Unmarked Car

Decemberist0 · 01-03-2021 8:17pm #1

Was waiting for my bus on the Neilstown Road. And a car pulled up at the bus stop and the passenger said who are you and what I was doing? I gave a fake name because I didn’t know who this was. I walked up closer and the driver was wearing a Garda vest and the passenger who shouted at me was wearing a t shirt and jeans. They then asked where I lived and admonished me for travelling outside 5km even though I can’t work from home. I produced my letter from my employer and said it was poorly written and asked why I gave a fake name and I said I didn’t know who it was until I walked up to the car. They gave me back my letter and drove off.

This is intimidation and entrapment of the highest order. I called Rowlagh Garda Station with the reg and they said it’s the drugs squad. And the Gardai wonder why they’re despised...
More than likely this was a case of mistaken identity but I’m annoyed at this and nearly afraid to travel to work tomorrow. I have submitted a complaint to the Garda ombudsman is there any more steps I can take?

berocca2016 · 01-03-2021 8:23pm

Buy a chocolate bar and have a cup of tea and calm down.

The guard might have just been in a bad mood, no matter how much you follow it up it won't go anywhere because its not against any regulation for an Garda Siochana to use an unmarked squad car.

Tzardine · 01-03-2021 8:27pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

This is intimidation and entrapment of the highest order.

Its neither of those things.

Not trying to wind you up or be smart, but I wouldn't waste any time on it. Put it behind you and forget about it.

There is nothing to be achieved by following this up other than a lot of time on your part and most likely no outcome.

You had a mildly unpleasant interaction with the Gardai, that's all there is to it.

Lewis_Benson · 01-03-2021 8:30pm

What the lads said, move on, most guards are fairly sound, you met someone having a bad day who possibly thought you were someone else.

Smee_Again · 01-03-2021 8:32pm

You’re being a bit dramatic OP.

sydthebeat · 01-03-2021 8:46pm

Delighted to hear the gardai are doing their job

Detour. · 01-03-2021 8:48pm

The unmarked cars and the undercovers is a strange one

You're a mug if they're not real cops and in trouble if they are and you don't believe them

wonga77 · 01-03-2021 8:49pm

By submitting a complaint to the ombudsman you have already wasted more than enough time on this than you should have.
A thing of nothing, go to work tomorrow and forget about it

2012paddy2012 · 01-03-2021 8:55pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

Was waiting for my bus on the Neilstown Road. And a car pulled up at the bus stop and the passenger said who are you and what I was doing? I gave a fake name because I didn’t know who this was. I walked up closer and the driver was wearing a Garda vest and the passenger who shouted at me was wearing a t shirt and jeans. They then asked where I lived and admonished me for travelling outside 5km even though I can’t work from home. I produced my letter from my employer and said it was poorly written and asked why I gave a fake name and I said I didn’t know who it was until I walked up to the car. They gave me back my letter and drove off.

This is intimidation and entrapment of the highest order. I called Rowlagh Garda Station with the reg and they said it’s the drugs squad. And the Gardai wonder why they’re despised...
More than likely this was a case of mistaken identity but I’m annoyed at this and nearly afraid to travel to work tomorrow. I have submitted a complaint to the Garda ombudsman is there any more steps I can take?

You could find yourself - in a bit of a bother over false name - you were fairly lively out of the traps there - have you had cause to use it before !
I’m sure they were only doing their job
Nothing to complain about here -
This is only one side of the story. -

Detour. · 01-03-2021 8:59pm

Got pulled in by an unmarked over a minor issue

They were right behind me with the lights flashing on the front grille

Wasn't sure what to do, whether they were real or fake, who knows til u stop

Must be the same craic with undercovers flashing a badge , could be anything like

kirving · 01-03-2021 9:00pm

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

This is only one side of the story. -

Which we hear about all to often.

Vast majority of my (thankfully limited) dealings with the Gardai have been polite, some have been great.

But I've more than enough bad attitude for zero reason whatsoever, for them to lose my trust.

