[Article] Traffic watch scheme starts today

Victor

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/02/18/story134707.html

Traffic watch scheme starts today
18/02/2004 - 8:48:40 am

A nationwide scheme encouraging the public to inform on motorists breaking the law comes into force today.

Under the Garda Traffic Watch scheme, members of the public can ring a special telephone number to inform on motorists who break the rules of the road.

The scheme was introduced on a pilot basis in the south-east in November 2001.

Since then, it has received around 3,800 calls that have led to 30 prosecutions and more than 1,000 cautions.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/2568781?view=Eircomnet

Garda Traffic Watch scheme goes nationwide
From:ireland.com
Wednesday, 18th February, 2004

The Garda Traffic Watch scheme which allows drivers to report other motorists' bad habits goes nationwide today.

Since the scheme was introduced in Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and parts of Wicklow a little more than two years ago, nearly 4,000 people have contacted gardaí through the special reduced rate telephone hotline.

As a result, more than 1,000 formal cautions have been handed out and there have been 30 prosecutions. The majority of reports have been about speeding, overtaking and driving too close. Successful prosecutions have been for drunk and reckless driving - and throwing litter out of vehicles.

The phonelines are now open around the clock in all 26 counties, with call centres based in towns in Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway, Offaly, Cork and Leitrim.

A Garda spokesman said the scheme would "empower road users to play a pro-active role in the enforcement of traffic legislation".

The scheme has been backed by the National Roads Authority, which erected special Traffic Watch signs on all national roads, highlighting the Lo-Call phone number.

Motorists who make calls are asked to submit statements to the gardaí later. If statements are refused by the complainants, police issue cautions to the drivers who are the subjects of complaints.

The National Safety Council has advised drivers to store the Lo-Call number on their mobile phones. The number is 1890 205805.

Bee

Since then, it has received around 3,800 calls that have led to 30 prosecutions and more than 1,000 cautions.

A waste of time and money.

With such a low rate of prosecutions the tax payer would be better served by having a dedicated traffic police force to enforce existing laws patrolling at accident black spots rather than these token gestures.

12 deaths on roads in the last couple of days

The penalty points system is been dragged into disrepute by the usual Garda action of "shooting fish in barrels" .99% of the time I see speed traps on relatively safe stretches of road (looks good for the Garda statistics but useless in preventing car crashes)

Instead we need the Gardai to police the numerous accident black spots where most of the carnage occurs.

I, shall I say? work at the "cutting edge" of things and once upon a time I travelled the length and breadth of the Republic so I have direct experience of witnessing useless speed traps in the wrong areas and worse, the victims of inept road design combined with mad motoring resulting in carnage that just might have been prevented if the same roads were policed.

Bee

BrianD

Garda press is now saying that speeding prosecutions are down by 100,000 because "more people are obeying the law"!! Looks like they are even abandoning the places where they usually set up!

With all the vehicles and equipment and resources that they now possess - modern patrol cars, jeeps, motorcycles, helicopters, planes, horse unit, dog unit, boats...do you ever Gardai proactively patrolling our streets?

Seth Brundle

How do they manage to get a prosecution? Do the alleged offenders admit guilt? Otherwise, surely it is a case of one persons word against anothers?

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by kbannon
How do they manage to get a prosecution? Do the alleged offenders admit guilt? Otherwise, surely it is a case of one persons word against anothers?

Excatly, The only conviction they get are drink driving when they get a car ouy quick and catch them in the act. Other than that it is a complete waste of time, all that has to be done is deny everything. No way they can follow it up.

Seth Brundle

Maybe those prosecuted were those who phoned the garda hotline whilst driving.