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MORE THAN 100 garda checkpoints will be in operation on roads around the country every day as the country moves from Level 5 to Level 3 of Covid-19 restrictions tomorrow.
In a statement released this evening, a spokesperson said An Garda Síochána (AGS) is “adapting its ongoing policing operation in support of the prevailing public health measures”.
Under Operation Fanacht, over 100 checkpoints on main routes, supported by a number of mobile checkpoints, will be conducted on a daily basis with a focus on the guidelines on inter-county travel. Under Level 3, people are are advised to only travel outside their county for essential reasons.
Static checkpoints will operate during off-peak hours – namely from 10am to 4pm, and 7pm to 9pm.
The fixed checkpoints on motorway and dual carriageway routes will no longer be in place.
High visibility patrols will take place in several city, urban and retail locations in the run-up to Christmas. AGS said it will work with retail and licensed premises to carry out patrols that “focus on the night-time economy”.
Checks on licensed premises, under Operation Navigation, will resume as many restaurants and pubs reopen in the coming days.
The spokesperson said community engagement activity “will continue to focus on the vulnerable and those who feel isolated, particularly during Christmas time”, and “continued active investigation of domestic abuse” will continue under Operation Faoiseamh.
No enforcement powers
In terms of Covid-19 restrictions, the spokesperson added that gardaí will continue to use “the 4Es approach of engage, explain and encourage, and only as a last resort, enforcement”.
AGS can only enforce penal regulations, it does not have powers to enforce public health guidelines.
Speaking today, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “Throughout the pandemic there has been very good compliance by the public with the health advice and regulations. It is critical that this continues in Level 3.
“While people are able to undertake more activities and travel wider from 1 December, we all need to remember that Covid-19 is still with us and we should act accordingly. We all must continue to play our part by heeding the public health advice. This is the best way of protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbours.”
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So if you want to head to a different county, just go at rush hour. Or after 9pm when the lads are in bed.
Thanks
@Wishywashy: unless they take the roads in at 9
@Tony Humphreys: fair point. Depends whether is raining or not.
@Wishywashy: I drive to school everyday from different county and I was only stopped once for the whole level 5 restrictions.
@Wishywashy: I wish the journal comments section had laughing emojis!
If check points are in place they should be at borders not in the middle of a town.
If only the Gardai put this much energy in to drug trafficking etc etc…
@Jack:
Have you been asleep the last few months? There have been significant seizures of drugs and firearms.
@Jack: if only they’d put this much into solving actual crime!!
@Jack: they do.
@Jack: Yawn!!! The Gardai in this country work very hard in extremely difficult situations. Apart from all the work they do regarding criminal gangs/drug trafficking, they are at every road traffic accident. Often the first at the scene when people are badly hurt or dead. They protect those living with domestic violence. They are first at the scene of gruesome murders. I personally have a lot of respect for them. And their job is tougher again this year with clowns like you at checkpoints! (And no I’m not a Garda. Nor is anyone in my family)
I got read out of it by a garda for driving too slow into a checkpoint the week before last. And then last week I got read out of it for driving in too fast!. It was nasty both times.
And I was always an advocate of theirs.
Not any more.
My village is wall to wall speeding cars avoiding a checkpoint every day. Itll take someone getting killed to get noticed. They’re driving on one car width lanes and no regard for locals. For what?? For nothing. Its infuriating
“over 100 checkpoints in operation every day”.
In government terms that roughly translates into 2 or 3 checkpoints across the country for the next few months.
I wish there were more to combat antisocial behaviour on the roads.
Waste of police time
@Paul Dolan: it really is. I mean it’s great that they are able to be out doing this…. much respect… But no powers to do anything. Sure anyone could be going anywhere. Just say going shopping…
Just police should be about enforcing not asking where you going without any law to back it up.
So yeah waste of time. I think if they had the powers and we had a strick enforcement of them we would be down to single figure numbers again.
i use the back roads no busy bodies or do goodies.
What a fantastic waste of money. How much are those lovely hyundai extra cars costing to rent again not to mention the overtime bill
There’s a permanent 24/7 checkpoint on the Commons Road in Cork since this began, what’s new?
@Cork Truck Driver: and on the N25. Carrigtwohill is a nightmare every morning with traffic…..everyone trying to avoid the checkpoints. Total waste of police time and resources.
Is internal travel ban advisory or enforceable under law during level 3?
Checkpoints were a joke anyway…lazy … just plonked in same place on m4, and abandoned till next day over entire period. Easily spotted. Those going beyond need not be geniuses to avoid
Shopping in the big smoke on the 8th…. might even bring the
@Fergal Doyle: Concubine?
@Fergal Doyle: sheep
@Fergal Doyle: Please tell us what it is you might bring, I need to go to bed soon.
@Fergal Doyle:
Hang sangwiches…
@Fergal Doyle: wallet?
Can anybody read this? This is a test.
@Martin O’Brien: No
@Martin O’Brien: no, I can’t read it either.
Is Christmas shopping essential in another county ?
I suppose I’ll take a chance.
@Fuming Larry ☘️: not essential in Cavan, apparently.
biggest waste
I was think about communism of being a communist country,and I realised we are nearly there.
have your say