Decemberist0 · 01-03-2021 9:08pm

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

You could find yourself - in a bit of a bother over false name - you were fairly lively out of the traps there - have you had cause to use it before !
I’m sure they were only doing their job
Nothing to complain about here -
This is only one side of the story. -

If a randomer shouts out a car at you would you give them your real name? Again I didn’t know who this was until walked over closer and they did not identify themselves properly. All I said was John which is my middle name. I don’t find it acceptable and they probably missed some actual criminals by prioritising being arseholes to me.

mynamejeff · 01-03-2021 9:09pm

Detour. wrote: »

The unmarked cars and the undercovers is a strange one

You're a mug if they're not real cops and in trouble if they are and you don't believe them

aye it a bit of a thin line ,

I d be inclined to ask for id off them , that shouldn't be a huge problem , also inclined not to give a false name but at the same you do hear of scumbags and nutters impersonating cops

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/investigation-underway-after-man-impersonating-garda-attempts-to-pull-over-undercover-officers-39118103.html

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/606134/warning-issued-after-man-impersonating-a-garda-tried-to-enter-midlands-home.html

I see on the isnta there was a big mad chase up that way today , anything to do with that I wonder ?

wush06 · 01-03-2021 9:16pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

Was waiting for my bus on the Neilstown Road. And a car pulled up at the bus stop and the passenger said who are you and what I was doing? I gave a fake name because I didn’t know who this was. I walked up closer and the driver was wearing a Garda vest and the passenger who shouted at me was wearing a t shirt and jeans. They then asked where I lived and admonished me for travelling outside 5km even though I can’t work from home. I produced my letter from my employer and said it was poorly written and asked why I gave a fake name and I said I didn’t know who it was until I walked up to the car. They gave me back my letter and drove off.

This is intimidation and entrapment of the highest order. I called Rowlagh Garda Station with the reg and they said it’s the drugs squad. And the Gardai wonder why they’re despised...
More than likely this was a case of mistaken identity but I’m annoyed at this and nearly afraid to travel to work tomorrow. I have submitted a complaint to the Garda ombudsman is there any more steps I can take?

Seriously

Decemberist0 · 01-03-2021 9:18pm

wush06 wrote: »

Seriously

I wouldn’t feel comfortable after being questioned for waiting at a bus stop.

mynamejeff · 01-03-2021 9:20pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

I wouldn’t feel comfortable after being questioned for waiting at a bus stop.

you are aware of the hundreds of checkpoints that thousands of gardai have had up in the last year or so stopping and questioning every single person though right ?

Esse85 · 01-03-2021 9:22pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

I wouldn’t feel comfortable after being questioned for waiting at a bus stop.

You have your letter for work, what are you afraid of?

Decemberist0 · 01-03-2021 9:23pm

mynamejeff wrote: »

you are aware of the hundreds of checkpoints that thousands of gardai have had up in the last year or so stopping and questioning every single person though right ?

Yes but this was an unmarked car and the passenger was not wearing a uniform nor did they identify themselves. It was probably mistaken identity but they were horrible and wasted time when they probably missed out on a serious crime being committed.

Decemberist0 · 01-03-2021 9:25pm

Esse85 wrote: »

You have your letter for work, what are you afraid of?

Just having to go through that **** again. Afraid was probably a dramatic word but I don’t want to go through that.

billyhead · 01-03-2021 9:30pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

I wouldn’t feel comfortable after being questioned for waiting at a bus stop.

Are you being sarcastic? The Gardai are just trying to do a tough job. God help us people get upset over rubbish like this i.e basic questioning. It's not as if there using force to put people in the back of an unmarked car.

berocca2016 · 02-03-2021 12:41pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

Yes but this was an unmarked car and the passenger was not wearing a uniform nor did they identify themselves. It was probably mistaken identity but they were horrible and wasted time when they probably missed out on a serious crime being committed.

What I would do to avoid this scenario going forward is go back to your employer and ask them to use the generic IDA template which was sent out last year for employers to use for their essential workers.

I would also ask you to note that the Garda is just doing his job, same as you are. We're all in this almost twin peaks situation in which stuff that would seem unbelievable 12 months ago is now happening.

