The Ultimate Speed Trap Location Guide This guide is for informational and educational purposed only. This guide is for private viewing only

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1 The Ultimate Speed Trap Location Guide This guide is for informational and educational purposed only This guide is for private viewing only Speed trap locations for Ireland in alphabetical order If you want to add a location to this list please us with as many details as possible, and stating if you want credit or not for this info. admin@beattheclampers.org CARLOW Green Lane is a 30mph zone and there is very regularly a Garda speed trap. Carlow to Kikenny: Passing the Dolmen Hotel is a 40 mph zone and again this is a very regular spot. Another frequent speeed trap in on the main Carlow to Wexford road as you come down the hill into the village of Ballon. The patrol car (Fiat Punto) is reversed into a lane way beside a housing estate. He gets you with his radar and stands out on the road just at the last minute. An unmarked car frequently parks outside Kavanaghs pub (Ballon) catching those who were watching for the Punto in the laneway who speed up when it is not there. This is a 30MPH zone. In Carlow town when you take the third exit off the Athy roundabout and go up the wide stretch of road with industrial estates on both sides, it's a 30MPH zone with loads of markings stating so but is one of the only good stretches of road in Carlow town so everyone speeds there. The Gardai are parked in a factory entrance over the brow of the hill & are only visible when it is too late. Another speedtrap in Co. Carlow is in Bagenalstown, just leaving the town going out the Borris road at Philip street. This is a 30MPH zone and more often than not you will find the Garda car reversed up a lane between the last two bungalows on the street, using radar. Locals know it well, perhaps you could warn others. CAVAN On the main Kells/Cavan town road there is a village called Carnaross. The local Garda sometimes uses his mobile radar unit from his OWN private car! It's a white Toyota Corrolla. N3 between Cavan town and Virginia, a hidden side road sloping up on the left hand side of the road into a field, the top of the Garda patrol car is visible just as you round the corner before the hidden slope. N3 Cavan/Virginia: The Cavan Gardai now have a nice new unmarked white Ford Mondeo 98/99 spotted on the 02/08/99 pulling another speeder.

2 Virginia side of Carnaross - called Whitegate Cross at Duignans filling station. The Gardai hide behind a big sign with their hairdrier and clock you heading for the Virginia direction. You would'nt see them 'til you're nearly past them. A friend of the contributor of this trap was done one morning at 7.15 am on his way to work on a Saturday! CLARE N68 Ennis to Kilrush road: there is a 3 mile stretch 40 MPH limit at Lissycasey. Type: Radar. Limerick to Shannon dual-carriageway: at a number of locations on this road, usually under the overpass at Sixmilebridge turn off. Limerick bound as you see Bunratty Castle in the distance expect a trap at the end of the long straight when you come down the hill. When past Bunratty as you come around the sweeping bend and see the long straight before the hill, watch out just after the joining lane. Operated by: Ennis Gardai. Type: Laser. When entering Ennis from the main Galway-Limerick road as you are coming down the slight hill in the 30MPH zone there is usually a Garda car lurking on the hard shoulder. There is a regular trap in the village of Barefield, north of Ennis, beside the school, checking the traffic flow from Galway direction. Obey the Traffic calming directions on the approach and you will be safe! N18: radar speed trap in regular use at Crusheen on the approach from Gort. Operated on a daily basis. Main dual carrigeway between Limerick and Shannon: 1. Just as you come down the hill after Setrights Pub, there is a lovely straight stretch in front of you. The boys in blue are often in on the left hand side in front of the bus stop, as you are driving along they look like people waiting for the bus until you get up nice and close. 2. Just where the Bunratty flyover joins the main dual carrigeway they are often parked back up on the slip road in the jeep and are quite happy to take off flying after you. 3. Also on the main Shannon to Limerick road, just by Setrights pub you enter a 50 mile zone they are often parked in the gate of a house as you come into the 50 zone and also parked at a house as you are about to leave the 50 mile zone. Shannon: at the big Junction between the Limerick, Shannon and Galway Roads. Coming from Ennis, The Gardai park in a driveway on the left on the apex of the corner. Shannon: In the town of Shannon, the Gardai regularly park at the junction by St.Patrick's comprehensive school and clock the traffic going through the centre of the town, either heading to/from the town centre. Operated by the Shannon Gardaì, using radar. CORK There is a new unmarked Garda car operating on the main Carrigaline - Cork road. It is a 95 D Red Corrolla. N8 Mitchelstown: on the Dublin side as you approach watch for the jeep. Type: Radar. N20 Cork to Mallow road: look out for a jeep again just after the Waterloo turn on the Mallow side before Blarney. Type: Laser. N20 Cork to Mallow road: as you approach Mallow town watch out, apparently this is a very regular spot. Fermoy, Co Cork. (Travelling from Dublin to Cork) As you drive down a slope approaching a junction where the road widens considerably - you're doing 70mph before you descend: better watch the speed on the hill. Apparently there have been five fatal accidents in this spot in the past twelve months; Gardai are always at this spot. Cork - Mallow road. Jeep sits on the sliproad coming off the bridge by the "sunset ridge" and catches the cars from BEHIND, once you can see them in your mirror it's too late. Note: this is only valid for traffic going towards Mallow.

3 Horgan's Quay in Cork is a nice long straight non-residental stretch of road and one is inclined to put the boot down. There are little mini 30 mph signs which one could easily miss and there is often a red van ahead of the warehouse on the left. (You learn to notice these things after the 50 quid fine comes through the letterbox). Another favourite spot is the Glanmire by-pass and also the Cork-Middleton road where they are often perched on the Little Island slip road. N22: heading towards Macroom from Cork city there are speed traps just outside Ballincollig at the rugby field & at the Westfalia seperator factory. 10 miles outside Ballincollig between Farnanes and Lisarda the Gardai are constantly doing speed traps (Lissarda drops from 60MPH to 40MPH) and they are now using both radar and laser. On the left hand side of the road going from Michelstown to Cahir, parked in an entrance to a forest. Cork City, on the link road at the Sarsfield road roundabout, coming from Bishopstown towards the city. N20:About 2 1/2 miles outside charleville, on the cork side. After sweeping bend you come onto a straight stretch of road. Road narrows when the kerbs start. You should be in sight of the church where there is a hidden gate, which is a favourite hiding place of the Gardai. N25: From Midleton to Cork. On the Midleton side of Carrigtowhill at the government weigh bridge a red Gatso van can usually be found. Also keep an eye out for an unmarked vectra on the onramp. N27: Red or white ford transit hi-top and renault cargo hi-top vans on the Airport hill beside Sisk's HQ where the speed changes from 60mph to 40 mph. Also the same vans or a motorcycle Garda & radar gun on the south ring road (westbound) hiding under the Togher overbridge (near Waters Munster Glass). At Riverstick on main Cork - Kinsale Road, a patrol car on left towards Cork reverses up a side road and the Garda stands at side road with radar gun. West Cork; Cork side of Bandon, known as the 'Bandon car', there was even a song written about them. Unmarked, laser. N20: On the Mallow to Limerick road about half a mile past the new roundabout the speed limit changes from 40 to 60 MPH. The Gardai are situated about 50 metres inside the limit in an unmarked car (Renault Megane, blue, 97/98 not sure). Also around this area there is a little slip road across the road from the petrol station, the Gardai are usually up this road catching both oncoming traffic and out-going traffic where the 40 MPH limit is. Between the two roundabouts on the Mallow road, there is a new fire station situated here, (a nice stretch of road) but only a 30 MPH limit, the Gardai are often here. A new squad car (99 D Ford mondeo estate, it is marked) has been spotted recently using laser about 4miles outside Cork catching the traffic coming from Cork to Mallow. Approaching Cork city from Innishannon road, around the bend before the second last roundabout on route to Lee tunnel; mobile Garda checkpoint (2 bikes and Garda car) with laser gun. Have been informed that this is a regular check. Waterford to Cork road as you enter Youghal on the new dual lane link road small "sixpence" 30 mph limit signs! You will easily be doing 50 comfortably! White Garda car (well hidden) very often. Type: radar. N20: Just as you turn the wide bend in the road near the turn for Blarney, on the way to Mallow only.

