Checkpoint

16-01-2010

I had another Garda checkpoint last night. That is two in under a month. Maybe it is time to stop all that illegal activity I have been up to lately. They are clearly out to sting me somehow.

Only kidding.

At least about all the illegal stuff.

But I did encounter another checkpoint last night. See it was Friday night and I had arranged to meet up with two of my best mates for a few pints after Christmas and a catch up. The ladyfriend had made plans to go and see some of her mates as well (one of which was staying in our apartment) and they just happened to be heading in the same direction I was going for the drinks. So being the nice guy that I am lifts were organised and off we went. Three of us in the car and driving through Raheny.

We got past a particularly busy section of the village (busy because road works have been going on for close to two months at this stage and seem to be getting worse rather than better) and that was when the checkpoint decided to wave hello.

I slowed down and stopped right beside the two Garda. This was the oddest checkpoint I have ever been to. Both Garda decided to get involved with the car. One checked my tax, insurance and NCT and the other actually wanted to see my license.

I have never been asked for my license, but there you have it. I handed it over to him (he was a bit of a ignorant prick to be honest because it was buried and I tried to make chit chat while digging it out of the wallet) and waited for him to read it.

This was when things got somewhat odd. The second garda says over the roof of the car (because obviously I wouldn't hear anything said right beside my car, with a window down, if you speak over the roof) "There doing something alright."

He then flashed the light into the back seat to see what was going on in there (nothing beyond the seat being occupied) then proceeded to check all the tires on the car.

It was almost as if they were trying their hardest to find something wrong with the car so they could get me on something.

But what was the "something" we were doing? Well due to the rushed nature of the night the ladyfriend had no chance to get dinner. So I had made her a sandwich she could eat in the car on the way.

Last time I checked it was not illegal to have food in your car, let alone be eating that food. I really just found the whole thing very strange. Why go so hard to try and find something wrong with us, to the point of stupidity by suggesting that we were "up to something" all because of a ham and cheese sandwich.

Honestly, if I had been a little dumber I could have become a Garda myself.

Blue_jester