The best way often to ameliorate a situation when someone is being rude is just to be polite back. ðŸ‘Œ

kirving · 02-03-2021 9:11pm

billyhead wrote: »

Are you being sarcastic? The Gardai are just trying to do a tough job. God help us people get upset over rubbish like this i.e basic questioning. It's not as if there using force to put people in the back of an unmarked car.

Doing a job which is at times difficult, is not an excuse for behaving wholly unprofessionally. I would be sacked in no time if I treated a customer in my workplace with that kind of disdain.

Perhaps not everyone in the world has your level of confidence when dealing with authority figures.

Samuel T. Cogley · 03-03-2021 11:20am

kirving wrote: »

Doing a job which is at times difficult, is not an excuse for behaving wholly unprofessionally. I would be sacked in no time if I treated a customer in my workplace with that kind of disdain.

Perhaps not everyone in the world has your level of confidence when dealing with authority figures.

Look maybe you do, but most people in customer facing roles wouldn't be dealing with the type of scumbags the guards deal with on a daily basis and certainly not to the same level of involvement.

Piollaire · 03-03-2021 11:34am

This is what goes on in a police state where the security forces can harass citizens going about their daily lives. The 5km rule regulations are being abused by the Gardaí in this instance as a pretext to interrogate you.

Mod
Relax. This is not a police state. AGS just doing their job

Tzardine · 03-03-2021 11:37am

Piollaire wrote: »

This is what goes on in a police state where the security forces can harass citizens going about their daily lives. The 5km rule regulations are being abused by the Gardaí in this instance as a pretext to interrogate you.

Gemma, is that you?

elperello · 03-03-2021 11:39am

It's normal procedure for a plain clothes members of AGS to identify themselves when interacting with the public.

OP you might find this useful.

https://www.policingauthority.ie/assets/uploads/documents/Code-of-Ethics-for-the-Garda-Sochna_1.pdf

Piollaire · 03-03-2021 11:48am

Tzardine wrote: »

Gemma, is that you?

Ha! John Waters actually!

No conspiracy theories on this website as far as I know:

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/arrests/questioning_and_surveillance.html

Don't see anything about sitting at bus stops.

Dublinensis · 03-03-2021 11:48am

kirving wrote: »

Doing a job which is at times difficult, is not an excuse for behaving wholly unprofessionally. I would be sacked in no time if I treated a customer in my workplace with that kind of disdain.

Perhaps not everyone in the world has your level of confidence when dealing with authority figures.

Lucky for the guards that the job of being a policeman is not a profession, so.

I (half) joke. Still, while I don't intend to make excuses for rudeness, it's obviously of more significance to a private employer with a financial interest in repeat custom than to a public body without one.

berocca2016 · 03-03-2021 1:34pm

Piollaire wrote: »

This is what goes on in a police state where the security forces can harass citizens going about their daily lives. The 5km rule regulations are being abused by the Gardaí in this instance as a pretext to interrogate you.

Ah come on, there's no conspiracy like if you're keeping to the rules there is no issue.

People are making that the Gardaí are like the fecking Stasi. Asking where you are going is not an interrogation...

Piollaire · 03-03-2021 1:57pm

berocca2016 wrote: »

People are making that the Gardaí are like the fecking Stasi. Asking where you are going is not an interrogation...

You're right they are not the Stasi, but they need to be kept in check.

Ok instead of interrogating I will say demanding information from you.

berocca2016 · 03-03-2021 1:58pm

Piollaire wrote: »

You're right they are not the Stasi, but they need to be kept in check.

Ok instead of interrogating I will say demanding information from you.

What problem do you have with telling them where you are going ?

Piollaire · 03-03-2021 2:02pm

berocca2016 wrote: »

What problem do you have with telling them where you are going ?

Because I value my privacy and to be left to enjoy it unless they have reasonable suspicion to believe that I have committed a crime.

berocca2016 · 03-03-2021 2:37pm

Piollaire wrote: »

Because I value my privacy and to be left to enjoy it unless they have reasonable suspicion to believe that I have committed a crime.

We have a generalised stay at home order for heath reasons unless for essential reasons, without Garda visibility do you think people would follow these rules?

slipperyox · 03-03-2021 2:50pm

Speaking of Gardai showing ID.

what should it look like?

