Continuously being pulled over due to "boy racer" style car

nocheerleader

In the last year I purchased a Toyota Celica - basic model, no extras however it does have tinted windows.

I am female, 28, this is my 6th car in ten years, my first of this style, I have no previous road traffic convictions (or any convictions for that matter), I would consider myself a safe driver, no crashes ever, no insurance claims etc.

I purchased the car because I liked the look of it and the colour, I know nothing technical about cars, I also feel no need to speed.

In the last year I have been pulled over on 6 occassions, once by detectives who took my licence went back to their car and in fairness politely enough told me it was mis-identification.

Next experience wasn't as nice, had a male Garda shout quiet abusively through my window (at a checkpoint) asking if I knew the rules of the road and when I answered a question correctly he said, word for word "well I am checking your tax and insurance now and if you dont have them I will do you for that", I was ok though because all of my discs were up to date.

Then, another occassion at a checkpoint, two female Garda stopped me and asked me to get out of the car under the missuse of drugs act and proceeded to search me and my passenger. Again they found nothing and let me go.

Other couple of times similar stories.

I am actually quiet nervous now when I am approached by a Garda even though I have done nothing wrong ..except chose the wrong model of car it seems! Last few times I have gone away shaking as the Garda were not very nice to me.

I am currently now trying to sell this car as it is causing me so much hassle

My question is, has anybody else felt discriminated against because of their choice in car?

And I am guessing there is no option except sell the car? One friend suggested if I was to encounter another abusive Garda to politely tell them I was going to record them on my phone, can't see that going down well though.

MagicSean

Get rid of the tint. It's most likely illegal anyway. That should help.

nocheerleader

Seanbeag1 wrote: »

Get rid of the tint. It's most likely illegal anyway. That should help.

Thanks

Funny enough no garda has ever had a problem or mentioned it but if it helps I will be happy!

Fol20

I thought they would need a warrant to search your car no?

listermint

Its sounds like it has nothing to do with the tint.

Your car may have been entered into Pulse as a previous drug envolvement. This would have to be updated by the Gardai as you will continue to be pulled over.

There may be a marker on the car by Registration.

SouperComputer

Maybe its not the car, but the regplate? Remove the tint and change the regplate..JMHO I have no idea whats involved changing a plate though....

who the fug

Fol20 wrote: »

I thought they would need a warrant to search your car no?

Honest people let them check, saves time in the long run

nocheerleader

Fol20 wrote: »

I thought they would need a warrant to search your car no?

They never searched the car, they asked me to get out and then searched me, as I had nothing to hide I went along with it. They just shone a torch into the car. I actually was curious as to why they didn't search it, maybe that's the answer.

MagicSean

nocheerleader wrote: »

Thanks

Funny enough no garda has ever had a problem or mentioned it but if it helps I will be happy!

Traffic units now have devices for measuring the tint level and have begun prosecuting for window tints. The car will also fail the nct with tinted windows. You could also call to the local station and ask if there is any particular reason you get pulled over. Your car may have previously been owned by a known criminal and the Garda might be willing to note the change of ownership on the vehicles record.

nocheerleader

listermint wrote: »

Its sounds like it has nothing to do with the tint.

Your car may have been entered into Pulse as a previous drug envolvement. This would have to be updated by the Gardai as you will continue to be pulled over.

There may be a marker on the car by Registration.

Thanks for the information. I didn't know things like this happened. Do you know if I can have this information updated/removed from the system? The car has 6 previous owners so this is a likely explanation.

nocheerleader

Thanks for the helpful information guys. I can always rely on Boards when I need suggestions for a solution to an issue that I have hit a dead end with.

I am currently googling garages that remove tints and will go to my local station later to make an enquiry about the car and see what they suggest.

seamus

listermint wrote: »

Its sounds like it has nothing to do with the tint.

Your car may have been entered into Pulse as a previous drug envolvement. This would have to be updated by the Gardai as you will continue to be pulled over.

