Garda pulls over a Garda and ?

Random

Not looking for a discussion on Guards getting away with things etc.

Say you're a Guard and you're driving down the road. You're off duty. There's a Garda checkpoint. Do you show the Guard who stops you at the checkpoint your Garda ID at all? Or do you just act like a normal Joe Public?

Thanks

Hellm0

Were I a guard I'd be sure to make sure they knew I was one.

ojewriej

There is no rule for that. Some do it, some don't. Like with everything.

Random

Hellm0 - I really want the opinions of Garda here if at all possible, but thanks.

ojeqriej - I never imagined there would be a rule really, just would seem kind of odd I thought if they didn't, but possibly a bit cheeky if they did?

cushtac

random wrote: »

ojeqriej - I never imagined there would be a rule really, just would seem kind of odd I thought if they didn't, but possibly a bit cheeky if they did?

Why would it be cheeky? You also seem to be assuming that you must have done something wrong in order to have been stopped at a check point.

Random

Garda on duty at checkpoint: Sir, can I see your license, where are you coming from, how are you, have you been drinking?
Garda off duty in the car: Here you go, town, not bad, not all all & by the way I'm a Guard.

It just seems a bit odd to me? Why would the fact that the guy in the car is a guard be relevent?


As for "you must have done something wrong in order to have been stopped at a check point" - not at all .. this is why I said check point and not a random stop on the road ...

Fyr.Fytr

This happened me the other day.

Myself and my friend were just after picking his mother up from work who is a garda.

Came accross a Mandatory Alcohol Testing checkpoint.

Garda comes up to the window "Hows a going, where are you coming from lads?"
My friend "Just picking my mam up from work"
Garda looks in the back "How are you, where do you work?"
Friends mam "Grand not a bother" takes out warrant card "I'm in the job aswell"
Garda "Grand so, have you been drinking or anything"
My friend "No"
Garda "On your way so"


She didn't pull it out straight away or anything, just when asked about occupation

cushtac

random wrote: »

Garda on duty at checkpoint: Sir, can I see your license, where are you coming from, how are you, have you been drinking?
Garda off duty in the car: Here you go, town, not bad, not all all & by the way I'm a Guard.

It just seems a bit odd to me? Why would the fact that the guy in the car is a guard be relevent?

If the Garda being stopped answers all the questions put to him and produces the required documents, what does it matter if he then adds he's a Garda? Unless you're implying that the off-duty Garda is trying to get out of something and the Garda on the check point will now let him away with it.

random wrote: »

As for "you must have done something wrong in order to have been stopped at a check point" - not at all .. this is why I said check point and not a random stop on the road ...

You don't necessarily have to have done anything wrong to be stopped on the road either.

Fyr.Fytr

random wrote: »

Not looking for a discussion on Guards getting away with things etc.

cushtac wrote: »

Unless you're implying that the off-duty Garda is trying to get out of something and the Garda on the check point will now let him away with it.

Read the first quote

ve

cushtac wrote: »

You don't necessarily have to have done anything wrong to be stopped on the road either.

+1, absolutely correct.

Fyr.Fytr

Aye tis true, happened me a couple of times.

Normally in the funny hours of the morning, coming home from work, just look out of place and gardai in question have a suspicious feeling

Once they sus you out, check docs maybe do a car and person search they're happy enough and send you on your way.

Pro-active policing i like it

source

personally i wouldn't but i would have a college jacket in the car and it's been spotted a few times, If i'm asked what i do i will tell the garda on the checkpoint, other than that i keep it to myself. There's no point in telling others, they'll still do their job anyway.

jawlie

My understanding is that the guard being stopped may say "Good evening officer, I am also a member" which tips off the guard on duty as to the status of the person he has stopped. It is then up to the guard on duty to use this information in whatever way he sees fit.

metman

cushtac wrote: »

If the Garda being stopped..... what does it matter if he then adds he's a Garda?