4 N20: On the way into Cork city as you approach the Commons Inn the limit goes from 60 to 40 to 30MPH and a Garda bike or a Vectra may be waiting for you. N25: On the main Cork to Midleton road at the Little Island interchange a Garda jeep is waiting on the slip for Midleton so as you speed through the interchange they can catch you from behind. N22, Macroom: Speedtraps regularly spotted in the 40MPH zone on the Cork side of Macroom town, usually for Cork-bound traffic, traps can be placed in the lay-by or on the garage forecourt. Also seen in the 30MPH zone on the Killarney side of town, close to the Millstreet junction. Marked jeep parked over the Lee tunnel on the south side with laser on tripod checking cars entering from south side only. Also watch out at the exit of the Lee Tunnel on the south side. On Grange road white gasto van parked outside Parkgate estate 30MPH limit on cars travelling from Douglas. A trap that is usually only enforced around long weekends or if there is some event on in the city: ie football match etc. is located at the end of the Carrigohane straight where it becomes a 30 mile zone, on the approach to Ballincollig. It's usually a jeep or squad car parked outside the Carrigohane post office. They catch traffic from both directions. By the time you see them and slow down they've already got you with the radar. Its a notorious spot for speeding so when they are there they do it for a few days. Speed trap always on the Cork to KerryPike road. This is approx 3 miles from Cork marked and unmarked cars. The Cork to Blarney road (Mallow road) via the new bypass is always plagued by traps, by bikes and cars. An unmarked purple Mondeo is almost always travelling between Cork and the Blarney turnoff on this road, and this car is usually stationary in the same spot which is on the Killeens on ramp facing North (towards Mallow). Regular trap on Cork to Innishannon road. Approaching downhill section into Innishannon (Cork side) you go into a 40MPH zone half way down the hill. The Gardai are positioned in front of trees on the curve looking up hill. Laser on tripod used. Usually Isuzu Trooper, very hard to spot. On the approach to the halfway roundabout on the main Cork to Bandon road is a regular spot for the Bandon patrol car clocking Bandon bound traffic. Usually parked in one of two gates on left, the road is wide and fast so they can get very busy. Probably the busiest Garda car around cork - west cork - macroom area is a red 98 Opel Vectra 2litre. You can't miss it with the extra aerial, spends a lot of time on the county bounds also. This car is constantly on the road. Isuzu Trooper v6 used by Bandon Gardai also; very fast! Macroom Gardai use an unmarked silver/blue Mondeo positioned at Millstreet cross checking traffic coming from Kerry, just inside 30MPH zone. Angelsea street traffic corps use a navy Vectra on the Cork to Macroom road. Parked at John A. Woods/Garryhesta quarry gate. Macroom traffic is checked from behind! usually there once or twice a week but only after the quarry has closed. On the Cork to Bandon road, just outside Bandon there is a long 30MPH zone as far as the Opel garage and then changes to 40MPH for about half a mile. This stretch of road is regularly patrolled by marked or unmarked cars, also one sargeant on foot is a regular there, especially in the mornings. Never break the limit as the Gardai are here almost all the time day & night. One Bandon Garda has a nasty trick. He has been seen on the county bounds Ballyvourney side, red unmarked Vectra facing against traffic- checking cork bound traffic - parked on left side of road - boot and drivers door open, but this is the nasty bit: he also opens the bonnet and sits on the front panel with his tripod mounted laser in front of him facing up a straight downhill section! he is almost impossible to spot from a distance. The same guy has been seen doing this on at least three occasions.

5 Leaving Millstreet going to Mallow, there is a 30MPH zone almost all the way to Drishane gates. This section of road especially the downhill section just before Drishane gates is a regular spot for the Millstreet or Kanturk Gardai. Usually marked car & radar. As you travel from Mitchelstown to Fermoy there is a speedtrap on the left hand side of the road about 1km before the turn off for Kilworth. The car is pulled in off the road and parked between two mounds of earth. The car is a wine coloured Mondeo that could catch any sppeeding car (even if you are doing 90 mph). Kent railway station Cork City is a hangout for Gatso only every now and again. Also on the road below SilverSprings Hotel there is an unmarked Gatso van often parked on this stretch of road. In Cork with the advent of the Tunnel there is now a brilliant dual-carriageway leading from the Southlink Roundabout to the Tunnel south entrance. Between the Rochestown exits (on and off) and the tunnel the Gardai have very regular spotchecks in both directions (particluarly at weekends, but have even been seen in the evenings). The type used is the Gatso unmarked camera van or laser. The Gatso is used at various point along the route but in particular on the slip road for Blackrock where there is good vision in both directions. The camera units are located at the entrance to the tunnel parked inside the yellow line which is in a 50mph zone. This is a very fast section as downhill into the tunnel and speeds of 70MPH are easily attainable. The Gatso has also been seen on the slip road over the south tunnel enterance which is used only by tunnel maintenance personnel where there is good vision to the end of the 50MPH zone. Currently I would say that this is the most frequented point in Cork City by the traffic corps for speed checks. Be warned! Just outside Mitchelstown on the Mallow road ( about 2-3 miles ) in the dip of a fast hill. They are parked in the gateway to a farm and are hard to spot. Fermoy Gardai in a blue Mondeo. N8: on the right hand side on the way from Fermoy to Dublin after you pass Moore park there was a 99-D Alfa Romeo 156 with a Radar Gun Silver in colour with no marking except for a couple of extra aerials.this car is was on the right hand side opposite Killworth Army Camp in a lay-by between Mitchelstown and Fermoy. N25: A silver Alfa Romeo 156 has been spotted pulling cars on the Cork to Midleton road. Probably same car as above. There is often a jeep parked in by the Commons pub as you come into Cork from the Mallow road you go into a 30MPH zone. West cork: service station at Ballinascarthy (30MPH limit) coming around corner. There is no way of stopping, patrol van parked in station. Roscarbery: halfway between Celtic Ross hotel and the Courthouse bar a patrol van awaits around the corner for speeders in the 30MPH zone. Regular radar speed trap. Vehicle: Cherokee jeep or Ford Mondeo Location: Macroom side of Ballincollig (West side), on ½ mile 30MPH stretch between Ballincollig rugby club and John A. Woods quarry (Classis). Checking traffic in both directions. N20: Traps everywhere between Cork and Blarney; bikes, Vectra v6, Mondeo estate, Primera Laser in Vectra and Mondeo; radar used with Primera and bikes. Sometimes red or white Gatso vans used. Thanks to the local speedster gang. N20: Mallow to Cork. As you come down hill from Rathduff on the Cork side there is white Ford Gatso van during the day, and a wide range of Garda cars use this spot late at night. Vectra 2.5, Trooper v6 both using laser. Primera 1600 using radar. Also Blarney Gardai in 1600 Primera have a nice spot just past station road bridge between Blarney and Waterloo in which the car is backed in to a gateway. Thanks to the local speedster gang. Rochestown road: A trap between Coach Hill and Clarke's Hill on the wide part of the road, and on the green area across from Wainsfort & Delford estates.

6 On Lower Glanmire Road under the steel railway bridge, on the right side of road. Usually in morning catching traffic going East (one way street). Garda with motorbike, hand held radar gun. Sometimes has a buddy doing the paperwork for him. Cork to Mallow road: There's a telephone box situated on this road, next to a house, there's a slip road facing back towards Mallow, here you will find an unmarked Renault Megane 98 D, blue in colour parked up there trapping traffic mainly coming from Mallow; imposible to see, both ways, always there at about 7:30am be careful. New high rise tripod mounted camera in action; it's been placed outside the Lee tunnel on the waste bit of ground only visible from a truck. It's trapping cars to and from the tunnel, also white Seat Toledo is patrolling. N8: Between Cashel and Mitchelstown, on the N8 (main Cork to Dublin Road) if you are travelling South, the Galtee Mountains are to your right. About 1/2 to 1 mile after the Kicornan Lodge Hotel, there is a stretch of road that continues perfectly wide and straight leading to the top of a hill. Forestry stretches down to the road on the right hand side and marked Garda cars are regularly stationed here in wait of the unsuspecting driver. The main Cork to Killarney Road. Lissarda. An unmarked Garda Car, dark blue Ford Mondeo, regularly sits in the forecourt of the Statoil petrol station waiting to trap drivers who move through the 40MPH zone a little too fast. Not as common as it used to be now but still one where drivers get nabbled. Leaving Ballincollig village from Cork City travelling on the main Cork to Killarney road, the fact that this road is a 30MPH zone goes beyond belief and any driver with a bit of sense and not legality is easily trapped especially by marked patrol cars, in particular one Nissan Sunny. N8: between Cork and Dublin. At Watergrasshill. Various unmarked Ford Mondeo. All of course with the customary "D" plate, haunt drivers and will tail you for some distance in particular cases. Leaving Macroom town heading West. Red Ford Mondeo, belonging to Bandon Garda Station patrols the wide section of road just waiting for drivers to naturally speed up and become victims to the plague. Watch out on the South Link road in Cork, running from the Kinsale roundabout towards Douglas. Two bikes; one on the bike with the gun, with the other on foot ready to jump out if you're exceeding the limit. They are located past Vernon Mount just after the bend, & just before the motorway lights begin, very sneaky as you can't see them until they jump out literally into your lane and you have to stand on the brakes to stop. 60MPH zone. Another regular place lately has been on Maryborough Hill coming down into Douglas. This is a small twisty steep hill, but has a natural pace of 50-55MPH, instead of the 30MPH limit. A bike hides behind one of the walls & clocks you up the hill way before you get to him. N20, Cork-Limerick: Location, slip-road on Sunset Ridge by-pass. 2 miles from Blarney. White 97-D Ford Transit Gatso van on the N20 Mallow road near the village of Rathduff just opposite the side of the road where the stag sculpture is. A silver Alfa Romeo 156 and a silver Merc c320 (?) both with D registrations have also been seen on that road after the village of Rathduff patrolling the road. New speed trap in place on the Carrigaline to Cork road just at Bloomfield interchange, it's a 40MPH zone so be careful, you have been warned. The Gardai use a laser gun. Thanks to Seicento driver... About one mile before the Little Island turn off as you come from Carrigtwohill, very often on a Friday night early, very fast Jeep using laser and shows no mercy. On the South link road at the junction of the old entrance to Vernon Mount, Laser, very regular. Watch out in Youghal. The slip road you go on after the small roundabout heading in the Cork direction. Garda with hairdrier. He stands at the end of the slip road as you are heading to Cork from Waterford.

