 74 before I copped them. Depends on if I was in the 80 or 50 zone

    If they didn't stop you you're grand I think. IMO they don't stop everyone anyway, especially if you are just keeping up with traffic. They are more interested in people who are taking the absolute piss and flying.


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  • #31
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Ally Dick wrote: »
    They're supposed to be visible. Otherwise they're entrapping.
    Nonsense.
    There's no law which requires a Garda carrying out a manual speed check to be visible.


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