The couple of times I've stopped off-duty or plain clothes while out and about on patrol I was happy they showed out and said they were job.

As a professional copper I don't want to spend my time delaying law abiding types when there's a world of scrotes out there that deserve my attention.

Eru

random wrote: »

Not looking for a discussion on Guards getting away with things etc.

Say you're a Guard and you're driving down the road. You're off duty. There's a Garda checkpoint. Do you show the Guard who stops you at the checkpoint your Garda ID at all? Or do you just act like a normal Joe Public?

Thanks

Why would you say your a guard? Do you say your a plumber? It doesnt enter into conversation.

Im coming from town, Im going hom to ......., no I havent been drinking, ok goodnight.

You might mention it if you thought it was of use to the guy stopping you or if you were interested in what was going on beyond it being an average checkpoint but thats about it. Last time I mentioned it was because I was curious as to what had happened.

Fyr,
I presume thats not a quote as I have never heard another Garda use that phrase. Its more common in the UK to my knowledge. We also dont have warrant cards, again thats in the UK.

Fyr.Fytr

What quote is that now??

Eru

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

What quote is that now??

Being on the job to me means your having a ****e!

Fyr.Fytr

Ha ha ha that explains the stink so lol

helimachoptor

A friend of mine is a gardai. Met her in town one night for a few drinks (soft drinks for me as I was driving) So about 3am I was giving her and a couple of her friends(also on the job) a lift home. We got stopped at a random checkpoint. Rolled down the window. My friend said gave her station and badge number and we were waved through.

ojewriej

This is how they do it in US. Most of the posters are cops.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36403&highlight=%22traffic+stop%22+%22leo%22

brayblue24

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Why would you say your a guard? Do you say your a plumber? It doesnt enter into conversation.

Presumably it's the same as we don't hear on the news about traffic accidents involving "..an off duty plumber.." do we?

Eru

brayblue24 wrote: »

Presumably it's the same as we don't hear on the news about traffic accidents involving "..an off duty plumber.." do we?

I dont really follow what you mean, the media states Gardai to try and make a story out of something minor. Like the one on the N4 recently, big letters about the Garda but it was the second page by the time you find out he didnt do anything wrong.

Saying your a Garda when stopped isnt the same. Theres an agenda for the papers, there isnt for you unless you trying to avoid something and as the Super being arrested showed, it wont help.

Vorsprung

metman wrote: »

As a professional copper I don't want to spend my time delaying law abiding types when there's a world of scrotes out there that deserve my attention.

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/04/01/story29293.asp

No offence to the vast vast majority of excellent Gardaí, but I don't think you should be exempted from random testing. Only takes like a second. As demonstated by the above.

Oilrig

I have mates who are coppers, some have been in since the '80's. Not all are in uniform.

All are unanimous in that the old days are gone, ie being a "member" is irrelevant should you infringe.

All are also happy about it, makes their job easier.

cushtac

bigjimthefirst wrote: »

No offence to the vast vast majority of excellent Gardaí, but I don't think you should be exempted from random testing. Only takes like a second. As demonstated by the above.

No one's exempt from it, Gardai have been caught by the MAT checkpoints too.

Boggles

Didn't a super in Galway have the book thrown at them a good few months back?

Zero tolerance now on any sort of drink driving. The traffic corps would treat everyone the same whether they be in the job or not, they have to.

Fyr.Fytr

What part of the op saying he didnt want a topic on wether the guards should get away with things didnt most of you read???

Boggles

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

What part of the op saying he didnt want a topic on wether the guards should get away with things didnt most of you read???

Because the OP says something we have to abide by it? Sometimes conversations progress, deal with it.

Jonty

Boggles wrote: »

Didn't a super in Galway have the book thrown at them a good few months back?

Zero tolerance now on any sort of drink driving. The traffic corps would treat everyone the same whether they be in the job or not, they have to.