7 As you head from Cork to Bandon, about a half mile past the Maxol filling station. On the left after the second junction the road cuts through the hill, there he is hidden behind gorce bushes with the laser, no chance unless you know this one! Wine Vectra parked at the second junction as above, or on the side of the road facing town catching traffic from both sides, more-so traffic travelling from town towards Ballinhassig/half-way direction! ( caution, night time operation) once again the "Bandon Car" at a gate-way near you! A jeep reguarly "hides" on the ramp leading from Mahon to the Link road, catching traffic from behind using radar. Once a motorist notices the Jeep it's too late. Also, further down that road they park on a bend and use laser on a tripod. THERE ARE RUMOURS OF A MARKED ASCON VAN IN BALLINTEMPLE IN CORK, SET UP WITH RADAR NEAR BALLINTEMPLE, PARKED AT THE ROADSIDE. The reg. of the famous red Vectra from Bandon is 98-D and it hunts as far in as the Bishopstown round-about. The city based red Renault traffic with a 95D Reg. often plies its trade in this vicinity also in an entrance just inside the 40mph sign close to the Upenor factory entrance snaring traffic coming in from Bandon. It is identifiable by a rear left pillar mounted antenna with some electric-intake sockets just below. the orange tinted sky-light is usually slightly open. A white GATSO van can be seen regularly on the widest part of the Rochestown Road. This was downgraded a couple of years ago from 40mph to 30mph but speeds of 50+ on a reasonably straight stretch of road seem quite common. DERRY The Strand road usually has speed traps and the dual carriageway from the end of the Foyle Bridge to Campsie has cameras on tripod even at 7.30am in mornings. The mountain road between Limavady & Coleraine is another favourite for speed traps which can be tripod or handheld. Going into Limavady from Coleraine side is a 30mph zone and radar traps are usually sited at the 2 churches on the right hand side of the road. Laser is commonly used on the Glenshane pass. If driving towards Belfast, you pass the Regan tiles complex before entering a long fast straight. At the Belfast end of the straight, the cops set the tripod in a lane way on the left hand side, which overlooks the main road, nothing visible on main road. There last weekend again. Regular occurance. A29: Towards Moneymore coming from Cookstown, just inside the 30MPH limit, there are speedtraps. Also on the Cookstown-Moneymore dual carriageway (both ways), there is usually a white van on the slip roads, especially when there are repairs on the road. Coming into Derry on the main road from Belfast; as you approach the top of the hill at Altnagelvin the speed limit drops immediately to 30MPH, I know of a couple of people who have been stitched up. DONEGAL In Donegal on the dual carriageway from L'kenny to Derry there is an almost permanent speed trap at the bottom of the hill on the first roundabout. A white mondeo or Cherokee Jeep constantly sits there using laser. Also sometimes on the port road heading out of Letterkenny towards Derry. Towards Buncrana there is a speed trap usually radar in Burnfoot or Fahan village or sitting at Duffys garage in Lisfannon. Donegal Road, Ballybofey outside T.S.A. Garage. 30 mph zone. Elvin's garage on main Ballybofey-Letterkenny Road at Drumkeen. Botton of McRory's Brae, (steep hill on Ballybofey side of Barnsmore Gap, between Ballybofey and Donegal Town. Letterkenny dual-carriageway seems to be a regular spot for the local traffic corps.

8 There is often (at least once/twice a week) a speed trap on the Ballyshannon-Donegal Town road. It is usually a squad car or jeep parked around the Roadstone quarry about 1 km from Ballintra. Occasionally an unmarked car has been seen (unknown make but it is maroon) in the same spot. Be careful, as you come around the bend you're going down the hill, so its easy to pick up speed before you even see the car. Recently the Gardai have been seen out at the straight coming towards Laghey from Ballyshannon on the same road. They park just beside the Esso garage at Laghey. Also, the Donegal Town bypass is open since 26/7/99 and the Gardai have been out almost every day there, parked in a white jeep. On the Ballyshannon-Bundoran road twice recently Gardai have been seen using a radar gun - about 2 miles from Ballyshannon, opposite Finner Army Camp. On the BallyShannon to Bundoran road just coming into Bundoran there is a long straight once you enter the 30MPH limit but before you come to the built up area, so it is very easy to wait before slowing down. Gardai using radar gun wait opposite Kentucky Fried Chicken and then stop you with the 50 pound fine. They are often there (Once a week) and very often can be seen there on a Saturday night ( pm). Speed trap approaching Ballyshannon from Donegal side at democrat office. 30MPH limit. Also travelling from Belleek side heading towards the roundabout at the gates of ESB or on left at buildings before roundabout. 30MPH limit. N56: There is now a regular speedtrap on the N56 Letterkenny to Dunfanaghy road at MOUNTAINTOP LETTERKENNY. The squad car is usually where the crawler lane (going up the hill from Letterkenny general hospital) finishes. There is a lay-by on the right hand side of the road as you go up the hill (sometimes they are on the left hand side of the road parked beside a big yellow house) both locations make them dificult to spot. The danger is that it is a 30MPH zone and tractors are often in the crawler lane, drivers accelerate to pass them and go over 30MPH quite easily, both the vanatage points mentioned have line of site on this stretch where drivers would inadvertantly break the 30MPH limit. Gardai usually sit in the car and use the handheld speedgun. This road is a main artery for commuters who live in the west of the county and who work in Letterkeny or Derry, subsequently the Gardai are stationed there usually at peak times. Approaching Bundoran ( about 1 mile outside it) from the Sligo direction there's often a squad car parked on the hard shoulder on the opposite side of the road. This is a 60MPH zone. DOWN Holywood: beside train station pointing towards Belfast, gets you as you enter the 40MPH zone from the 60 MPH dual carrageway. All around the town of Banbridge on the Dual carriageway, just don't speed as they are everywhere. Upper Newtownards Stormont every Sat/Sun morning without fail limit here is only 30MH, also upper Malone Dublin roundabout- they set up underneath the large roadsign and get cars heading from Malone road towards the roundabout. Fowarded by Zaax. The RUC have got clever in the last week or two and on the bridge that traverses the A1 (at the viaduct just north of Dromore), they have a dark Renault Espace with a camera hanging over the bridge, usually pointing south-bound towards Newry. Also, the RUC in Hillsborough have a new handheld radar camera, which they have been playing with around the village and also on the A1 at Sprucefield. Just before you approach the Shell garage on the northbound lane, there is a 40 MPH limit and they usually hide in front of a parked truck on the hard shoulder. DUBLIN