How do you spot a fake one?

Why is there no awareness campaign to let you know what it should look like?

Now don't get me wrong, the OP needs to get over it, they are only doing their jobs.

But this raises a genuine concern that needs to be alleviated.

Piollaire · 03-03-2021 3:10pm

berocca2016 wrote: »

We have a generalised stay at home order for heath reasons unless for essential reasons, without Garda visibility do you think people would follow these rules?

Agreed, but that's if you believe that the OP's situation had anything to do with enforcing health regulations. An unmarked drugs squad vehicle pulls over at a bus stop and demands an individual to identify themselves. Is this the Gardaí's new policy on checking 5km compliance? Highly irregular.

berocca2016 · 03-03-2021 3:42pm

Piollaire wrote: »

Agreed, but that's if you believe that the OP's situation had anything to do with enforcing health regulations. An unmarked drugs squad vehicle pulls over at a bus stop and demands an individual to identify themselves. Is this the Gardaí's new policy on checking 5km compliance? Highly irregular.

For one I highly doubt that the Garda station will confirm an unmarked car as being part of the drug squad, kind of defeats the purpose of the unmarked car if all of the world will then know that a 171Dxxxx is a drug squad car!!!

Secondly yes they are allowed ask where are you going you don't have to go through a check point.

rhc2s4lj5p0xu9 · 03-03-2021 6:48pm

Decemberist0 wrote: »

If a randomer shouts out a car at you would you give them your real name? Again I didn’t know who this was until walked over closer and they did not identify themselves properly. All I said was John which is my middle name. I don’t find it acceptable and they probably missed some actual criminals by prioritising being arseholes to me.

why give them any name.if they are cops let them get out and have some manners. Do you have to give name and tell where you're going under covid law? you do not have to give name pre covid unless they have some genuine reason to ask

tayto lover · 03-03-2021 7:35pm

Piollaire wrote: »

Agreed, but that's if you believe that the OP's situation had anything to do with enforcing health regulations. An unmarked drugs squad vehicle pulls over at a bus stop and demands an individual to identify themselves. Is this the Gardaí's new policy on checking 5km compliance? Highly irregular.

They are entitled to do just that. They’re drugs squad. A Garda wouldn’t be much good if he wasn’t allowed ask someone his name.

codrulz · 03-03-2021 7:54pm

berocca2016 wrote: »

We have a generalised stay at home order for heath reasons unless for essential reasons, without Garda visibility do you think people would follow these rules?

I wouldn't think it's a large assumption to make that someone clearly waiting at a bus stop on plain view of anyone driving past , would have a valid reason for doing so at present.

codrulz · 03-03-2021 7:55pm

tayto lover wrote: »

They are entitled to do just that. They’re drugs squad. A Garda wouldn’t be much good if he wasn’t allowed ask someone his name.

Uh, worth brushing up on citizens advice etc...

Peintre Celebre · 03-03-2021 8:29pm

codrulz wrote: »

Uh, worth brushing up on citizens advice etc...

So they can't ask your name? A guard can ask whatever they want. You aren't obliged to tell them all the time. There is quite a difference

codrulz · 03-03-2021 9:13pm

Peintre Celebre wrote: »

So they can't ask your name? A guard can ask whatever they want. You aren't obliged to tell them all the time. There is quite a difference

That doesn't seem like the tone the poster was going for.

"They are entitled to do just that. They’re drugs squad. A Garda wouldn’t be much good if he wasn’t allowed ask someone his name."

03-03-2021 9:41pm

berocca2016 wrote: »

For one I highly doubt that the Garda station will confirm an unmarked car as being part of the drug squad, kind of defeats the purpose of the unmarked car if all of the world will then know that a 171Dxxxx is a drug squad car!!!

Secondly yes they are allowed ask where are you going you don't have to go through a check point.

Of course they'll tell you. Sure they encourage the public to ring in if they're unsure.

Stihl waters · 03-03-2021 9:50pm

If this is what some members of the gardai are reduced to they'd want to get a life, unless they thought he looked like someone of interest no way they should be wasting their time asking normal joes why they're standing around waiting for a bus

Unmarked Car

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