There may be a marker on the car by Registration.

I think both are real possibilities. A tint generally makes it look like you've got something to hide and when combined with a car that's associated with boy racers, I wouldn't be surprised if Gardai are drawn subconsciously to inspect them more closely at a checkpoint.

If you're getting pulled over a lot (rather than being questioned at checkpoints), then I would be inclined to say that there's more to the car than just it's type. I'm not sure if you can change reg plates all that easily. You could call down to the local station with your ID and your vehicle licensing certificate (to prove that it's you who owns the car), explain the situation to them and ask if the vehicle is flagged in pulse or whatever.

I'm actually not sure if Gardai can do that on request, but if they can't you could go down the road of asking a Garda mate to check for you.

Fol20 wrote: »

I thought they would need a warrant to search your car no?

Under the misuse of drugs act, a Garda can search a person or a vehicle without warrant if they have reason to suspect that there might be drugs present on the person or the vehicle.

PseudoFamous

nocheerleader wrote: »

Thanks for the helpful information guys. I can always rely on Boards when I need suggestions for a solution to an issue that I have hit a dead end with.

I am currently googling garages that remove tints and will go to my local station later to make an enquiry about the car and see what they suggest.

You could do it yourself, you know. Here's a tutorial.

charlemont

Its probably popping up as a car of interest on the automatic reg reader, If anyone got caught with even a nodge of hash inside the car it will go onto Pulse, But I reckon its none of the above, I reckon its just the car.

Finnbar01

Seanbeag1 wrote: »

Get rid of the tint. It's most likely illegal anyway. That should help.

I don't understand. If the tint is illegal don't the garda have equipment to test for that?

Tefral

Finnbar01 wrote: »

I don't understand. If the tint is illegal don't the garda have equipment to test for that?

Window tint on the front two windows that blocks more than 35% light is illegal.

I would 100% back the idea that the car was used previously in some activities that brought it to the attention of the cops.

My advice would be to arrange a meeting with the local traffic corps seargent or failing that the local inspector. Bring all your details and they will put a note in the system to say the car now has a new owner.

My brother went through all of this in Limerick when he bought a car when he was 18.. eventually my father went into the garda station and did what i instructed above. He wasnt pulled over again..

homingbird

If the NCT passed the Tint leave it alone if you are happy with it. I have a medical eye condition that i have to wear dark glasses in strong sunlight so the tint serves a purpose for me.

Fol20

seamus wrote: »

Under the misuse of drugs act, a Garda can search a person or a vehicle without warrant if they have reason to suspect that there might be drugs present on the person or the vehicle.

What! That would allow Gardai search your car for whatever reason possible. For example in the movies youd always see a cop going up to a door and saying "oh i hear a scream, we have to rescue them :rolleyes:"

seamus

Fol20 wrote: »

What! That would allow Gardai search your car for whatever reason possible.

Well not for "whatever reason possible". They would still need to have some kind of reasoning why they believe that drugs may be in the vehicle.

Fol20

Fol20 wrote: »

What! That would allow Gardai search your car for whatever reason possible. For example in the movies youd always see a cop going up to a door and saying "oh i hear a scream, we have to rescue them :rolleyes:"

It is very important to use American cinema as your reference point for all legal matters. Otherwise what's the point in even considering the law? I can handle the truth by the way.

Victor

Deleted User wrote: »

I can handle the truth by the way.

No you can't. You can't handle the truth. Its an abstract noun.

James Jones

Make two complaints.
The first to the Garda Ombudsman and the second to the Equality Tribunal(on the basis of age). Whichever response you get first, copy it and keep in the glove compartment of the car. Hand it to the next power-hungry A**hole who raises their voice at you.
If the tinted glass was an actual problem, they would deal with it and you would know. If the car history is a problem, they would do likewise. You are being hassled by power-hungry A**holes who don't know the job.