9 Off the M50, from the Ballymun roundabout going towards Ballymun flats on the left just before the turn off for Santry lane (before the Statoil garage) the 97D green Ford Transit Gatso van sits on the grass verge at least twice a week, midweek. South Quays: I (anonymous contributor) have noticed in recent weeks Gardai with laser traps just inside the gates of Guinness' Brewery on the South Quays coming towards Heuston Station in the evening time after the gates have been closed. They can be hard to spot as the setting sun is often in the eyes of drivers coming up the Quays where the limit is 30mph. M1/N1: Good Friday 21/4/00 at 8:20 am. At the end of the M1 Motorway, the speed limit changes from 70 to 40 mph. There is a set of pedestrian lights just at Whitehall Church (red church), and there were two Gardai there today leaning over something on a Tripod, which was directed at traffic travelling south into the City. Note, it would be very easy for them to swivel it around and catch traffic going North onto the Motorway. Belgard Road: Approaching Tallaght on the Belgard Rd.outside the fire station.i have seen the JEEP on several occassions during the day time. Most recently on Friday May 25th Be careful because the road sweeps left handed as you drive from Newlands X and you wont see them until its too late. Remember its a 40Mph on the Belgard Rd. Ballymun Road: Surprised to find 30 MPH section now stretches from the roundabout at Ballymun shopping centre down past St.Michaels House. Drivers are given notice at the top of the road that the speed limit is 30mph but there are no more signs, I (anonymous contributor) presumed it progressed to a 40mph zone after DCU, it now appears I was wrong. Was fined 100 in the space of 1 hour (between 9 am and 10 am ) doing 41 and 45mph so beware! It seems the Gardai are lurking at the narrow road facing the Esso Station, just parallel to Albert College Park, the park trees and shrubbery give them cover. Tallaght: Speed trap at Glenview/Bolbrook pedestrian lights on Tallaght bye pass city bound. Speed limit 40 mph commencing from Old Bawn junction of Bye pass. Trap parked in hard shoulder with laser on tripod. Sight limited prior to trap due to bend in road. Chapelizod: I've (anonymous contributor) just been caught speeding on the Chapelizod Road heading from town towards Chapelizod village. This is not to be confused with the trap already mentioned on the site on the chapelizod bypass on the N4. This stretch of road runs parallel to that between the river and the side of the Phoenix park. It's not what I would consider an accident blackspot as the road is wide and clear visibility - its all too easy to go over the limit there. It's a 40 mph zone and then changes to 30mph just as you near Chapelizod village itself. I got an on the spot fine of 50. I could understand them catching people going through the village because speeding through small villages is a bit reckless, but I considered it a bit sneaky for them to catch people further back on the wider safer section. I have seen them catching people here before but always going towards town rather than away from town. M50: about 150m or so from the Gatso on the northbound section of the M50 at the airport end, there is a Marked Garda car(mondeo Estate) sitting in a section of the median that is surfaced, they have range up to the Ballymun Flyover bridge. They are out at least 1 or 2 nights during the week. They are probably looking for the 90mph+ guys as I (anonymous contributor) was doing 85 before I spotted them. N3: On the Navan Road between the Blanchardstown and Clonee exits on the dual carriageway, citybound. Cherokee jeep with laser. The Gardai have been out between 8 and 10pm. Howth road north of Clontarf. Gardai have a double check set up on this road. First car is parked just off the side of the road (96 D Ford Scorpio), with 2 Gardai and a hand held radar. 2nd car picks up people who flash oncoming motorists for warning others about the speed trap. Fines in excess of $500 are not uncommon for this. There are 2 locations: Just past the turn off to Clontarf Castle and about a mile before Sutton Cross. At least twice a week half way between Raheny village and The Old Shieling Hotel there is a trap (laser on a tripod) out of the back of a Isuzu Trooper or a Mondeo estate, the trap can be pointing in either direction (town or Howth), as you come up from Howth the 40mph zone ends just before the lights after the Shieling.

10 Raheny Village: Howth ROAD AND ENTRANCE INTO MAYWOOD. A LASER DEVICE USED BY THE Gardai, PEOPLE COMING FROM THE BLACK BANKS DIRECTION TOWARDS THE VILLAGE WATCH OUT! GOES FROM A 40MPH TO A 30 MPH AND A GOOD ROAD SO SLOW DOWN FOLKS OR ELSE. Raheny Rager here :-} Travelling north-bound on the M50,just before you reach the speed camera at the airport sliplane: An unmarked escort on the grass-verge which separates north and south bound traffic. This car has been seen on several occassions. Note: We think that this car is doing checks on trucks etc. rather than speeding. On the road linking the M50 to the Malahide Road on both sides regularly motorcycle Gardai with what looks like laser are spotted. M50 Northern Parkway: just before you get to the airport exit north-bound are some big signs stating that the limit is now 50MPH, watch out on the left hand side as you approach these signs for a fixed installation Gatso unit; (near cart city). M50 Northern Parkway: south-bound near above, just after the first slip road/fly-over (for Santry/Ballymun?) is another fixed installation Gatso. Chapelizod by-pass: on the N4 heading into Dublin city as you sweep around those high speed bends (usually under the pedestrian bridge before the traffic lights at Con Colbert road), 50 MPH limit. Operated by: Dublin traffic corps. Type: laser. Lucan by-pass: on the N4 main Dublin to Galway road, anywhere from the M50 roundabout to the Newcastle road intersection, 40 MPH limit. Operated by: Dublin traffic corps. Type: Laser or Gatso. St. Johns road: on the N4 approaching Heuston train station, they sometimes have an unmarked car there between the taxis with a Laser Gun as your heading into town from the west. 30 MPH limit. Operated by: Dublin Traffic Corps. Type: Laser or Gatso van. St. Johns road: on the N4 heading west, in the lay-by 200 metres after the left turn onto Military road. 30 MPH limit. Operated by: Dublin Traffic Corps. Type: Gatso van. Ballymun road: 30 MPH section of dual carriageway. Operated by: Santry Garda (?). Type: Radar. Balbriggan to Swords dual-carriageway: There is a fixed position Gatso speed camera in the following location; when travelling towards Swords from Balbbriggan the road becomes single lane for a few miles after the new bypass, just as it then becomes dual-carriageway you will see a Staoil station on the left; approx. 200 metres past the Staoil is the Gatso unit. See main page and Gatso page for photos. UCD bridge on the Stillorgan dual carriageway. This turns into a 40 mph zone very quickly and most people ignore it anyway. There are sometimes Garda cars near UCD or on the bridge with scanners catching speeders on their way into the city. I (anonymous contributor) travel on the M50 at least once a day, and 1 in 5 times there is a Garda van parked with a laser gun. The location is not on the M50, but on the slip road on the north side that leads to the Malahide road. There are 2 locations used: 1. Halfway along this road on the City side there is a slip road off; there is usually a Garda van parked here. 2. At the traffic lights at the Malahide road junction end of this road there is usually a Garda van with a laser gun. These traps are ALWAYS there on wet/low visibility evenings. The speed limit is 40mph, and it is a road that they frequent because people still think that they are on the M50. N1: just north of Dublin airport is a small roundabout at "TheCoachmans Inn" it is a favourite hiding spot for motorcycle cops with radar, its a 50MPH zone but the road is fast & sweeping so watch out. Belgard road: one of the Gatso vans (the green 97D Transit) has been spotted by number of people in one of the lay-bys here recently.

