REVEALED: Gardai to use unmarked trucks to spy on unsuspecting motorists from a height

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has revealed that "an innovation in Roads Policing will be introduced in the coming weeks". 

This will take the form of an "unmarked HGV cab", as used in articulated vehicles, which will enable gardaí to see into the cabs of lorries and also look down on motorists for signs of distracted driving. 

The Commissioner was responding to a number of issues raised by TD Michael Lowry during an Oireachtas Transport Committee Meeting, where the Tipperary Deputy emphasised that safety on roads across the country is a major concern.

Deputy Lowry said that he gave a public welcome to the decision that each member of the gardaí would spend 30 minutes per shift on road policing. 

"It gave a sense of reassurance that the gardaí were stepping up activity to keep motorists safe. I can certainly say, that I have seen a noticeable garda presence both in Tipperary and on the motorway," he said.

Deputy Lowry also highlighted that adequate, reliable transport for Garda Members is absolutely crucial. ‘A large number of Garda vehicles are approaching, or have already passed their "sell-by date" he said. 

"I am aware of several instances across the Tipperary Division where cars and vans are out of commission to such an extent that, at times, gardaí do not have vehicles to respond to incidents.  

"These problems are not only arising in Tipperary – it’s a countrywide problem. Gardaí need more cars and, at the very least, a reliable fleet of vehicles to enable to them to carry out their work, including Road Policing, quickly and consistently.

"Who is responsible for the fleet of Garda vehicles, because it is not cost-effective to be using clapped-out cars or cars with extended mileage on them? They go to the garage for repair and are in the garage indeterminately and, when they come back into service, there is a re-occurrence of the issue.

"We need a dedicated workshop to deal solely with Garda vehicles. This system operates efficiently across other countries and ensures a reliable and safe fleet of vehicles," said Deputy Lowry.

Outlining the introduction of the new unmarked HGV cab, Commissioner Harris said that the An Garda Síochána now has the largest fleet it has ever had, numbering over 3,000 vehicles. 

This number represents one of the biggest vehicle fleets in the country. He said it takes time to refresh such a fleet, but that work to do so is ongoing to do so. 

He added that the An Garda Síochána is allocated a Capital Programme annually to replace and refresh the garda fleet and that, as a result, the fleet has expanded significantly over the last five years. 

The Commissioner undertook to pursue the matters raised by Deputy Lowry in relation to Tipperary at local level, saying that no Division should be short of vehicles.