OR

Give in and sell the car!

tayto lover

James Jones wrote: »

Make two complaints.
The first to the Garda Ombudsman and the second to the Equality Tribunal(on the basis of age). Whichever response you get first, copy it and keep in the glove compartment of the car. Hand it to the next power-hungry A**hole who raises their voice at you.
If the tinted glass was an actual problem, they would deal with it and you would know. If the car history is a problem, they would do likewise. You are being hassled by power-hungry A**holes who don't know the job.

OR

Give in and sell the car!

Rubbish for option 1. The Garda are within their rights to stop and search and there is no evidence of "power hungry" actions at all. I suspect a drugs issue relating to the car as this has been mentioned several times. We want an end to the Drugs problem surely and the Gardai were only doing their duty.
As a poster already said it is probably a Pulse issue and the car is "suspect" through the activities of a previous owner. What the OP needs to do is go to the local Garda Station and report that she is now the regd owner and get the Pulse details erased.
No big problem i would imagine.

MagicSean

James Jones wrote: »

Make two complaints.
The first to the Garda Ombudsman and the second to the Equality Tribunal(on the basis of age). Whichever response you get first, copy it and keep in the glove compartment of the car. Hand it to the next power-hungry A**hole who raises their voice at you.
If the tinted glass was an actual problem, they would deal with it and you would know. If the car history is a problem, they would do likewise. You are being hassled by power-hungry A**holes who don't know the job.

OR

Give in and sell the car!

So your advice is to make two frivolous complaints to government bodies in an attempt to intimidate a Garda from doing his job? Yes, I can't see any problem with that.

Victor

Victor wrote: »

No you can't. You can't handle the truth. Its an abstract noun.

It's it's not its!

slingerz

MagicSean wrote: »

James Jones wrote: »

Make two complaints.
The first to the Garda Ombudsman and the second to the Equality Tribunal(on the basis of age). Whichever response you get first, copy it and keep in the glove compartment of the car. Hand it to the next power-hungry A**hole who raises their voice at you.
If the tinted glass was an actual problem, they would deal with it and you would know. If the car history is a problem, they would do likewise. You are being hassled by power-hungry A**holes who don't know the job.

OR

Give in and sell the car!

So your advice is to make two frivolous complaints to government bodies in an attempt to intimidate a Garda from doing his job? Yes, I can't see any problem with that.

Well is it within a Garda's job to pulled in someone and intimidate them as referenced by the OP?

Surely any member of the Gardai would have the intelligence to differentiate between a vehicle acting suspiously and a vehicle going about their daily business. Surely it isn't too much to ask for these public bodies to calibrate the record of a change of ownership and registration of a car without the individual having to push the matter

source

slingerz wrote: »

MagicSean wrote: »

James Jones wrote: »

Make two complaints.
The first to the Garda Ombudsman and the second to the Equality Tribunal(on the basis of age). Whichever response you get first, copy it and keep in the glove compartment of the car. Hand it to the next power-hungry A**hole who raises their voice at you.
If the tinted glass was an actual problem, they would deal with it and you would know. If the car history is a problem, they would do likewise. You are being hassled by power-hungry A**holes who don't know the job.

OR

Give in and sell the car!

So your advice is to make two frivolous complaints to government bodies in an attempt to intimidate a Garda from doing his job? Yes, I can't see any problem with that.

Well is it within a Garda's job to pulled in someone and intimidate them as referenced by the OP?

Surely any member of the Gardai would have the intelligence to differentiate between a vehicle acting suspiously and a vehicle going about their daily business. Surely it isn't too much to ask for these public bodies to calibrate the record of a change of ownership and registration of a car without the individual having to push the matter

3 points:

How can the state know of the change of ownership, if the original owner does not inform the state?

Describe for me what a suspicious car looks like, and how it differs from one going about their daily business.