11 M50: watch out on Sunday afternoons for some members of the Dublin traffic corps, between the Castleknock turn off and Malahide road roundabout with a laser gun. N4 Lucan by-pass: There is now a fixed GATSO installed on the Dublin bound carriageway of the N4 just after the Lucan exit (just after the Leixlip/Celbridge road junction, opposite the Spa Hotel). Recently the Gardai have been catching people in Kilternan. Opposite Ambrose Glass motors. They sit in the turn from Johnny Foxes and catch cars both ways. This is a stretch of road that goes from 60 to 30 in bothways. The road goes from Enniskerry to Stepaside. Steep Downhill Stretch on Newtown Park Avenue goes from 40MPH to 30MPH and a Garda Stands on the inside of his 4 x 4 with a laser gun on a Tripod. The 4 X 4 is parked on the Path of a Blind Left Handed Turn. Newtown park avenue is the road on the opposite side of the N11 to Leopardstown Race Course. M1 Balbriggan by-pass: two Gatso fixed installations, one at either end; as you are leaving the motorway and joining up with the old N1there is a stretch of "single carriage motorway" this is where the Gatso's are located. Motorbike Garda operating on Brighton Road and Torquay Road with a radar gun, usually during the day. He hides in a gate opposite Kerrymount Avenue on Brighton Road and operates on the last long straight on Torquay road at the Leopardstown Road end of the road. Has been seen a few times over the past few weeks. Anyone using this route to get to Sandyford Ind. Est. beware. N81: Garda speed trap on the Tallaght by-pass heading towards Templeogue on Sunday's located after the Tallaght Village junction just around the corner before the next roundabout (for Balrothery). The speed limit here is 40MPH but most people usually do between 50-70MPH as it is a dual-carriageway. NOTE: this location is now not just for quiet Sunday afternoons, becoming very regular. N11: There have been 4 or 5 speed traps in the past few weeks located on the Stillorgan dualcarriageway at the traffic lights by the Montrose slip-road (by Fosterbrook and before the Fosters avenue junction). They are catching people coming out of town under UCD bridge and picking them up at the lights. Churchtown: On a few occasions lately there has been a Garda speed check just past the Glenside pub so be careful as you go towards lower Churchtown road. N1: on the old single carriage road between the Swords Dual-carriageway and the Balbriggan bypass is south facing fixed installation Gatso, just past the fruit farm on the right. Stillorgan dual-carraigeway: south-bound, just past the Montrose hotel, 1st bus shelter on right hand side, Garda on bike hides behind the bus shelter, very hard to spot in time. N7: On the Naas road coming from Dublin, about 3 miles before Kill after a petrol station, Garda are twice/three times weekly sitting in a gateway with radar/laser guns between 9-12 pm. While driving through Finglas on 02/08/99 one of our contributors spotted a Garda on a motorbike with a small laser speed gun (the new LTI UltraLyte) scanning cars approaching Dublin from the main Derry/Dublin road (N2). Beware they could be around again. Note: this is now a regular. Usually a white Mondeo with two Gardai and a Laser gun between around 7pm & midnight maybe later on the Dublin Road travelling towards Howth, the car is usually situated on the left hand side of the road, a few metres after Wongs Resturant and before the entrance to St. Annes Park. It is classed as a residential area but a number of people approach it at speed and get done there which then involves a chase usually. BEWARE! Please note that the 50MPH limit only exists after St. Annes Park. N7 Naas road: On the new 3 lane section which are set at a ridiculously low limit watch out for a Gatso van, usually the green Transit but sometimes a red Renault Traffic. Foxrock: Westminster road travelling towards the dual-carriageway half-way up the road from either side at the crest of a hill. Motorcycle Garda with radar.

12 Over the last few weeks there has been a new checkpoint on a fairly regular basis on the Long Mile road, when coming from the Naas road going towards Drimnagh. It's always located outside Drimnagh Castle (at the main gates of the school) and is a 30MPH zone even though it's a dualcarriageway. Most people are probably doing around 60mph at this point though. Loads of people get caught on this one. Gardai use hand held radar. Very common on Sunday mornings. When coming from Blanchardstown (heading to Dunshaughlin) the second last bridge is a great hide out for the Gardai, they can hide out behind the bridge so you won't see them until it's too late. Radar used. N7: at least three times a week, mostly at the roadstone exit on the Naas road the green Gatso van is there; also after the new bridge at Rathcoole their is a weighbrige where a Garda on a bike hides most days. N2: Outside the Old Finglas Road entrance to Glasnevin Cemetary. Motorbike Garda. Hidden by a long bend. Just after the area goes from 40-30mph he's sitting waiting for you. There is a mobile unit that position's itself on the Church road at the top of Ballybrack. If you are coming from Killiney shopping centre travelling down the New Church road, the road changes from two lanes into one. At the bottom of the road their is a ghost island and the Gardai position themselves there. The radar is pointed towards the Killiney end, rarely is it pointed the other way. Normally there is one Garda Jeep and a motorbike unit. They normally check the tax on the cars coming from the Ballybrack side as you are travelling towards Killiney. Dart bridge on Lower Albert Road in Glenageary. 1 to 2 motorcycle cops have been spotted 4 or 5 times in the past 3 months usually between 10:00am and 11:00am. They have been seen hiding behind the wall at the bridge with radar, catching cars coming down Albert road towards the coast. N81: Tallaght by-pass on the way into the City Centre. Just after Tallaght village as the by-pass sweeps left about 50 yards after that turn is a regular spot for the traps. They try to catch you as you come around the sweeping bend so be careful. NOTE: the green Gatso van has been spotted in this location recently. Cornelscourt hill, between the old Stillorgan road and Carrickmines road, steep descent, 30MPH limit. From an anonymous contributor: RATHCOOLE NEAR POITIN STILL 8:10 AM WEEKDAY MORNING. 50 POUND SPEEDING FINE SENTAUTOMATICALLY. I WAS DRIVING IN A LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC, ALL OF WHOM WERE DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED. SO, DO NOT THINK, AS I DID, THAT YOU ARE IMMUNE IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC. BEING QUITE OBSERVANT IN GENERAL I WAS AMAZED TO BE FINED. ITS A 40MPH ZONE, I WAS RECORDED AT 60 MPH. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SPEEDING FINES IN GENERAL WHERE WARRANTED, BUT USING THE ALREADY OVERTAXED DRIVER AS AN EXTRA SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE GARDA IS TOTALLY UNJUST AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO HINDER THIS UNJUST FORM OF FINES IS OK BY ME. Griffith Avenue Dublin 9 has recently become a 30MPH zone, so the Whitehall Gardai are out in force, they pick random points on the avenue. Naas Road Speed Traps: On numerous occasions a motorcycle Garda has been spotted hiding behind the low concrete wall on the left about half a mile after the Citywest slip road heading into Dublin. He's hard to see but if you look carefully when you come past Citywest (just as the road becomes 3 lanes) you can see his helmet (various times). Also the green Gatso van is often parked on the left (with the zig/zags strip on the back) just before 'The Poitin Still', just inside the large 30MPH signs. It's hard to spot and too late as you are just coming around a fast left bend. (Normally early mornings - rush hour traffic). Thanks to S.Gonzales. Dundrum: on the road that links Milltown with Windyarbour. Located right at the top of the hill with laser gun. N4, Lucan by-pass: a spot where you are highly likely to see a trap is under the flyover just before Woodies on the Eastbound side of the carriageway (towards Dublin city). If you see the Gardai up ahead, you can always use the slip road for Lucan village as an escape if neccesary. Type: laser.

13 Lately the green 97D Ford hi-back Transit has been parked on the Ballycullen Road in Firhouse. Its a long straight road down, apart from a slight left turn, the van is usually parked up on the grass. The reflective zig zag is a bit of a giveaway. 30MPH zone very easy to go faster. You should wave as you go by! In the past few weeks there has been speed traps most days on lower Strand road, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. Between the stables and the village. Travelling out of Dublin on the Enniskerry road past Whites cross coming into Stepaside village, the speed limit drops to 30MPH. I (anonymous contributor) have seen a Garda standing just inside the entrance to the Garda station checking for speeders. He is well hidden so beware! South East County Dublin area. Soon after you get on the M11 heading southbound, the first exit for Bray appears. It is at this point where cars start leaving the motorway, that there is a small clearway hidden from motorists by some bushes where the speedtrap has operated. The marked car is unseen because of the bushes, but one officer usually stands out using radar. There is no chance of seeing it in time as the car is totally hidden, but it could be worse, at least they're not using laser. Castleknock: There are regular speed checks on Auburn Avenue linking the Castleknock Rd with the Navan Road. It's a 30mph zone but the smooth surface can fool you. Watch out for a Jeep parked on the green behind a wall so it's too late when you see it. They also park in a lay-by type estate on the oposite side of the road. They have been seen using laser. Thanks to HT. On the Howth Road in Killester there is frequently a speed trap at the Killester Shopping Centre which normally operates in the evenings. This trap also catches motorists who make an illegal left-hand turn from the Howth Rd (heading from town) onto the Demense at the traffic lights. Slow down! In the late afternoon and early evening there is often a speed check on the road just in front of Killester Dart station. This two person team enforces no-parking on the double yellow lines outside the station and the speed of passing vehicles. Regular activity on Avondale Road, for traffic travelling towards Dun Laoghaire direction, usually on the left hand side. Cornelscourt Hill, Cabinteely: Fixed laser on the descent, you need to keep the brakes on all the way down the hill. Mobile laser/radar on the way up also - don't be tempted to try to speed up going up the hill! Avoca Avenue, Blackrock: Long straight 30MPH zone - Garda motorcyclist hides in a gateway on the left going from Carysfort Avenue toward Mount Merrion Avenue. N4/Con Colbert road onto Sarsfield road Ballyfermot (The Ranch): As you turn off the N4 at the slip road for Ballyfermot (Sarsfield road), watch for a Gatso van near where the Donkeys live, or (more often) some bikers with UltraLyte laser or Cleartone Speedlaser at the old back gate into the Inchicore CIE depot or a bit further up across from "The Ranch" shops. 30MPH limit. Every Tuesday and Thursday between 7.30 and 8.45AM there is a speed trap on the Sybil Hill Road in Raheny located at the entrance to the car park to St. Annes Park. Castleknock: There are regular speed checks on Auburn Avenue linking the Castleknock Rd with the Navan Road. It's a 30mph zone but the smooth surface can fool you. Watch out for a Jeep parked on the green behind a wall so it's too late when you see it. They also park in a lay-by type estate on the oposite side of the road. They have been seen using laser. Thanks to HT. FERMANAGH There are usually speedtraps on the Cornagrade Road in Enniskillen beside the Renault garage and Costcutters store. This is a 30MPH speed limit and is in place due to residents complaining about the noise from traffic!

