The Irish Mitsubishi FTO Owners Club

Do what I do when anyone starts going on about 'boy-racers' and putting me in the same boat. Politely tell them first of all you're over 18 so technically you're not a 'boy', you're a man, and you're a car enthusiast not a 'racer', and then tell them the colour green doesnt suit them anyway 'so quit yo' jibberjabber!!!'

Bernard wrote:I wonder if you'd all have the same stories it was a corolla or focus you were driving?

I think not.

I was in a people carrier with 'L' plates on one accaison! Thought I would have got more hassle from guards with the FTO but didn't really except the day after I bought it and was pulled over for driving too slow (trying to work out KPH from old MPH!) and 'illegal reg plates' and he wanted to fine me 1200 quid! and then there was the time... ok maybe it's the FTO effect (aka any decent car) that does something to them. Myself and my dad were pulled over in a 1956 classic Jaguar 20 years ago, the lads saw a puff of smoke and thought he was 'burning rubber' so flaked it up the road after us and pulled us. Just really wanted a gander at the car. Took them a while to catch up Another busy day for them pulling over nice cars to look at

you could always report the gard for slander. and I feel the phrase is quite derogetry,
and if they called me a boy racer id take it up with them for insulting me.


remember they are workign and representing the irish law. and their personal oppinion dosnt come into it.

Jeez feel your pain don't get me started on them!!, just before Christmas 1 mile away from my house at a routine checkpoint Garda stops me, tax, nct, insurance all in order, Garda asks me for my licence with out me knowing it was two months out of date, long story short I was told to get out of my vehicle as it would have to be impounded for the night cost of 135 to realise it!! due to the fact my licence was out of date thus ,quote” making me a danger to the public because my insurance would be void" me not knowing my rights asked if my father could collect the car as it was under his name,Garda: No, then asked politely if I could wait 2minutes for a lift as it was raining outside and my girlfriend had no jacket, Garda: No, listen your f***ing licence is out by 2 months!!, me being polite the whole time, he now kicks use both out of the car, me with an exam the next day gathering up my loose college notes and standing in the rain.

Make a long story short, personally I thought I was in the wrong about my licence but I was so angry the way he acted so unprofessionally.

Rang up insurance the next day quote” your insured even if your licence is out of date, as long as you have held a licence previously"

Went over to my relitive, he's a superintendent, expected he'd say "well your licence was out of date blah blah blah" he flipped quote” it’s b**lixes like that which give us all a bad name" told me the only right they have to impound my car is if the tax, insurance is out etc... Not for a licence been out of date. Me finally realising how unjust the whole thing was decided to write to the Ombudsman,

Well that was my story about Christmas and the Guards gone power mad.
IMO- theres alot of people just hoppin into join the Gardai these days, half them dont give a sh*** about there job and go powermad and abuse ther power, it's unbelieveable, like i have four mates joined up there a few months ago two of them only did it because the flunked college and couldnt give a crap,imagine them getting power and ther my mates
, just making the rest actually sound gards you meet look bad!!

finers wrote:Me finally realising how unjust the whole thing was decided to write to the Ombudsman,

What was the outcome of that?

Mustang wrote:

finers wrote:Me finally realising how unjust the whole thing was decided to write to the Ombudsman,

What was the outcome of that?

Got a reply saying they will be re-viewing it shortly and sorry for the delay as theres a huge backlog!! that was two months ago!! going to try and contact them soon to get the ball rolling, doubt anything will be done im so tempted to get a solicitor i wouldnt usually do that but the way he treated my girlfriend pissed me off the most.

Anyone have any similar experience and any advice?

Another cop way out of line. I can see this thread going on for a while! Make a complaint alright but don't at the moment waste your money until you absolutely have to. Generally if you stand up for yourself they do back down on most occaisions. I know it's the principal of it as I'd be the same.

mark wrote:Another cop way out of line. I can see this thread going on for a while! Make a complaint alright but don't at the moment waste your money until you absolutely have to. Generally if you stand up for yourself they do back down on most occaisions. I know it's the principal of it as I'd be the same.

Ye think your right Mark, I got the money back last week also so that’s a start, but the more and more I think about it picturing the Cop driving away"practiclty stealing my car" the more pi****off I get.

LOL think there should be a new form created on Gardai injustice.
would be a popular one.

Do you drive an FTO finers? If so, the prick probably just wanted a spin in it.

Wildhound wrote:Do you drive an FTO finers? If so, the prick probably just wanted a spin in it.

