39 replies to this topic

[Spider]

I take it you guys in the UK and else where have some form of Random Breath Testing for Motorists?

 

While not a worry to me what so ever in regards to either drinking or as some idiots supposed do 'fly', I do find it an incoveiience and somewhat rude as our local boys treat everyone like a criminal when pulled in for a test.

 

Well, we've just had a long weekend, first one of the warm weather and a time when you'd think drink driving would be higher than the norm - yeah?

 

I've just now seen the statisics for the past 3 days and it's a bleedin joke;-

 

Number of Driver's Tested:-             163 000

Number of Drivers over the Limit;-   127

 

So, less than 0.1%.

 

I also remember reading a few years back that the Police Blockaided once of the major Routes north on a long weekend, and breath tested every single driver, some were held up for over 9 hours (so much for your long weekend), so that stats on that brainstorm;-

 

Tested     297 000

Busted     31

 

While I don't condone drink driving (or flying), do you guys think this is a good use of Police resources?

 

Now? At a time when shootings and murders seem to be a an all time high?  Along with what seems an unusal number of missing persons??

[nicklouse]

it remonds me of a topic elsewhere.

 

what are the police revenue collectors or upholders of the law?

[Carlos W]

it remonds me of a topic elsewhere.

 

what are the police revenue collectors or upholders of the law?

 

Although in some instances police posts can be funded by fines (speed cameras for example) I don't think court fine for drink driving goes to the police.

 

If you are sat in a queue for over 9 hours and were twice the legal limit when you joined the queue you'd be well under by the time you were breathalysed. 

 

There is no sense in setting up road blocks like that, people will just avoid it if they've been drinking

[Mini Manannán]

 

 

Tested     297 000

Busted     31

 

    Sooo 0.01%

 

That is a joke, whoever implemented that scheme should be ashamed.

[Spider]

 

 

 

Tested     297 000

Busted     31

 

    Sooo 0.01%

 

That is a joke, whoever implemented that scheme should be ashamed.

 

 

It a disgraceful waste, it's not like we have boys in blue 'spare' to waste on such follies,,,,

 

I watched a doco a few years back on one of our big time crims (Authur Neddy Smith - 'Neddy') and he reconed you had a much better chance of getting away with Murder than a speeding Ticket here. That's what get's me going, "never mind major crime, gotta keep the money coming" attitude,,,,,,,

[mk3 Cooper S]

 

 

 

Tested     297 000

Busted     31

 

    Sooo 0.01%

 

That is a joke, whoever implemented that scheme should be ashamed.

 

What those statistics dont demonstrate is the other violations and information picked up during the random tests.

[Spider]

 

 

 

 

Tested     297 000

Busted     31

 

    Sooo 0.01%

 

That is a joke, whoever implemented that scheme should be ashamed.

 

What those statistics dont demonstrate is the other violations and information picked up during the random tests.

 

 

I recall that they did pick up a whopping 3 unregistered vehicles in that one where they blockaided the highway.

 

I'll also add that there was an allegation made against the boys in blue that supposedly one accident that did later occur due to driver fatigue and while legally difficult to prove, they had well lost on moral grounds.

 

They have never tried the stupid stunt since.

Edited by Moke Spider, 06 October 2015 - 10:37 AM.

[M J W J]

A mate of mine got banned a few years back. He was randomly pulled over and the police were just lucky that he was slightly over the limit. While I do not condone my friends actions he was genuinely unlucky. In court the police had to come up with some bull***t reason of why they pulled him over. They claimed that his car had illegal headlights so they tried to charge him for that. After the court appearance he was banned from driving but they had to drop the charges about the head lights as his car was perfectly legal. 

[Cooperman]

From what we see on our TV progs, the Old Bill in Oz do seem a bit 'traffic obsessed'. I saw one prog where a new driver was stopped and tested and he gave a minute reading due to having had a 'pudding' with a tiny amount of alcohol with his meal with his parents. There is, apparently, a zero tolerance with alcohol for new drivers and there was some discussion about whether to report him. In the end they didn't. Now 'zero tol.' is fine, but there has to be some common sense, or not as may be the case in Oz. It certainly all seemed very petty.

By the way, in the UK the fines from speed cameras no longer go to the local police service, it goes direct to the treasury. That is the reason the 'speed awareness courses' are now offered at higher speeds as the profits from those do go to the Old Bill. So it's just about the money and nothing to do with road safety after all - as many have known for years.

[Mini 360]

Typically, it's rare to be pulled over at random, they have to have cause to do so.  They can then breathalyse you if they so wish but dont have to unless they have their suspiscions.  Most of the time, its easy to tell.