14 GALWAY N6 Ballinasloe: Watch out for a grey Camry parked and doing checkpoints in Ballinasloe. They follow you and catch you speeding from behind, using VASCAR. N6: There's another regular speed trap when you are heading into Galway city on the main dual carriageway. Once you pass the roundabout with the new "Quality" hotel there's quite often a speed trap two-thirds up the raise straight after the bridge. The Gardai normally "hide" near the sign beside a fence. If you look well you can spot them already just as you come off the roundabout. N6 dual carriageway heading out of Galway city: on the last part of the road (not the ring road) expect a trap, particularly at week-ends, usually on Dublin bound side, but not always. Type: Laser. There's a trap just as you drive out of Galway from the Headford road roundabout. The Gardai are always situated on the way out of town, just after you come around the (sweeping) bend into the straight uphill section. Thanks to Mayhem. N6: about two miles on the Dublin side of Ballinasloe, just as you get to the first straight stretch of road there is a staggered crossroads. Here you will find a wine Mondeo pulled in at a house on your left (heading for Dublin) with a radar sticking from its window, he also pulls in across the road at the junction to catch traffic going into Ballinasloe. Be careful as he floats between Ballinasloe and Ballydangan depending on where he catches his victims. I've (anonymous contributor) seen him in action and he generally only pulls cars if they are really hammering, driving dangerously. He also has a habit of chasing flash cars (mercs, jags, bmw's etc). NOTE: the wine Mondeo has now been replaced with a 99 Toyota Camry dark grey in colour, very quick. Between Loughrea and Craughwell. Firstly, at the turn -in for the Bermingham & Doyle OPEL garage and secondly, there is a long straight stretch of road after the Meadowcourt Hotel, at the end of the stretch, as the road bends to the right, on the left hand side, you may find a Garda unit parked in the driveway, checking Galway bound traffic. PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY. In Galway city, I (anonymous contributor) twice saw a trap (Garda on bike) at the Headford roundabout as you approach it from the Quincentennial bridge. These 2-lane roads are 30MPH zones around most of Galway city. I'm not sure if its a regular trap, but it's fairly easy spot him anyway as he "hides" behind a sign. N18 Galway - Ennis Northbound at Barefield : Night time (2300) trap located at northern exit of village which is designed to trap cars coming from Ennis direction and doing more than 40 limit. If you are exceeding 40 over the brow of the hill you are caught. I suspect the main motive is to catch night time drinkers returning from Ennis, but if you are returning from a late Shannon flight on an empty road, 55 mph seems not immoderate for the road conditions. Beware the Galway ring road from the Ballybrit - Headford Road - Dunns Stores roundabouts. This is all a 30 mph zone. White unmarked car before Ibis Hotel roundabout to trap cars going west towards new Corrib bridge. Also east going just before Headford road roundabout, traps located in tall hedging on left side of road. Probably LTI 20/20. The presence of Garda patrols in these locations underlines the dangers of speeding - this information is provided as a contribution to traffic safety and awareness of road conditions. (By Mr. Toad). N17 Tuam to Galway road: watch out for a red Honda Civic coupe, reg 95 G, it's the Corofin Sgt's private car at the Corofin crossroads junction, about 5 miles outside Tuam. Also a 98 D reg. brown Toyota Camry (Roscommon traffic corps) with laser and camera facilities at Rusheens/Corrundulla 3 to 8 miles from Tuam. Tuam Gardai operate a green Seat Cordoba 98 D reg. up to 6/7 miles outside Tuam, as well as a white avensis squad car. At Loughgeorge/Claregalway look out for a Renaut Megane with laser as well as a Jeep Cherokee 98 D reg. (Galway traffic corps). N6: as you're coming into Craughwell from Galway heading towards Dublin there is often, especially at weekends, a speed trap as you enter the village in the school car park on the right hand side (sometimes the opposite side of the road).

15 (i)tuam, on the N17 route between the Garda station and the Town and Country Garage; 30,40MPH zones. (ii) On N17 between Tuam & Galway on the Galway side of Al Hayes Garage approx 500 yds. from the garage. There is frequently a speed trap operating at the main approach road to Ahascragh. It is usually situated next next to the 'Slan Abhaile' sign and is a blue unmarked Ford Mondeo car easily identified by its two aeriels. Thanks to Monica Looly. N18 in Gort. Travelling toward Galway from Ennis on your way out of Gort after a sharp right hand turn, a dark blue Renault Megane is sometimes parked on the left hand side of the road in the 30MPH zone with a radar unit. The most common speed trap in Galway city is near the bottom of Threadneedle road, Salthill just at the bottom of the hill. People have been convicted for doing speeds as little as 34MPH here! Regularly, there is a Garda jeep parked at the truck weight-in between the roundabout at the 'Quality Hotel' in Oranmore and Carnmore Cross. Also, on the way out of Galway in the Monivea direction there are regular traps just before the airport. Just after Briar Hill national school (30MPH), there is a small boreen on the left (before you go on the wide road) where a marked garda car has been regularly spotted. Travelling into Galway from the IDA estate in Dangan, just past Corrib Village, there is a smalll estate off the road on the left. I've seen traps there a few times but not recently so it may be abandoned. This is a 30MPH zone so they caught a good few people. Thanks to Hedge Clipper. I (anonymous contributor) was on my way to Galway on Saturday and a uniformed Garda stopped someone in Loughrea in a 99 D Toyota Camry 2.2 litre gunmetal grey. KERRY Ardfelt: Just outside the town heading towards Banna Beach, there is a half mile very straight stretch with no buildings at all, 30 MPH limit. Type: Laser. Abbeyfeale to Castleisland: As you approach Castleisland - coming down a very fast hill - the speed limit changes to 30 MPH without notice and there will be a Jeep with Radar on the left. Really unfair trap as the town is at least another mile away. Leaving Killarney for Cork. As you come off the roundabout at Ryan's Hotel / Killarney Heights Hotel - there is a downward hill and there is usually a squad car tucked in on the left catching people in a 30 MPH zone. Bit dodgy as one can't help reaching above 30MPH going downhill. Start of new motorway so watch your speed until well out of town. Cork to Killarney road, all along the new stretch from county bounds to Glenflesk, traps take on many forms from a Landcruiser to a Garda sitting in the ditch. Laser used. After Glenflesk (towards Killarney) as soon as you can see the railway crossing (3 miles from Killarney) keep it at 60MPH, on occasion you should be able to see a jeep on your right up one of the laneways into a field. Tralee to Castlegregory road, 10 miles out at Auchashla, 30 mile an hour sign at school, radar used. As a local in the Killarney - Farranfore area I thought you may like to know: On the Killarney to Tralee road there is a village called Farranfore, here is the main turn off for Limerick. 1. As you enter the village from the Killarney side, after the 30MPH zone starts, the road veers to the right, and a Garda is often seen standing behind the wall of the Garda station (after the first crossroads) pulling in both directions. (Gardai: local sergeant) 2. Exiting Farranfore (towards Tralee) will lead you on to a 2 mile stretch where the Gardai are occasionally hidden from view by a raised ditch on the left, pulling in both directions. (Gardai: Tralee) 3. Taking the turn of for Limerick, you move into a long and straight 40MPH zone as you head toward the airport, after the airport it moves into a 60MPH zone. So they take up position at the airport entrance catching you

