Query

Delphi91

Hi all,

Have a quick query re being stopped for a motoring offence.

My gf and I were driving in Cork last weekend and she accidentally turned down a street against a red light after realising she was in the wrong lane. As luck(!) would have it, there was a squad car right behind - cue flashing lights and siren.

Female garda came to the drivers side. GF admitted offence straight away, no contest, etc. Her licence was handed over to the garda who then went back to the squad car. After a few minutes, she returned, enquired if my gf still lived at the address that was associated with her licence (she does) and then said "Be more careful in future because if there was a car coming towards you there could have been an accident".

She arrived home today to find a letter with a fixed charge of €80 and a 2 point endorsement on her licence when the charge is paid.

My query is this - should she have been informed by the Garda at the time of the offence that she had committed an offence and that as a result she would be getting a fixed charge and a 2 point endorsement???? My GF fully accepts that she was in the wrong and never tried to plead otherwise. She doesn't have a problem with paying the fine, but based on what the Garda said at the time was left with the impression that she had gotten off with a slap on the wrist.

Esel

Afraid the answer is 'No'. The Garda does not have to tell you.

towel401

is this the latest trick to avoid confrontation?

everybody hates confrontation.

unkel

That gives me the creeps. If you're stopped by a Garda he/she should tell you that you're going to get points / a fine if that's their decision.

Telling the offender not to do it again (which comes over as just a warning or a slap on the wrist) should not be followed by a penalty in the post (points or fine).

Delphi91

is this the latest trick to avoid confrontation?

everybody hates confrontation.

That's what I thought too.

That gives me the creeps. If you're stopped by a Garda he/she should tell you that you're going to get points / a fine if that's their decision.

Telling the offender not to do it again (which comes over as just a warning or a slap on the wrist) should not be followed by a penalty in the post (points or fine).

Maybe I've seen too many episodes of "Road Wars" or "Traffic Cops" where they DO advise the person that they've committed an offence and that they will be given a fine/points or both. One would have thought that it would be the decent thing to do.

eringobragh

unkel wrote: »

That gives me the creeps. If you're stopped by a Garda he/she should tell you that you're going to get points / a fine if that's their decision.

Telling the offender not to do it again (which comes over as just a warning or a slap on the wrist) should not be followed by a penalty in the post (points or fine).

I agree thats pretty harsh, fair enough if they'd have told you :mad:. The opposite happened to me before, I was told I was going to receive some points in the post, said a prayer that night that the Traffic Cop would lose his notebook :P Never heard anything.

galwaytt

unkel wrote: »

That gives me the creeps. If you're stopped by a Garda he/she should tell you that you're going to get points / a fine if that's their decision.

Telling the offender not to do it again (which comes over as just a warning or a slap on the wrist) should not be followed by a penalty in the post (points or fine).

why didn't/doesn't he offender just ask the Garda ? What's with all the telekeniesis ? There is a an equal chance, asked about, the Garda might think on it a bit more.........."

Mind you, the Garda was still right -

TheNog

Delphi91 wrote: »

My query is this - should she have been informed by the Garda at the time of the offence that she had committed an offence and that as a result she would be getting a fixed charge and a 2 point endorsement????

No the Garda did not have to tell your g/f about the fine or points but it would be best practice to do so.