[CityEPete]

A mate of mine got banned a few years back. He was randomly pulled over and the police were just lucky that he was slightly over the limit. While I do not condone my friends actions he was genuinely unlucky. In court the police had to come up with some bull***t reason of why they pulled him over. They claimed that his car had illegal headlights so they tried to charge him for that. After the court appearance he was banned from driving but they had to drop the charges about the head lights as his car was perfectly legal.

How was he genuinely unlucky? Did someone pin him down and pour booze down him then force him to drive, lol.

[Cooperman]

My son was discussing with me what it was like before the breathalizer. I said that it was crazy, and it was. he asked how much I would typically drink before driving home. When I said "Maybe 5 pints of bitter and a couple of single whiskies" he said "And you drove home?". I replied "Well, I couldn't have walked"!

 

Now I'm not proud of that, but it was a different time and other things were acceptable as well, like words you can't use now (the 'N' word for example). There was no maximum NSL and I have also driven at a legal 140 mph on the M1 (in a Jag). The word 'gay' had a different meaning then when it meant 'happy & carefree'. The Mini Cooper 997 was a quick car and most cars were virtually flat out at about 65 to 70 mph. Most cars had drum brakes and cross-ply tyres. If you drank lager you were a bit suspect of 'batting for the other side'. You could advertise a flat to rent and add 'no Irish, coloureds, animals or children' and that was entirely legal. There were no speed cameras, no mobile phones, no internet, only 2 TV channels and they were black & white only. Communication was by letter or phone. If urgent one sent a 'telegram' which could arrive within a couple of hours with the UK. We had virtually full employment too. We went on holiday in the UK, not to 'Shagaluf' or somewhere similar. In general girls 'didn't' on a first date, although there were exceptions! It was truly a fantastic time to be young. There was a lot less pressure too.

[Spider]

Some interesting tales and views.

 

I will have to say though, despite my overall wasteful view of it all, it has for the most part greatly reduced drink driving much of the manner that Cooperman mentioned. Pretty much soon after I got a Driver's Licence, Random Testing commenced so my generation didn't really get in to the 'swing' of 4 or 5 pints before heading home, though all. literally all, the older guys I was working with when doing my apprenticeship did it and bemoaned the Random Testing.

 

So, to be fair, I guess it's knocked that on the head, has it help with the Road Toll?   Again, in all fairness, I think it has in these parts, but not by 'telephone numbers'.

 

In these parts, the Boys in Blue set up a Random Breath Testing station, on the road side. They'll set up a pull in lane and (supposedly) pick out vehicles at random to pull in for testing. You can guarantee if you drive a Ute (Pick-up) or van and in general, appear like a Tradesman, you will be 'Randomly' Picked. They'll usually only run these 'stations' for about an hour or two though one I passed a few weeks back was there all day. They will always have the radar on the front police car too. They also tend to set these stations up, in the same, well known locations too, all which can be by-passed, so it's a bit pointless really.

 

I'm pretty sure the revenue,,,, errr, fines,,, from the Cameras of all types goes straight to 'Consolidated Revenue' and is nothing to do with the Police these days here too.  Safety??  What's that to do with it?

 

 

A mate of mine got banned a few years back. He was randomly pulled over and the police were just lucky that he was slightly over the limit. While I do not condone my friends actions he was genuinely unlucky. In court the police had to come up with some bull***t reason of why they pulled him over. They claimed that his car had illegal headlights so they tried to charge him for that. After the court appearance he was banned from driving but they had to drop the charges about the head lights as his car was perfectly legal. 

 

That's a bit dirty as well as being a tad unreasonable.

[Gerbil367]

I got pulled over (along with every single other motorist) on a late night drive through Holland - They had used one of those big off ramps into a parking area just off the motorway and breathalyzed everyone - then off we went again (so long as you were legal!) after the test and re-joined the motorway - no idea how successful it was, but it was sure a surprise finding all lanes blocked by police cars to channel traffic through the parking area!

[sonikk4]

Once I have been pulled after a 12 hr shift at work. Slightly peeved but the area they used was at a very wide section of road and it was just before Xmas. They had set up a random stop area purely for this.

Now yes I was annoyed long day and all that but I could well see why they were doing what they did. Personally I do not want any member of my family or friends suffering because some pissed idiot decided to drive his car while under the influence. If doing what they do helps to prevent this from happening then fair play.

If even with those numbers it prevents one death or injury then job done. It may feel to be an inconvienence at the time but if you have not been drinking then you have nothing to fear.

I have not been an angel in the past and got away with it but now experience plays a very big part in this. If I drive then it soft drinks only.