16 unable to stay at an unbearable 40MPH up the straight, or entering the 40MPH zone from the other direction. (Gardai: Tralee) Complements from a member of the Kerry TWINCAM Gang. Castleisland area: 1) main Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road where the big wide road narrows near Headleys bridge, a Garda is lying in wait, parking up a boreen and by the time you get to him he has driven down to meet you with your ticket. 2) again on the Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road at the Captains table restaurant, Garda car parked in off the road. 3) going towards Castleisland town as you hit the last big straight look as far down as possible there is a garage on the right hand site and either a car facing you or a lone Garda with tripod and laser. KILDARE M4 Kilcock: Just afterthe first sweeping bend to the left on the Kilcock bypass, about 1 mile onto the motorway, marked car using laser. Old N4 as you approach Leixlip from Maynooth (near Intel). Type: Radar. UPDATE: no trap there for at least a year now. Maynooth cops haven't got the equipment and Kilcock cops don't bother - richer pickings on the bypass. Approaching Kilcock village as you leave the N4 (near end of M4) look out for a trap, they hide behind the trees with a car parked close for pursuit. Type: Radar. Naas: as you approach from Dublin road just after the racecourse, 40 MPH limit. Type: Radar. Kildare town: early morning traps are quite frequent near the Statoil station. Type: Radar. Enfield village: up with the larks between 3am and 6am, they probably have no other means to amuse themselves. Type: Radar or VASCAR. The end of the M4 (?), Maynooth/Leixlip/Kilcock bypass coming from Dublin goes from 70 down to 60 after a particularly fast stretch. There are often unmarked Garda cars in the traffic waiting for someone to go into the 60 mph zone at 80 mph. In Enfield there is sometimes a Garda car parked in the traffic island in the middle of the town, usually at night when the temptation is to speed through this 30mph zone. Radar speed trap operating from a jeep just beside the Winchmore nursing home on the Nass Newbridge Dual carriage way, 60MPH Zone, The jeep is difficult to spot as it parks in a gateway to a field just after the apex of the Curve. It has been located there a number of times since November late in the evening around 9.00 pm. M7: just past Newbridge, the motorway comes to an end; you then have a couple of miles of straight two-lane dual carriageway, with no turn-offs, leading to Kildare town. Although it looks like it, this stretch is NOT motorway, and the speed limit is 60mph. It has become a favourite spot for speed-traps: the car is often under, or just beyond, the overpass footbridge at the Kildare end, where it catches lots of people who haven't slowed to 60. N9: Castledermot (7 miles out side Carlow) on the Carlow to Dublin road. This is manned by a Garda with a speed gun. He is always between the main street of the village and the stretch of houses to the north of the village. M9: on the Naas by-pass there is always a Garda with the speed gun just before the tunnel coming from Carlow to join the Cork - Dublin road (M7). N7: On the Naas road coming from Dublin, about 3 miles before Kill after a petrol station, Garda are twice/three times weekly sitting in a gateway with radar/laser guns between 9-12 pm. N4: Between Kilcock and Enfield (mostly in Kildare). Unmarked black Mondeo V6 & unmarked maroon Scorpio checking for speeding and overtaking on 50 MPH double white lined section.

17 Same road that people were convicted 28 July 1999 (Judge Brophy, Kilcock) for warning other drivers (flasing headlights). I (anonymous contributor) drive twice a day between Dublin & Newbridge. Each day I see people getting pulled by a Red Opel Vectra (Unmarked) Garda flashing light in rear Window. This Car patrols between Newbridge/Mondello turn off & the Ambassador Hotel where it turns to cover both sides of the Carriageway. Watch out for the high Aerial at the rear. N7: coming into Monasterevin from the Portlaoise side the Gardai are regularly parked in a lane opposite the Hazel hotel, its a 30MPH zone but easy to over do it coming down the hill. Clane village on the approach road from Prosperous there is a long 30MPH zone, they sit very close to estate entrance and are very difficult to spot until you are there. They drive a dark red Primera. The same car can be sitting on the Celbridge road at the hardware shop and can catch you from a long way out. Johnstownbribge at Enfield side of village the jeep can be there from time to time. Be careful here because you can not spot them coming from the other direction heading for Enfield. Prosperous village: red Primera can be seen reversed into credit union gateway in centre of village spotting both directions. M4: lately their has been motorcycle Gardai checking speeds from the Maynooth flyover. The Monread road in Naas has often speed traps near the Sallins road end. Unfortunately there was a serious accident there last year and the Gardai are often around in their red Vectra (parked on the right). Beware. Thanks to S. Gonzales. Prosperous/Clane area: In this area watch out for a red Vectra, lately there is a dark green Mondeo also. They sit near the new Texaco garage on the road into Clane. At the end of the M4 going from Dublin towards Enfield, there has been a Garda Ford Mondeo estate car pulled in to the side of the road with the hatch back up and the rear left hand door (looking at the car from behind as you approach) open. From a distance this looks like someone is just taking a break/changing a tyre, but as you get closer - when it's too late - you see a Garda with a 'hairdryer' type speed detector sitting in the back with it facing out the rear of the open hatchback facing any traffic approaching from Dublin. Outside Maynooth College on the road from Kilcock, 30MPH zone, unmarked wine Mondeo. Incidentally the road here is wide enough to land a jumbo on... it's obviously only a revenue exercise not a safety one. On the Naas to Newbridge Dual carriage-way. Travelling towards Newbridge there is a bend in the road about 150 metres past the Red House Hotel. On this site there is a nursing home and the Gardai like to sit in the driveway here as it is almost impossible to see them until you are about 50 metres away. Likewise on the other side of the road about 200 metres past the golf course there is an isolated bungalow, and they like to sit in these peoples front driveway as well. On a regular basis a marked Garda car is parked outside the Hitchin Post Pub catching cars coming from Maynooth / Intel factory on the old Galway main road between Maynooth and Leixlip. Kilmead: New 40 mph stretch for about 150 yards, 2 miles outside Athy heading for Dublin near the 'village' (one post office and a pub) of Kilmead. Up until 3 weeks ago this was a 60MPH zone. Unmarked wine Vectra speedtrap innoculously parked on gravel outside someones house. Watch out around the traffic lights on the Dublin side of Johnstown near the Garden center its a 50MPH zone, unmarked car. WATCH FOR A BROWN/CREAM COLOURED TOYOTA CAMRY 2.2 SALOON DOING CHECKS AT THE STATOiL GARAGE AT KILL. IT PARKS IN ON THE WEIGHBRIDGE ON THE LEFT, JUST AFTER THE GARAGE. CARS OFTEN STOP HERE FOR A REST, SO IT DOeS NoT LOOK OUT OF PLACE. IT USES RADAR AND PURSUES OFFENDERS.

18 THE SAME CAR ALSO SITS IN A PRIVATE ENTRANCE TO A FARMHOUSE AT A BUNGALOW, ON THE LEFT JUST BEFORE KILL ON THE N7 COMING FROM DUBLIN. AS YOU ROUND THE BEND AT THE GARAGE, YOU PICK UP SPEED DOWN AN INCLINE. AS THIS IS A NOTORIOUS SPOT FOR REAR END COLLISIONS, EITHER THE CAMRY OR A MARKED JEEP POSITION HERE OFTEN ESPECIALLY OFF PEAK AND EARLY MORNINGS, AS YOU WON'T GET THE SPEED IN THE EVENINGS. As you approach Kilcock from the Enfield side they have moved the 30 MPH zone out the road a good bit so they now hide in a gateway on the railwaybridge just past the graveyard. The Gardai have been seen there up to 9 or 10pm. N8: Heading into Castledermot from Carlow there is a long 40mph zone (protracted and unnecessary). Just before it goes down to 30MPH there is an open gateway on the left hand side in which there is sometimes an unmarked wine Toyota Avensis. M8: Coming from Dublin on the motorway for the South; past Naas. The motorway has a filter left for Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, take it. At the end of this stretch of motorway that prolific wine Vectra is OFTEN there with a laser gun catching people coming off the 70mph motorway into 60mph national route, (he's just pulled onto hard shoulder). KILKENNY Carlow road at Paulstown. Type: Radar. On the Kilkenny side of Castlecomer, just as you approach the bridge coming down the hill; squad car on right down small incline. The Waterford to Newross road: About 6 miles out, Newross bound, there is a long straight stretch which goes gradually downhill. This area is called Glenmore. At the end of ths straight is a turn to your left down into Glenmore, this is where the Gardai park. Type: Laser. N9: in the village of Ballyhale a Garda stands hidden or sits in private car with a radar gun. He particularly watches for speeding from the Kilkenny approach on route to Waterford. He is there most days. N25: on the road from Waterford to New Ross, about a half mile past the Rue Glenn roadhouse on the left hand side, on the brow of a hill, adjacent to a picnic area, a Garda reverses in a farmers lane facing in the same direction as the traffic flow, but because he is hidden from view, he is only spotted in your rear view mirror, as he waves you down. N76: Callan bypass, one of the 88D Renault Traffic Gatso vans frequents this area, it has been spotted in the lay-by just after the end of the Callan bypass Kilkenny bound. N10: Speed trap on the main Kilkenny - Waterford road ( 60MPH ) at Kilkenny Rugby Club about 1/2 mile from Kilkenny. Type : Radar/Laser. As you leave Kilkenny on the Castlecomer road; in the 30MPH zone, especially late at night. N76: Kilkenny traffic corps, outside Callan on the Clonmel side of Killeamery, make their monthly qoutas here. Day or night it's well dodgy and it's a good fast stretch of road. Approaching Ballyraggett from Kilkenny City, 30MPH speed signs are located at the end of a straight & wide stretch of road. Radar trap on left in a gateway about 75 yards after signs. ON THE KILKENNY ROAD LEAVING BALLYRAGGETT IN A PRIVATE GATEWAY ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. A DUTIFUL MEMBER OF THE GARDAI WILL TAKE YOUR DETAILS. The main Paulstown to Gowran road: Gardai parked in gateways of peoples houses and also on the slip road; Type: Laser, Radar, Gatso. Paulstown to Gowran. There is always a speed trap on this section of road. It is just where the N10 and N9 split at Paulstown, heading for Waterford. There is a very wide and long straight stretch of road, and as