Many people. Feel intimidated talking to Gardai, it doesn't always mean the member is being aggressive or intimidating. People are generally nervous and intimidated when pulled over by Garda, it's natural to feel threatened by someone in a position of power.

Reloc8

nocheerleader wrote: »

Next experience wasn't as nice, had a male Garda shout quiet abusively through my window (at a checkpoint) asking if I knew the rules of the road and when I answered a question correctly he said, word for word "well I am checking your tax and insurance now and if you dont have them I will do you for that", I was ok though because all of my discs were up to date.

MagicSean wrote: »

So your advice is to make two frivolous complaints to government bodies in an attempt to intimidate a Garda from doing his job? Yes, I can't see any problem with that.

So eh...that's how he should do his job is it ?

MagicSean

Reloc8 wrote: »

So eh...that's how he should do his job is it ?

Maybe you didn't read my post correctly but I doubt it. The posters idea was to make a complaint for the purpose of trying to intimidate the next Garda who stopped him with a copy of that complaint. Nothing to do with the post you highlighted. But I'm sure you knew that.

Reloc8

MagicSean wrote: »

Maybe you didn't read my post correctly but I doubt it. The posters idea was to make a complaint for the purpose of trying to intimidate the next Garda who stopped him with a copy of that complaint. Nothing to do with the post you highlighted. But I'm sure you knew that.

I read your post correctly.

What I highlighted in your post is that you said a complaint to the Ombudsman would, in the circumstances described by the OP, be frivolous, which is wrong.

MagicSean

Reloc8 wrote: »

I read your post correctly.

What I highlighted in your post is that you said a complaint to the Ombudsman would, in the circumstances described by the OP, be frivolous, which is wrong.

A complaint for the sole purpose of intimidating the next Garda would be a frivilous complaint.

Our man in Havana

Buy a sensible car that is not used by criminals.

ANSI

nocheerleader wrote: »

In the last year I purchased a Toyota Celica - basic model, no extras however it does have tinted windows.

I am female, 28, this is my 6th car in ten years, my first of this style, I have no previous road traffic convictions (or any convictions for that matter), I would consider myself a safe driver, no crashes ever, no insurance claims etc.

I purchased the car because I liked the look of it and the colour, I know nothing technical about cars, I also feel no need to speed.

In the last year I have been pulled over on 6 occassions, once by detectives who took my licence went back to their car and in fairness politely enough told me it was mis-identification.

Next experience wasn't as nice, had a male Garda shout quiet abusively through my window (at a checkpoint) asking if I knew the rules of the road and when I answered a question correctly he said, word for word "well I am checking your tax and insurance now and if you dont have them I will do you for that", I was ok though because all of my discs were up to date.

Then, another occassion at a checkpoint, two female Garda stopped me and asked me to get out of the car under the missuse of drugs act and proceeded to search me and my passenger. Again they found nothing and let me go.

Other couple of times similar stories.

I am actually quiet nervous now when I am approached by a Garda even though I have done nothing wrong ..except chose the wrong model of car it seems! Last few times I have gone away shaking as the Garda were not very nice to me.

I am currently now trying to sell this car as it is causing me so much hassle

My question is, has anybody else felt discriminated against because of their choice in car?

And I am guessing there is no option except sell the car? One friend suggested if I was to encounter another abusive Garda to politely tell them I was going to record them on my phone, can't see that going down well though.

No garda can be abusive to when "doing his jobs" apologists and or cops put it. Get their name next time and complain to ombidsman if they are nasty to you. Muppet cops on power trip

ANSI

Reloc8 wrote: »

I read your post correctly.

What I highlighted in your post is that you said a complaint to the Ombudsman would, in the circumstances described by the OP, be frivolous, which is wrong.

+1

Corruptable

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Buy a sensible car that is not used by criminals.

Oh so people should just cave in because of what could be construed as harassment? Some answer.

If a person has no criminal record, with all their documents in order, and they don't act the bollocks, then it shouldn't be an issue. Anything else is an abuse of power on the part of the Gardai in question and they do a huge disservice to the perception of the force.

