Are there seperate ROTR for Guards?

NewApproach

Im not being cynical here, genuinely curious.

Are Guards subject to the same ROTR as the rest of us when driving a Garda vehicle when not on an emergency (lights etc)

The reason I ask is because in the last week I have seen two guards using their mobiles while driving, and another going around 135 on a Dual Carraigeway.

In none of the above cases did the vehicle display any signs of being involved in an emergency (by virtue of no lights/sirens).

Bandara

they can do what they like.

Anyone questions them they are on 'police business'.

Anan1

Gardai are (AFAIK) specifically excluded from the rules on mobile phone usage while driving.

Berty

I just got home to a letter from the Garda Ombudsman hanging out of the letterbox.

I made an online complaint against two traffic corps members last Thursday.

The usual stuff, we will look into it and get back to you within 45 days.

If you can get the reg of the car and the time of the incident then you can make a complaint. Better still if you have the garda badge number.

NewApproach

Well say for example if I followed the car going well over the limit on the Dual Carraigeway, could they say anything to me if they took exception to it?

Bandara

NewApproach wrote: »

Well say for example if I followed the car going well over the limit on the Dual Carraigeway, could they say anything to me if they took exception to it?

of course, your breaking the speed limit.

NewApproach

No element of 'Practice what you preach'?

Bruce11

The gardai will do you if you follow them at that speed and they reckon you are going to report them, they will then say that you are just pissed off hence reason you report them.

As for no lights and sirens; well they may have been taking a call from the station or control regarding work, the gardai are issued with a mobile for their tour of duty. Hitherto they may be using an official form of communication whilst driving.

Thoie

Why don't they just install bluetooth carkits in all squad cars, so that no-one has to hold a mobile while driving at 135kmph?

And what's the situation with them using bus lanes for non-emergencies?

Eoin

Thoie wrote: »

And what's the situation with them using bus lanes for non-emergencies?

I am not 100% sure, but I think they are allowed to break the speed limit while on police business, which does not necessarily mean they need to have the sirens etc on.

I can understand concerns about safety, but usually the complaints seem to be quite begrudging.

Guy:Incognito

Can we not have a "can gards use their phoness while driving" sticky?


Wont somebody please think of the children.

Thoie wrote: »

And what's the situation with them using bus lanes for non-emergencies?

They should always use them imo.

Even if they are just patrolling, theres little point in having a garda car sitting in traffic for half an hour.

Thoie

eoin_s wrote: »

I can understand concerns about safety, but usually the complaints seem to be quite begrudging.

Nah, I don't begrudge them the speed - they're usually well trained to handle it. I have genuine safety concerns about seeing a guy take a roundabout at 90kmph while holding a phone - maybe I'm a wuss, but I'd prefer to have both hands on the wheel for that one. What I begrudge are garda escorts of people in fancy cars down bus lanes - while I appreciate it might be a waste of garda time, I'd like to see some of the people they're escorting sit on the quays for an hour or so swallowing whatever it is that Dublin Bus belch out

(and yes, I know that sometimes there's a bloody good reason to be escorting someone, but a lot of the time it's just random "dignataries").

Eoin

I know what you mean, especially on the phone thing - mainly as I don't know how many of them actually get proper specialist driver training.

I think I would like to know that should I need to call the Gardai on something that may not require the sirens, that they won't need to sit in traffic to call out to me.

Hopefully the dignataries will soon be able to travel in eco-friendly bikes part-powered by John Gormley's sense of moral superiority, and there will be less need for the escorts.

gingerGiant

Was on the M50 today about 3:45, southbound between Ballymun and Finglas with garda transit two cars back, came to heavy traffic and the garda cuts in through the gap in the barrier for accessing the roadworks and sails off down the newly laid road at about 60/70 clicks, surely that is not o.k from a safety point of view for the workers in there

Turner

This should be moved for Emergency Service board, you will get plenty of Gardai who will be happy to answer any questions.

Ill answer a few quick ones,

Gardai are allowed speak on their phones while driving, every patrol car is assigned a state mobile. They are exempt by law so are not breaking any law by doing so.

They are allowed break speed limits but not to drive dangerously and risk their personal licenses if anything goes wrong.

They do not have to have lights or sirens on to break lights or speed, they are only to assist the garda driver by alerting others.

No matter if they are going to a call or to buy their lunch they are on duty so exempt from alot of road traffic act.

Rowley Birkin QC

Whatever about Gardaí talking on the phone surely texting while driving is off limits?

Stoned Hippy

Thoie wrote: »

Why don't they just install bluetooth carkits in all squad cars...

Because they're having enough trouble fitting the basic sirens, lights and stickers to the new cars.
Trying to fit bluetooth car kits to the whole fleet would take forever.

Guy:Incognito

Stoned Hippy wrote: »

Because they're having enough trouble fitting the basic sirens, lights and stickers to the new cars.
Trying to fit bluetooth car kits to the whole fleet would take forever.

Also, If the same people install it that guntered in the carkit in my aunts Mondeo it wont work anyway and the dash will have panel gaps tou could fall through. I reckon it was installed with nothing but a nailbar.

kayos

I've seen many things like this in the past.

1) A guard in an unmarked car texting while driving down a pedestrian street! He had another guard in the car, if the mobile was being used for state business why not just let that guard do the texting.

2) A squad car taking one serious dodgy move in Galway at the fire station. Coming from domonic street in the lane to go right out to salthill, breaks a red light and turns left to head towards jurys. He had no lights or sirens on. He then proceeded to just sit in traffic. To make it worse I was the only car waiting to turn left at the lights! In fact the light turned green just after he started this manouver if you can call it that. If I had not seen what he was at and pulled off with the green light there would have been a meeting of cars.

They are just two little ones I've seen and there has been plenty more seriously dodgy sightings.

I have no problems with guards doing speed, breaking reds etc etc if they have the lights on and are doing what they are paid to do and are on their way to an accident/crime etc. I do how ever have a problem with them being able to text while driving, breaking red lights and taking wrong lanes just so they get to lunch quicker.

delly

Folks, at the end of the day, Gardai are just like you and me and may on occasion do something which looks illegal or dangerous, but in actual fact most of these things are legally ok for a Garda to do. I on occasion use my phone while driving, i on occasion break the speed limit. The fact is the Guards are higly visible and people practically break there necks to stare at Garda cars, so its likely that they will be seen doing things that people don't like.

Should the Gardai be setting a better example, maybe, but at the end of the day its not really a genuine issue. If I had someone stare at how I drive all day, i'm sure there would be lots of infractions to annoy the PC driving brigade.