Eyes & ears of enforcement on M50 rush hour

IT was shortly after 7am on December 19 when Sgt Gavin Coleman and his observer noticed something awry amongst the thousands of vehicles hurtling down the M50 during rush hour.

Despite it being pitch dark, a truck with a cherry picker attached was driving in the middle lane with no lights.

Sgt Coleman flicked on the blue lights and the driver was pulled over.

He claimed he was on the way to a mechanic to get the lights fixed in south Dublin after driving from Wicklow and admitted it was “stupid”.

The driver and passenger were then told the truck was to be seized and would not be released until the lights were fixed.

Sgt Coleman said if the driver had to brake suddenly, the motorist behind may not have had enough time to react or notice and it could have caused a major multiple-vehicle collision.

This was the first offence but certainly not the last, the Irish Mirror witnessed during a day with officers from the Roads Policing Division based out of Dublin

Castle.

Officers stationed here

have responsibility for the entire city and county while also assisting local officers.

Over the course of the morning, a number of drivers, including a lorry driver, were spotted using their mobile phones.

Each offender was issued with three penalty points and a fine.

Shortly before 12pm, Sgt Coleman saw a cyclist go straight through a red light at the Christchurch junction while chatting on the phone.

The cyclist had no helmet, no high-viz vest or lights.

When officers eventually caught up to him on Dame Street, he was still chatting on the phone and oblivious to the fact he was being pursued.

Officers then mounted a checkpoint in

West Dublin. An app on garda-issued phones allows them to determine by simply inputting the number plate if a vehicle is taxed, insured, and details about the driver.

One woman who had been made redundant had no tax on her car.

After a brief chat and vow to purchase the tax disc, Sgt Coleman used his discretion and did not issue a ticket but said if she is caught again she could have the vehicle seized.

The driver was also directed to present the new disc for verification.

Later, a lorry on the M1 was seized for having no insurance.

Gardai offered the man a lift off the motorway but he instead decided to walk through a field.

During my time with the Roads Policing Division, I witnessed multiple offences.

Some may consider them “minor” but those minor infractions can lead to carnage. That’s why the gardai want to stamp them out through engagement and education but if that doesn’t work, they will use enforcement.

3 points and a fine were issued to offending drivers on the M50