I know a number of people that have found similar situations with Gardai, and there is definitely a lot of (perhaps older) gardai that have a prejudice based on the age of drivers, for instance one person I know who is around the same age as the OP has been harassed in a standard Mercedes saloon, and he's not someone that's up to no good, he's as clean as a whistle, he's actually preparing for his FE-1s at Blackhall.

Yet a local Garda, a young fella, has a souped up Mitsubishi Evo, possibly on lowered suspension, with over 30% tints and he's still booting it around the place. Maybe if the law was enforced evenly, then these type of threads wouldn't pop up so often :rolleyes:

ANSI

Corruptable wrote: »

Yet a local Garda, a young fella, has a souped up Mitsubishi Evo, possibly on lowered suspension, with over 30% tints and he's still booting it around the place. Maybe if the law was enforced evenly, then these type of threads wouldn't pop up so often :rolleyes:

why not complain him

Corruptable

ANSI wrote: »

why not complain him

Because he's entitled to drive a car of his choice (assuming it isn't lowered and is otherwise compliant), and I'm not naive enough to think that I wouldn't be subject to mild harassment in future from this individual and/or his colleagues.

Then I'd have to make a "frivolous" (seemly any complaint attracts this presumption) complaint to the Ombudsman who would sit on the case for a year or two and then throw it away or give a slap on the wrist.

I'm not a combative person or someone who is anti-garda, I just feel that some discretion should be utilised in dealing with responsible people who are young or driving a roadworthy car which flags their attention but otherwise is compliant with the law.

Some mutual respect goes a long way.

ANSI

Corruptable wrote: »

Because he's entitled to drive a car of his choice (assuming it isn't lowered and is otherwise compliant), and I'm not naive enough to think that I wouldn't be subject to mild harassment in future from this individual and/or his colleagues.

Then I'd have to make a "frivolous" (seemly any complaint attracts this presumption) complaint to the Ombudsman who would sit on the case for a year or two and then throw it away or give a slap on the wrist.

I'm not a combative person or someone who is anti-garda, I just feel that some discretion should be utilised in dealing with responsible people who are young or driving a roadworthy car which flags their attention but otherwise is compliant with the law.

Some mutual respect goes a long way.

i thought it was lowered is that not illegal.

Corruptable

ANSI wrote: »

i thought it was lowered is that not illegal.

If it's lowered it would be an illegal modification. It looks lowered, but I am by no means an expert on the whole area of cars. I just drive a bog standard saloon myself, but I can understand why people might like to have a car which might seem to me or you to be a bit extravagant.

I'm sure that if the OP explained contacted the relevant division and explained her situation that it wouldn't be a problem and I'm sure what sounds like a misunderstanding could be cleared up. Thankfully the OP is willing to engage with the Gardai, but I could see how ,maybe a different person might feel forced to sell the car (possibly at a loss) and would hold a chip on their shoulder towards the Gardai after that. That's not a good thing, in my opinion.

ANSI

Corruptable wrote: »

,maybe a different person might feel forced to sell the car (possibly at a loss) and

if people are going to be abused by gardai so be it . i would not sell it or be harrassedby them

would hold a chip on their shoulder towards the Gardai after that. That's not a good thing, in my opinion.

chip on the shoulder is often used by abusers for people who stand up to them

Corruptable

Fair enough I just wish that there was a bit more understanding and less aggro between young drivers and the gardai, it would ensure a lot higher level of compliance and a wider level of support for the gardai especially when they need all the assistance they can get in detecting and solving serious crimes.

Obviously I've no problem with checkpoints for drink driving, tax & insurance, drug trafficking, etc. I'm always more than happy to oblige, as I'm sure the OP is, even though maybe her car attracts a certain image which probably isn't true so it's always good for gardai to approach it with an open mind.

