starlite68
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as i said..its all a set-up for the benefit of the cameras....showbiz ect..
"Traffic Blues" TV on RTE: Lady prov licence, 5 kids not strapped in.
- Thread starter DeeFox
- Start date
If that's the case, surely they would want to be seen to be upholding the law?
I didn't see the program, but I really don't understand the officer letting her drive off (regardless of the fine & points and the likelihood of her not doing it again). Surely by doing so, he is knowingly allowing her to continue breaking the law by driving unaccompanied and with the kids unrestrained?? Is that not aiding and abetting (or something like that !!)
The uniformed Garda in the drivers seat can be a bit of a giveaway.
One easy way to tell unmarked Garda cars is that they are taxed, but not insured by a private insurance company (as the State carries its own insurance). So tax disc & no insurance disc on the windscreen.
Of course no insurance disc could be a member of the public driving uninsured, but when you couple the above with other information such as the make of the car, presence of aerials and other devices, they are very easy to spot.
Kind of defeats the purpose of an unmarked Garda car if everyone knows that its a Garda car. Always thought they should use immitation insurance discs etc.
They also have no dealership details (i.e JOE Motors Limited), the numbers on the reg plates tend to be spaced out more than a private car, the brake light mounted on the rear window is modified, sometimes you may see extra lights mounted on the bumpers...just my observations...
starlite68
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you are missing the point,the programme is designed to show the guards in a humane light...cops with a heart..if you like. the dont want the public to think they are like "robocops" tearing around the country.Enter RTE and get those cameras rolling.
I didn't see it either and I too am offended and outraged by whatever I'm told to be offended and outraged by.
Eh, where is I say I was offended and outraged?
I heard it discussed on the radio before I saw the forum. I am quite capable of forming my own view, so please do not tell me what my emotions are and certain do not imply that I am just going along with the crowd. In fact if you look back, I would say the majority of people were of the opinion that the officer should have let her continue.
My point was that I do not understand how he could allow her to drive away while she was still in breech of the law.
The incident appeared to have happened in an urban area. It was daytime, the weather was ok, there was a footpath at the side of the road. Therefore issue of being stranded on the side of a road is not relevant. There is no reason why the woman couldnt have been asked to get out of the car and either call someone to make arrangements to take the children or taken the bus.
The woman also showed total contempt for the Gardai. She spat some chewing gum on the ground at the Garda's feet and was asked to pick it up. As soon as the Garda turned his back, she spat it out again at his feet. In most countries in the developed world, she'd have ended up in handcuffs and got a lot more than an €80 fine.
Remember, in addition to the lack of seatbelts, overloading and her contempt, SHE DID NOT HAVE A DRIVING LICENSE. What idiot would permit a woman with no driving license to drive away with 5 unrestrained kids in a small car that was falling to bits.
starlite68
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maybe the idiot who was making the film,and therefor would have to have got the womans permission to be shown on tv in the first place.
Womans identity wasnt revealed - face obscured.
You just made my point ,thanks!
Pity how so many people get off on technicalitys then isnt it.
HOw much training does it require to cross a "t" and dot an "i"..any idiot could do it.
So lets get real and let the guards implement the law and not push pens.
Im aware that the older members of the guards are resentfull of the reserve guards for the very reason that they dont want to be out on the streets they would rather be in the office pushing pens,waiting for pension day.
I think you may have missed my point as well as twisted my words. I said leniency is good at times to counter your view that the law is black and white with no grey areas, not that the guards on some tv program were right or wrong.
And yes i'm sure that idiots have the ability to sign forms, but seeing as guards are required to carry out this duty they will have to do so until further notice. It hardly takes up serious time. Reserve guards may be easier to influence to sign forms for people that shouldn't have them and if it is official business then leave it to the officials.
I know exactly why the cops didn't make the lady get out of the car. The truth is they didn't want to deal with even more hassle and bureaucracy to themselves that this would cause. I've noticed when there is a police checkpoint pulling in cars and I come along with my kids they always wave me through. This has happened to me many times.
I am now also an expert on unmarked Garda cars which leads to the silly question why on earth would they use cars that are so obvious to anyone who takes the time to notice. Presumable criminals would be even better experts on this.
I am now also an expert on unmarked Garda cars which leads to the silly question why on earth would they use cars that are so obvious to anyone who takes the time to notice. Presumable criminals would be even better experts on this.
Exactly. She should have IMO.
starlite68
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she probably would have...if the cameras had not been there!
61km in a 60 zone, having a headlight go while in transit, staying in the pub half hour after closing. There are loads of little things that if the guards came down on they would be slated for being petty and not solving real crime. With some degree of leniency a better relationship can be formed with the public. Leniency does not equal power, it merely shows that they can use common sense at the right time.
If the guards are waiting for a particularly nasty criminal and I zoom by 20km over speed limit should they go after me and risk losing a drug seizure?
And how many families of 3 are there getting signs formed weekly? I just think that it is nit picking to suggest that there is any great waste of garda resources due to form filling for the public.
And do what with the kids?
I agree the ultimate punishment hardly seems to match the offence, but then being unfamiliar with who decides an appropriate penalty, I can't say whether it's the individual garda or someone else. I would presume it's at the individual's discretion in terms of a fixed penalty.
But in terms with how the offence was dealt with at the roadside, I can't see what benefit there would have been in taking the woman involved to the station, having to transport all her kids there too. Have the kids sitting and waiting around a station while their mother is processed and charged. Having the kids needing minding while probably traumatised at seeing their mother handcuffed and thrown into the back of a van (again are the kids taken to the station in the van too? A car?). If signing a passport photo is a waste of gardai time, then nursing 5 kids is even worse.
Or what else, send them home? How? Taxi? Do we as tax payers pick up that tab? Arrange to be collected? By who? What if there is no one? Even if there is does the garda have to wait around doing nothing until they can get there? Well that's a great use of resources.
Yes, a problem in this case - but only because of a culture of leniency and an unlikelihood of this happening.
On the other hand, any mother who breaks the law - whatever law - should realise that there is a possibility that she may be removed, even if temporarily, from her kids.
You say do what with the kids - what if she had murdered someone?
There is always a a way - husband, relatives, neighbours etc.