.... or so it seems..

Been stopped and breathalized twice on my way home from work... and no doubt will happen again tonight when i go to pick my dad up from the pub...

they really are going OTT in south manchester/cheshire with this drinkdriving thing

Count yourself lucky. I was once seconds away from being bundled into a car and arrested for looking a bit like someone on the wanted list. It wasn't good enough that I obviously had a different name and address from whoever they were after - it was only after showing them the 6" scar I have on my right arm that they let me go...

Not fun :thumbdwn:

I got breathalysed this morning after leaving the Mersey Tunnel.

I got breathalysed this morning after leaving the Mersey Tunnel.

Lots of pubs and off licences in the Mersey Tunnel, so hardly surprising!

Did they think you might have stopped off for a swift one halfway through, or something?

I'm all for safety, but this does appear to be getting beyond a joke - meanwhile all the burglars are taking your presents from under the tree 'cos Dixon of Dock Green is busy on traffic duty... :thumbdwn:

Lots of pubs and off licences in the Mersey Tunnel' date=' so hardly surprising!

Did they think you might have stopped off for a swift one halfway through, or something?

I'm all for safety, but this does appear to be getting beyond a joke - meanwhile all the burglars are taking your presents from under the tree 'cos Dixon of Dock Green is busy on traffic duty... :thumbdwn:[/quote']

They had a bloke in the back of the van and that was at half seven!!!!

I'm glad to be honest as I have seen plenty of d1ckheads coming out of the pub and getting into there cars!! (yes I know some folk don't drink) Also the effects of the night before are always an issue.

They had a bloke in the back of the van and that was at half seven!!!!

A colleague of mine was breath tested positive the morning after the xmas bash 3 years ago. He was banned for 12 months. So watch out guys!!

If only they would keep this level of stopping people up all year round it may do some good.

TBH if you drink and drive you deserve to be banned for life, there is no excuse really especially for the sake of a designated driver or a taxi fare.

I really wouldn't mind five minutes of inconvenience of being breathalised if it increases the chances of drink drivers being caught.

There should be more emphasis on the effects of the morning after. So many people just think about sorting out that evening without giving the next day a second thought.

jusr refuse a breath sample and make them take you back to the police station for a blood test. if everyone did this it would totally screw the system......

if i'm honest i have no probs at all being breathalised. if i was ever to fail the test (not that i drink and drive, cos i rarely even drink at all) but then i would only have myself to blame, so i'm all for even more random breath tests!!!!

adam

jusr refuse a breath sample and make them take you back to the police station for a blood test. if everyone did this it would totally screw the system......

If you've nothing to hide then why would you go through the embarressment of deliberately commiting an offence (Failing to Provide) and getting yourself arrested?

Then again, if you *do* have something to hide, then don't worry... If they don't get you this time they'll get you sooner or later. I have no tollerance for drink driving and think it deserves a custodial sentence along with a long ban and hefty fine.

I'm all for this police move to crack down on drink driving. It might be a PITA to get pulled on the way home, but the next guy they pull might have been drinking and if they didn't bundle him into the police car, he might have knocked down a child half a mile down the road.

If you've nothing to hide then why would you go through the embarressment of deliberately commiting an offence (Failing to Provide) and getting yourself arrested?

.

It is not an offence to request a blood test. However if you were arrested for requesting one it would be a good money spinner to recuperate funds collected by scameras......

Why would you want to cause yourself the extra hassle (and probable discomfort) of phlebotomy rather than giving a roadside breath sample? :confused:

Do you think the police should be discouraged from performing random roadside stops?

they make a big deal about drink driving but what about people being tired/stoned/just plain fecking useless. what about all the people driving with no lights, lights out, very dirty car(so much so you can't see the number plate etc) or just driving like maniacs?

Kent police are checking for all those things too. A Landie was done for using red diesel the other day.

And as for the "other impairments" ... ... the main problem has been trying to find a cheap but reliable testing method.

they don't seem to be checking here in oxford :(

i was behind a mk5 golf today and you could only see the plate by the rectangle shape in the dirt

quite... if the drink drive stuff was remotely targeted people would have more respect.

When you see the number of p*ssed up idiots on the roads at night as I do each and every night of the week, you will be glad of the minor inconvenience of being stopped for 30 seconds, especially when one of them has nearly killed you!!

I'm not a grass, i'd never report anyone for drugs/shoplifting etc etc, but drink driving - I wouldnt hesitate.

When you see the number of p*ssed up idiots on the roads at night as I do each and every night of the week' date=' you will be glad of the minor inconvenience of being stopped for 30 seconds, especially when one of them has nearly killed you!!

I'm not a grass, i'd never report anyone for drugs/shoplifting etc etc, but drink driving - I wouldnt hesitate.[/quote']

Your not alone .....I would and have reported people for drink driving ...followed one for miles with swmbo on the phone to the police while they caught up stopped and arrested them ....... I just couldn't let them drive round corners on the wrong side of the road.

I have got no problem being stopped

It is not an offence to request a blood test. However if you were arrested for requesting one it would be a good money spinner to recuperate funds collected by scameras......

It's an offence to fail to provide a specimen of breath to a police officer for a roadside breath test. s6(4) Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended.

There's lots of myths around what people think they can get away with when it comes to refusing tests for drink driving etc... Most of them are totally wrong and end with you getting nicked.

Hi,

DangerMouse is correct in that it is an offence to refuse to provide a road side breath test.

Random breath tests are not compulsary though, police must have either have

1. A reasonable suspicion that you are driving under the influence (smell of drink, driving on the wrong side of the road at the wrong time etc). or

2. Have seen you committing a moving road traffic offence. or

3. Know that you have been in a road traffic accident (they do not need to be in uniform for this one but they do for the other two).

They can ask you to provide a sample but if none of the above three apply you can refuse.

Regards

Your not alone .....I would and have reported people for drink driving ...followed one for miles with swmbo on the phone to the police while they caught up stopped and arrested them ....... I just couldn't let them drive round corners on the wrong side of the road.

I have got no problem being stopped

completely agree with doing that - I have also phoned the police and tailed an obvious drink driver till they arrived and was very pleased to have got the rsole off the road:) I saw so many near misses while i was following it was only sheer luck and skill from the other drivers that he got that far

I would not complain if i was stopped every journey i made and was checked - i've nothing to hide - I was out with a mate and we were involved in an accident with one of those scum:mad: we were left upsidedown trapped in a car with a ruptured fuel tank and the engine running..... and he ......stopped .... got out.... looked back .....then got back in a drove off - leaving us for dead

The police caught him but due to a technicality he got off:mad:

but he lived about a1 1/2 miles from both me and my mate in the same small village and lets just say that justice was done .... although i lost everything at least we lived albeit with permament injuries:(

as you can imagine i would happily see the death sentance brought in for drinkdriving - after all he almost passed the death sentance on me ..... I I really do bear grudges for an awfully long time

No such problems in Nottingham, no traffic force..... So you can drive around pi**ed as a fart/stoned out of your mind as long as you dont exceed the limit as the speed cameras will get you.

Interesting that I couldnt find actual number for Nottinghams drink drive campaign last Xmas, only percentages.... e.g. 10% failed... 10 tested, 1 failed.

Im not bitter obviously...