Eh no. Same as the bad lads in Donegal, he got his pension.

cushtac

Jonty wrote: »

Eh no. Same as the bad lads in Donegal, he got his pension.

Eh yes. He got stopped, arrested & prosecuted for it and ended up with a four year ban.

sunnyjim

Head of the Traffic Corp at one stage he was.

He also used to piss himself when on the gargle in pubs, according to Goldhawk!

cushtac

If an annonymous hack wrote it in a rag like Phoenix then it must be true :rolleyes:

Mellor

People are confusing two issues,

Random breath testing and Random stops.

Random breath testing, if a guard is passing through there is nothing wrong with him mention he is a guard if it comes up, the guard on duty may decide to wave him through or test anyway, just as he can wave any car through, it makes little difference. Its quite common to test one out of three cars on busy roads,


Random stops don't mean testing, they mean anything, tax, insurance, name address, quick check, this is simply proactive policing. It is normally targeted at younger people, its happened to me and can take 10 mins, esp if there are passengers. If a lad was to mention that he was a guard, or even in phase 2, whats the harm, it saves everyones time and gets the guards on the road quicker.

And the arguement that because he is a guard he may still be breaking the law, of course he might. As reference by cases above, but the chances of it are much lower, proportionally the least likely I would imagine, more people will be caught if they get on with the night.

all the stars

metman wrote: »

The couple of times I've stopped off-duty or plain clothes while out and about on patrol I was happy they showed out and said they were job.

As a professional copper I don't want to spend my time delaying law abiding types when there's a world of scrotes out there that deserve my attention.

Very true... go get the bad ones, im all for that however...
I know a lady guard who works in Dublin city who has said more than ones many of her garda collegues are the most obnoxious power hungry, above everyone else "i am the law" attitudes... and she gave examples.. Guards should be treated the very same as the rest when off duty.. Who's to say mr. garda didn't have 2 glasses of wine then forget theres no milk for the baby.. best get some..

Also, what happened about that case where new trainee guards stopped a fellow guard off duty drunk driving.. and did him, just like everyone else even after the guy said im a guard.. Now thats setting an example..

junkster12345

metman wrote: »

The couple of times I've stopped off-duty or plain clothes while out and about on patrol I was happy they showed out and said they were job.

As a professional copper I don't want to spend my time delaying law abiding types when there's a world of scrotes out there that deserve my attention.

just because a person is a cop does not mean that they are always "law abiding types" , i can think of a few cases off the top of my head where they have been in various kinds of trouble.
1 in particular is quite embarrassing for the garda ,i wont say exactly what it is but members of the force might remember it, it happened to a cop in waterford, i think it was in tramore,i could be wrong on the last bit.

Random

I'm not really suggesting that the Guard would get away with any wrong doing as such.. I can't really explain the question .. it's a muddle of thoughts in my head.

I guess I just wonder if the off duty Guard comes across as an ass for thinking having his badge with him makes a blind bit of difference or that the other guy is really interested.

I mean .. if you work in a phone shop you don't walk in an annouce it .. same sorta thing .. but different .. I don't know ..

Eru

ojewriej wrote: »

This is how they do it in US. Most of the posters are cops.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36403&highlight=%22traffic+stop%22+%22leo%22

In the US though they have different states and jurisdictions and I believe as they carry firearms off duty they are required to say it and the legal reason why they are allowed do so. Just as if Joe Soap there has a gun he is required to place his hands on the wheel, state he has a gun in his glove box and with one hand show, not touch but show the gun and the license.

Jonty wrote: »

Eh no. Same as the bad lads in Donegal, he got his pension.

Once again for the ignorant. Its a private pension, he paid into it for his entire career, nothing to do with the government. If you get convicted of drink driving should we take your private pension away as well?