I'm just being constructively critical, but I know a lot of members of the Gardai on here do get a hard time that they don't deserve by people just having a go, and certainly I don't want to be perceived as one of those.

Our man in Havana

I know for a fact there is a certain Garda that pulls over every civic that appears in his village. He says that only hudlums and drug dealers drive civics hence why he hates them.

Corruptable

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I know for a fact there is a certain Garda that pulls over every civic that appears in his village. He says that only hudlums and drug dealers drive civics hence why he hates them.

Strangely enough I heard of him as well. We must be neighbours!

charlemont

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I know for a fact there is a certain Garda that pulls over every civic that appears in his village. He says that only hudlums and drug dealers drive civics hence why he hates them.

There's a fair few old school cops like that around, I bet the same bloke probably thinks any one with a shaved head or an earring is a total thug, Probably hates anyone who isn't togging out on a cold Sunday morning after mass too.

Cops like that will think of you as a drug addict for having a packet of Rizlas on you.

Reloc8

MagicSean wrote: »

A complaint for the sole purpose of intimidating the next Garda would be a frivilous complaint.

No it wouldn't. Whether it is frivolous or not would depend on whether the actions complained of amounted to a breach of relevant law, practice or regulations.

MagicSean

Reloc8 wrote: »

No it wouldn't. Whether it is frivolous or not would depend on whether the actions complained of amounted to a breach of relevant law, practice or regulations.

My god you're right. The word I should have used was vexatious.

Corruptable

charlemont wrote: »

There's a fair few old school cops like that around, I bet the same bloke probably thinks any one with a shaved head or an earring is a total thug, Probably hates anyone who isn't togging out on a cold Sunday morning after mass too.

Cops like that will think of you as a drug addict for having a packet of Rizlas on you.

We all want new school cops now though. People like their policing to be professional, sensitive, caring and soft on the skin and not something like out of The Guard.

I don't see why it can't be, and still knock lumps off the scummers once their concretely identified as such.

castie

In fairness some of the cops at traffic stops can be a bit much and go above and beyond.

A few years ago they set up a stop on a road about 4 houses down from my girlfriends house.
I drove down the road and spotted the check but pulled into the curb next to the house to collect my girlfriend.

All of a sudden theres a garda running up the road towards me. (I ignored it and thought something had gone on behind me)

Next thing hes hammering at my side window with his baton and begins hurling abuse at me for trying to avoid a traffic stop and quoting laws I had broken by doing so. He then demanded I show him proof that I was collecting someone when I offered it as the explanation.

The garda in charge of the checkpoint came down the road after a bit of this and I again explained that I was collecting someone at this house and he basically told me to "move away from the area". When I refused as I was waiting for someone he quoted another law to me saying something along the lines of it was an offence to disobey a lawful direction from a garda.

This was a few years ago and I am a bit fuzzy on the actual laws they quoted.
Made a complaint to the Superintendent who was chairman of my rugby club and got an apology fairly fast out of both of them in writing.

HellFireClub

MagicSean wrote: »

nocheerleader wrote: »

Thanks

Funny enough no garda has ever had a problem or mentioned it but if it helps I will be happy!

Traffic units now have devices for measuring the tint level and have begun prosecuting for window tints. The car will also fail the nct with tinted windows. You could also call to the local station and ask if there is any particular reason you get pulled over. Your car may have previously been owned by a known criminal and the Garda might be willing to note the change of ownership on the vehicles record.

Hardly likely, if this was true, there would be no Range Rovers or BMW's left on Irish roads.

Bullseye1

Next time once they have finished giving you verbal abuse calmly ask for their name and their Garda number. Like every facate of live there are always those who let alittle bit of power go to their heads.

Turner

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Next time once they have finished giving you verbal abuse calmly ask for their name and their Garda number. Like every facate of live there are always those who let alittle bit of power go to their heads.

If you use your eyes you will see their "number" is written on their shoulder, detectives will always produce id when requested.