19 all the roads in Kilkenny are twisty and windy, people tend to put the boot down as this is one of the very few straight roads in the entire county. They usually sit on a side road behind a number of small cottages with a hand held radar, sometimes they change and will actually stand in full view, but with the speed people do on this road, it's too late. As you are leaving the village of Mullinavat going in the direction of Waterford, there is a Garda with a radar gun standing behind a wall just after the humpback bridge, or outside the Garda barracks hiding behind a bush. He is well hidden and by the time you see him it's too late. LAOIS Durrow, Laois,a small fiesta van parked behing the walls of the bridge in Durrow the opposite side of the fire station wielding a speed gun. Hard to see him! Checking traffic heading in the Cork direction through Durrow village. Portlaoise by-pass: watch out on and under any overpass, a new trick is for one Garda to check your speed from the bridge and radio a chase vehicle up the road, 70 MPH limit. Also there is an unmarked navy mondeo with a camera onboard floating around the Portlaoise bypass and down around the Montague hotel waiting for you to overtake him, when you are driving up behind him look out for three ariels on his car (and the funny lump beside his rear view mirror). I've (anonymous contributor) also seen them drop off a Garda with a camera and leave him standing between the poles on the emergency reservation in the centre of the road, very hard to see him behind the luminous red poles even though he is wearing his yellow jacket. Ballybrittas: on the main Dublin to Cork/Limerick road, 40 MPH limit. Operated by: local cop based in Portarlington. Type: Radar. Portlaoise. The Garda hides on the road entering the town from Mountmellick. He hides in a private housing estate on the left hand side of the road and is about twenty feet off the road. It is impossible to spot him until you are level with him and then it is too late. DURROW: AS YOU ENTER DURROW DROM THE CORK DIRECTION YOU FIRST PASS A 40MPH SIGN, THEN A 30MPH SIGN. ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AT THE END OF A TERRACE OF HOUSES THERE IS A RECESSED GATEWAY. A GARDA WILL BE HERE WITH A RADAR GUN ON A REGULAR BASIS. CULLOHILL:TRAVELLING FROM CORK TO DUBLIN THERE IS A HILL DOWN INTO THE VILLAGE SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO drop SPEED. ON THE HILL UP OUT OF THE VILLAGE IN A PRIVATE GATEWAY ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE A GARDA CAR PARKS REGULARLY. VERY DIFFICULT TO SPOT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, TOO LATE. N7: On the N7 entering Portlaoise opposite the Killeshin Hotel, near the start of the 30MPH zone, there is frequently a Garda using a radar device. The location is pretty sly as the unmarked car appears as if it is just another car waiting to exit the estate, until it is too late, by which you will be able to see the drivers window down with the" hairdryer" sticking out. N8: In Abbeyleix at the 30MPH zone on the Cork to Dublin road. A red Ford Mondeo unmarked patrol car with Gardai using laser or radar guns. Leaving Portarlington on the Gracefield Rd. on the left hand side at the last row of two story houses, you'll think its a parked car outside the houses, usually in marked car but hidden between other parked cars. On the Portlaoise bypass (M7) they sit on the slip roads (both sides), completely out of view facing the motorway. When you pass the slip road the camera car is reading your speed and on your tail! LIMERICK Ballyneety: On the Limerick to Kilmallock road. There are regular speed checks on this road at the moment and at various times of the day. No particular pattern.

20 Main dual carrigeway between Limerick and Shannon: 1. Just as you come down the hill after Setrights Pub, there is a lovely straight stretch in front of you. The boys in blue are often in on the left hand side in front of the bus stop, as you are driving along they look like people waiting for the bus until you get up nice and close. 2. Just where the Bunratty flyover joins the main dual carrigeway they are often parked back up on the slip road in the jeep and are quite happy to take off flying after you. 3. Also on the main Shannon to Limerick road, just by Setrights pub you enter a 50 mile zone they are often parked in the gate of a house as you come into the 50 zone and also parked at a house as you are about to leave the 50 mile zone. Castleisland to Abbeyfeale: Expect a trap anywhere on this big, wide road, pay attention also when approaching Castleisland itself going down the hill on the last long stretch into the town, as the gardai may well be hiding on the left. Type: Radar. On the Mill road in Corbally, Limerick, same 30 m.p.h., lurking at the back gates of St. Munchin's College. On the Limerick side of Rathkeale, on the big straight, there can be a cop up on the high ground on the left hand side. The Limerick to Tipperary town (Waterford) road: About 14 miles out, Tipperary bound, there is a village called Oola.The stretch of road coming into Oola is a good, wide straight, just before you come into the village there is a sign indicating the 40mph limit, just past that the next sign is 30mph, there is a wall on your left and that is were they park. Type: Laser. Watch out on the Ennis road, this seems to be a favoured spot for parking one of the Gatso vans. The 40 MPH zone starts at the Limerick-Clare county boundary near the Two-Mile Inn, which is quite a distance out from the city. So traffic entering Limerick tends to be coming in at more than 60 MPH and there's no "incentive " to slow other than the 40 MPH sign there. The traps are sometimes closer to Ivan's shop. N21: As you come into Newcastle West from the Abbeyfeale side on the N21 there is a Maxol petrol station. The Gardai have a habit of sitting in the forecourt and zapping people just as they come through the 30 limit sign. On the road from Abbeyfeale to NewCastleWest. Just as you are coming out of town you go up a hill and then there is a straight for a few hundred yards, it is a 30MPH zone and they can be anywhere along that stretch. Usually they catch people coming into to Abbeyfeale from Newcastle. Between Newcastle West and Bruff, mostly near the turnoff for Ballingarry. Unmarked red Mondeo. On the road from Ballingarry to Adare the Gardai are often on the Kilfinny line anywhere on the straight between Noel Hannons and Nevilles pub, usually on the left at the dip under the trees or on the right just out of the trees. Almost every saturday afternoon, watch out for a squad car and tripod, or lately a "commercial van" with "Mid-West Survey's" written on it (?), just before Matt the Threshers public house. It is a 30 MPH zone, as you climb up the hill, from Limerick, and it's quite easy to go over the limit. Note: We did some investigation into this report of a "Mid-West Survey's" Gatso van (ie rang directory enquiries) and there is no company by that name listed in the country! NOTE: we have received the following from "J.A." Re. the above: "I have spotted the above van, and noted that it has a TN reg. I have also looked it up in the Golden Pages - under Surveyor's and it is listed, I also carried out a quick check aginst the phone number and the numbers of Garda stations in the region, none appeared to match." LOUTH Drogheda Traffic Corps are recently using laser device on Termonfeckin Road, catching traffic inbound to Drogheda. The Guard stands near the enterance to Westcourt. Patrol Car (the multi-coloured one) is usually hidden in Westcourt Estate. Gatso Van was also seen recently on the Castlebellingham-Dromiskin Road, parked near the old village hall. This is a 30MPH zone and you will not see the van until its too late. Co Louth motorist.