No at the time i had a honda civic saloon, not done up, looked like a family car, i honestly don't c myself ever givin up my FTO to sum corrupt P*g to rally away. always had my stuff in order, wrote another email today from work to the ombudsman will keep you posted what they say;), i actually never get stopped in check points anymore since the car switch? think the fto just looks to classy:D

Christ I nearly forgot about this til you said about the checkpoints finers.

Driving into work one morning, go around a blind corner and 3 cars and a truck stopped there, garda checkpoint ahead. So I stop, not going fast so no problem. Waited for the cop to start waving lads on, he had one fella pulled over at an entrance to a housing estate. There was a car waiting to come out of the estate too I might add. Anyway the cop seems to tell your man everything is fine and to reverse back a bit to pull out. Next thing theres a loud beep and a bang! He had reversed into the car waiting to pull out! Cop was a young fella and didnt seem to know what to do, sort of looked around puzzled at the other cop who was talking to the truck driver. 2 boys got out of their cars and started comparing damage and then the cop finally decides he better do something so takes out the notebook. Now, this is the fun bit for the courts, whose in the wrong? The fella that reversed you would think, but, he was told by a cop to reverse, and on a main road, so he had to obey the cop! Could have been interesting!

gfalls wrote:Actually, my brother is a cop, but he lives in England, and he's a twat..!

Zero for three so?

NOI

omg ive never had any trouble with guards... so far neway

went thru 2 check points at shannon airport.

1st time had the car on english plates (bold me!) with no insurance displayed (so they wouldnt see i had the car 8 months!)

cop: Hello
me: Hi
cop: nice car
me: thanks
cop: u import her yourself
me: my sister did
cop: got a good dial on it so i hope
me: i did
cop: you'll have to get it cleared
me: ya i know its on the cards
cop: and ul have to get tax and nct
me: yop
cop: be good! mind the car now
me: will do


Next week (female guard) car on irish plated... insurance showing, no tax/ nct

cop: hello licence please
me: *hands over licence*
cop: u getting tax on this
me: ya just waitin on the log book
cop: righto

Do they ever stop taxis?

stopped a couple of times. Never had any hassle though. I'm a firm believer if your respectful and don't take an attitude with the cops, most are reasonable. They have to deal with some pretty grim people in their line of work, so they don't have time for power trippers with attitude problems.

"what did I do, why did you stop me?"
"Do you have evidence to prove I was speeding"
"I don't need to tell you where Im going"
"Im only lowering my window enough to passout my license guard, its my right"
"none of you business where I live, what did I do?"
"When was your speed detection equipment last calibrated"
"Can I see your proof of the offence, and what's your badge number?"

All of these "challenges" to a guard are really really stupid. be nice and you'll be surprised.

miss-enzo wrote:cop: hello licence please
me: *hands over licence*
cop: u getting tax on this
me: ya just waitin on the log book
cop: righto

dont ya get the book after ya tax it?

McGon,
I'm that way like you entirely as I know the cops do 'the attitude test' on you in the first 10 secs. But when they are rude to me straight away it's important to stand up for yourself and not let them walk all over you. It's a two way street, no pun intended!

I'm polite to everyone I meet but I certainly don't agree that they deserve respect just on the basis that they're a guard. If anything, from my experience, the opposite is true.

Any time I'm stopped I'm polite and I'm usually not in the wrong. But even on the couple of occasions that I have been they've been fine. Still, I wouldn't put much faith in them if anything serious were to happen... They've let myself, my family and friends down several times.

Bernard wrote:I wonder if you'd all have the same stories it was a corolla or focus you were driving?

I think not.

I drive a TT - not exactly a car you'd stereotype to boy racers or jokers.

But that aside - I like to adopt an attitude of "water off a ducks back" - there are arseholes in every walk of life and to be fair to the Garda they do a tough job. Most I've dealt with have been friendly and fair enough.

I just find it comical the few who go out of their way to be obnoxious.

Well actually, they chose to do it. It's funny alright if you don't have to pay for it. I've often encountered a Guard or two hiding down the back of a mates shop drinking tea when they should be on the beat. . I'm always a bit wary of people needing to be that much in control (ie become a cop) and I don't believe that its to 'protect and to serve', more like a good wage and a pension. Sorry, don't mean to sound negative as we do need a cop force as long as they get the right people and not spend half their day sitting in traffic court reading the paper, or don't even turn up and effectively waste tax payers money and time
I can see this being one of those perpetual threads