TheNog

all the stars wrote: »

I know a lady guard who works in Dublin city who has said more than ones many of her garda collegues are the most obnoxious power hungry, above everyone else "i am the law" attitudes... and she gave examples.. Guards should be treated the very same as the rest when off duty.. Who's to say mr. garda didn't have 2 glasses of wine then forget theres no milk for the baby.. best get some..

Of course there are bad apples but the good apples are in the majority. Every profession has the wrong type of people. Sooner or later these power hungry types will slip and be caught and could result in job loss or fine

all the stars wrote: »

Also, what happened about that case where new trainee guards stopped a fellow guard off duty drunk driving.. and did him, just like everyone else even after the guy said im a guard.. Now thats setting an example..

Think that was the probationner stopping and arresting a Super in Galway. Fair play to him

junkster12345 wrote: »

just because a person is a cop does not mean that they are always "law abiding types" , i can think of a few cases off the top of my head where they have been in various kinds of trouble.
1 in particular is quite embarrassing for the garda ,i wont say exactly what it is but members of the force might remember it, it happened to a cop in waterford, i think it was in tramore,i could be wrong on the last bit.

You are correct it did happen in Tramore and involved a pair of knickers and a phone

random wrote: »

I guess I just wonder if the off duty Guard comes across as an ass for thinking having his badge with him makes a blind bit of difference or that the other guy is really interested.

Personally I don't flash the badge unless I'm going into a niteclub or want something for free (can you hear the Garda bashers running this way??). Usually if stopped at a checkpoint a member will realise they are talking to another member. I don't know if it is the way we speak or the language we use.

punchestown

TheNog wrote: »

Usually if stopped at a checkpoint a member will realise they are talking to another member. I don't know if it is the way we speak or the language we use.

Garda on duty: 'Is this your veheecle?'

Off Duty Garda in car: 'Yes officer it is my veheecle'

Garda on duty flashes knowing smile and waves comrade on his way!

the locust

A friend of mine who is in the job was driving some lads home after being out the night before, she encountered an alcohol testing checkingpoint as they came round a bend and the conversation went like this:

Garda: Good morning!

Good morning! How are things?

Garda: We're conducting an MAT Checkpoint blah blah... have you had anything to drink?

Well, i was out yesterday evening an had a few beers with the lads here, i'm actually a member myself i work in ***** (and begins fumbling for her ID card)

Garda: A member?! Oh grand so, you'll know how this goes then - and passes the alcometer device through the window to her!

haha!! I thought that was brilliant!

Fyr.Fytr

TheNog wrote: »

Personally I don't flash the badge unless I'm going into a niteclub or want something for free (can you hear the Garda bashers running this way??). Usually if stopped at a checkpoint a member will realise they are talking to another member. I don't know if it is the way we speak or the language we use.

Coppers or subway?? Yes subway give all emergency services discounts

the locust wrote: »

A friend of mine who is in the job was driving some lads home after being out the night before, she encountered an alcohol testing checkingpoint as they came round a bend and the conversation went like this:

Garda: Good morning!

Good morning! How are things?

Garda: We're conducting an MAT Checkpoint blah blah... have you had anything to drink?

Well, i was out yesterday evening an had a few beers with the lads here, i'm actually a member myself i work in ***** (and begins fumbling for her ID card)

Garda: A member?! Oh grand so, you'll know how this goes then - and passes the alcometer device through the window to her!

haha!! I thought that was brilliant!

Hmm just thinking, serving members will be able to answer this

If she blew over the limit could a decent defence get her off cause the guard didnt explain??

Just curious becuase when i was asked to blow on christmas eve traffic corps garda explained the whol process for about a week.

metman

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

If she blew over the limit could a decent defence get her off cause the guard didnt explain?

Ordinarily its a requirement that the procedure is explained and cases have been binned where this hasn't been followed. In the above scenario the fact that the member is already familiar with the procedure....I would imagine that there might be some legal argument but ultimately it'd be down to the judge.

I'd still run through the procedure regardless of who was being screened to prevent just such a situation.

