Dublin waste services photographing cars

socio

Do any bright people know why a Dublin waste services person would be out photographing a taking details of cars in an estate? Seems very odd.

Jawgap

socio wrote: »

Do any bright people know why a Dublin waste services person would be out photographing a taking details of cars in an estate? Seems very odd.

to check if they are 'abandoned'? How long have the cars been there?

socio

They are just the usual cars belonging to the people who live here so most of them come and go or are here mostly. She was also trying to see if the doors were open on one,which I found really strange.
Can understand the abandoned thing if they are in bits but most are average cars.

_Kaiser_

socio wrote: »

They are just the usual cars belonging to the people who live here so most of them come and go or are here mostly. She was also trying to see if the doors were open on one,which I found really strange.
Can understand the abandoned thing if they are in bits but most are average cars.

Ring them and ask? Or check with the management company (if there is one). Can't say I'd be impressed with some randomer trying to get into my car.

Mrs OBumble

Where were they parked? Were they obstructing rubbish removal, by any chance???

Staplor

Casing the joint, any nice cars?

Rubberchikken

maybe their parking is affecting the rubbish lorries. although why someone would need to try a strange car's doors is another matter.

trellheim

maybe the truck struck the car and they are getting their side of the story and pics sorted out.

coylemj

Has the road in the estate been taken over by the council? If not then maybe the management company is looking for cars belonging to non-residents to clamp them. If it's a public road (i.e. in public ownership) then they have no business going around checking doors to see if they're open. Unless someone has reported an abandoned car, I don't see why the council or any firm acting on their behalf would be going around actually looking for abandoned cars, they typically don't care about cars in housing estates unless they're reported.

I wasn't aware that the company 'Dublin Waste' still existed, I wonder if someone has bought one of their trucks, put on a reflective jacket and is going around looking for easy opportunities?

OP, is this person just wearing a 'Dublin Waste' yellow jacket or can you see a van or truck with that name on it?

socio

Thanks for suggestions. It is a public road in and estate that includes houses and apartment blocks (which have their own car park with permits, clamping etc). The woman was driving Dublin City Council van with 'Waste Services' on it. She wasn't wearing any uniform, just jeans and a raincoat.
The cars are not blocking anything, there are loads of them parallel parked on the road. Seems totally normal place for them to be!
Only thing I can think of is some busybody has complained there are too many cars and they are checking if they are abandoned, although trying the doors seems a step too far. She was also talking photos under the wheel-arch of one car which seemed weird.

Tickityboo

socio wrote: »

Thanks for suggestions. It is a public road in and estate that includes houses and apartment blocks (which have their own car park with permits, clamping etc). The woman was driving Dublin City Council van with 'Waste Services' on it. She wasn't wearing any uniform, just jeans and a raincoat.
The cars are not blocking anything, there are loads of them parallel parked on the road. Seems totally normal place for them to be!
Only thing I can think of is some busybody has complained there are too many cars and they are checking if they are abandoned, although trying the doors seems a step too far. She was also talking photos under the wheel-arch of one car which seemed weird.

Why didn't you ask her what she was doing?

jimmii

socio wrote: »

She was also talking photos under the wheel-arch of one car which seemed weird.

Definitely worth reporting better safe than sorry. I think some cars might have an exterior OBD port which can be used for all sorts of things.

coylemj

jimmii wrote: »

I think some cars might have an exterior OBD port which can be used for all sorts of things.

You 'think' and 'might' makes for a not very convincing statement.

You seriously think that someone is driving around in a fake Dublin City Council van trying to plug into the diagnostic port on parked cars to nobble the system?

The OBD port in most cars is in the drivers footwell, specifically above the driver's knees. No manufacturer to my knowledge fits them with external access, why would they?

L1011

I'm pretty certain there isn't a production vehicle in existence with its OBD port accessible externally.

Victor

That sounds like the council's waste department checking for abandoned cars following a report. Some abandoned cars have been stolen, hence checking the door.

Wheel wise, it may have been checking for flat tyres, mud / leaf build-up or rust on the wheel arch.