Fyr.Fytr

Cheers metman, thats was what i was thinking, wasn't sure.

Just always make sure to cover your ass

Eru

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Coppers of subway?? Yes subway give all emergency services discounts




Hmm just thinking, serving members will be able to answer this

If she blew over the limit could a decent defence get her off cause the guard didnt explain??

Just curious becuase when i was asked to blow on christmas eve traffic corps garda explained the whol process for about a week.

I would assume so. I have never even seen the hand held device nevermind being shown how to use it or the wording of the demand, etc.

bangersandmash

punchestown wrote: »

Garda on duty: 'Is this your veheecle?'

Off Duty Garda in car: 'Yes officer it is my veheecle'

Garda on duty flashes knowing smile and waves comrade on his way!

tee hee hee

Fyr.Fytr

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

I would assume so. I have never even seen the hand held device nevermind being shown how to use it or the wording of the demand, etc.

Its a simple enough thing by the looks of it.


I was in bits "keep blowing keep blowing keep blowing keep blowing" god sake im a 20 a day smoker lol, hate to have to do it locked.

Maybe thats the idea they can throw the charge of failure to supply specimin of breath along with the drink driving lol

metman

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Its a simple enough thing by the looks of it.


I was in bits "keep blowing keep blowing keep blowing keep blowing" god sake im a 20 a day smoker lol, hate to have to do it locked.

Maybe thats the idea they can throw the charge of failure to supply specimin of breath along with the drink driving lol

The basic ESD (electronic screening device) requires a continuous breath and works like a set of traffic lights; green = pass, amber = there's alcohol in your system that may rise to a level that means you would fail a breath test so further driving is at your own risk, and red = fail.

The procedure will be explained, ie use of mouthwash or smoking etc, as will the operation of the esd. The provision of a sample is a legal requirement and a failure to provide is an offence for which you can be arrested (as is taking the piss in pretending to give a sample but not doing so). This offence is 'failing to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so' (bearing in mind this is UK law). When charged with this offence you will receive a substantial ban from driving, this is mandatory, and a hefty fine.

bryanmurr

brayblue24 wrote: »

Presumably it's the same as we don't hear on the news about traffic accidents involving "..an off duty plumber.." do we?

A plumber is never off duty

TheNog

metman wrote: »

This offence is 'failing to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so' (bearing in mind this is UK law). When charged with this offence you will receive a substantial ban from driving, this is mandatory, and a hefty fine.

We have the same offence here in Eire of failure/refusal to provide a specimen of breath/blood/urine (covering all methods of obtaining a sample here). First offence is automatic disqualification for fours, second and subsequent is 6 years and/or fine €2,500.

cornbb

ojewriej wrote: »

This is how they do it in US. Most of the posters are cops.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36403&highlight=%22traffic+stop%22+%22leo%22

That makes for disturbing reading tbh

Oilrig wrote: »

I have mates who are coppers, some have been in since the '80's. Not all are in uniform.

All are unanimous in that the old days are gone, ie being a "member" is irrelevant should you infringe.

All are also happy about it, makes their job easier.

And that warms the cockles of my heart, if this is true I'm glad to hear that there's a consensus among gardai that no special treatment should be applied.

collied

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

This happened me the other day.

Myself and my friend were just after picking his mother up from work who is a garda.

Came accross a Mandatory Alcohol Testing checkpoint.

Garda comes up to the window "Hows a going, where are you coming from lads?"
My friend "Just picking my mam up from work"
Garda looks in the back "How are you, where do you work?"
Friends mam "Grand not a bother" takes out warrant card "I'm in the job aswell"
Garda "Grand so, have you been drinking or anything"
My friend "No"
Garda "On your way so"


She didn't pull it out straight away or anything, just when asked about occupation

Maybe I'm the only one seeing this but ,what business is it of the garda where the drivers mother works....if she wasn't driving the car then the garda shouldn't even be bothered with her....maybe I'm wrong......