Drinking Drivers - what do you do

[captainsmelly]

Its more easy when its your mates that are getting ****ed when they're driving. But when its people you dont know what do you do? Grass them up? let thier tyres down? Was out the other day to pick up my missus after she'd been out with her collegues and her boss was getting smashed as well as some other tart. I cant lay into her because it would make a mess of sarah's career, the bar staff wont refuse to serve people (i've tried before and it seems profits are more important then lives)
We can just rely on the police to patrol the streets and I'm sure they do a great job but somehow I think a few drunk drivers manage to slip by unnoticed every so often

[Jabba]

I think a few drunk drivers manage to slip by unnoticed every so often

More than a few I'm afraid, mate.

You're more likely to get away with it today than you were 15-20 years ago due to single issue (speed) policing by camera. There simply aren't enough coppers on the road. Obviously, that's my view :lol:

[amnesia]

I would call the Police...no question.

[SoulKiss]

**First I dont know if this is in any way related to the tragic loss of Hovis, if it is please can a mod remove this thread**


Its more easy when its your mates that are getting ****ed when they're driving. But when its people you dont know what do you do?

Whats the difference - they are still being stupid and selfish.

Call the cops every time.

[metalangel]

Slam their head repeatedly in the car door until they agree to not drive. My mother will come help, her leg was shattered in a crash with a drunk driver.

[Alpinestarhero]

I would call the police aswell, and possibly follow at a distance incase something did happen.

Its inexcusable, everyone knows the dangers.

BTW, slight derail...awesome yellow ZX7r. paintjob is a bit...sketchy :lol:

[Luckypants]

Call the cops if you can get the car number plate. I'm pretty sure a drunk pulled out on me last night, ABS in the cage tested thoroughly! Didn't get his number plate though :( If I was on a push bike / motorbike the outcome may have been different.

[Dicky Ticker]

I agree that it is not right but with a friend you can usually persude them to get a cab or a lift. When it is a 3rd party your only course of action is to inform the police.
Having said that I can think of several occassions where members of the Org have ridden next morning after a proper skin full the night/early morning before and nobody critised them. No doubt if they had been breathalised they would have been over the limit as the effects do not come out of your system after just a couple of hours sleep so they are drunk drivers and just as guilty.

[captainsmelly]

So would the police then wait patiently outside the pub to follow some **** back to their car to then chase them down, breathalize them and maybe even pick up the right person? I just cant see it working that well.

BTW Cheers A*hero it was a semi proffesional paintjob, finish isnt great but they didn't charge much

[-Ralph-]

**First I dont know if this is in any way related to the tragic loss of Hovis, if it is please can a mod remove this thread**


Its more easy when its your mates that are getting ****ed when they're driving. But when its people you dont know what do you do? Grass them up? let thier tyres down? Was out the other day to pick up my missus after she'd been out with her collegues and her boss was getting smashed as well as some other tart. I cant lay into her because it would make a mess of sarah's career, the bar staff wont refuse to serve people (i've tried before and it seems profits are more important then lives)
We can just rely on the police to patrol the streets and I'm sure they do a great job but somehow I think a few drunk drivers manage to slip by unnoticed every so often

Even if Hovis' accident did involve somebody who'd been drinking, it's still a valid discussion so I wouldn't worry about that. The org has to carry on.

I think you need to be sure they are going to drive. Do you know that the Boss and/or Tart weren't planning to leave the car and collect it the next day?

If it was somebody I knew and they couldn't be persuaded I'd just pinch their car keys, most people keep them hanging in a jacket on the back of the chair, or in a handbag, then arrangements to return them the next day.

If it's anybody else and you see them get in the car and drive off, just phone the police with the registration number, make and model and if you can, say where they are headed. You'll be completely anonymous so don't need to worry about it being your missus' boss. The police may just be able to have a panda car at the registered address of the vehicle as a welcoming party for it arriving home!

Don't try to stand in front of the vehicle, if they've been drinking their judgement won't be the best and they may just run you over.

[timwilky]

Unfortunately I see a good friend drink/drive a couple of times a week.

I have asked him not to, the manager has asked him not to, He promises he is going to walk home and suddenly he and car have disappeared. It was encouraging the other day when a taxi actually picked him up as he had had a near scare when blues came on behind him and overtook.

The stupidest thing is he was done for it about 20 years ago. Does not have a couple but a few more as well. He knows he is stupid, risking lives etc.

I know we should grass him. He knows he is borrowed time.

[Bluepete]

Call the Cops!

So would the police then wait patiently outside the pub to follow some **** back to their car to then chase them down, breathalize them and maybe even pick up the right person?


Yes we will, and yes I do exactly that as often as I can.

Pete

[454697819]

fuk em... call the police its pussyfooting around idiots like drink drivers that has send most of this country to the dogs..

rant mode // off

[-Ralph-]

So would the police then wait patiently outside the pub to follow some **** back to their car to then chase them down, breathalize them and maybe even pick up the right person? I just cant see it working that well.

Depends what resource they have available I suppose, but in principal I think they would (EDIT: Confirmed, I posted at the same time as Pete) if you know somebody is half way through their last drink and is planning to drive home in ten minutes time, you could call the police at that point. The other points made about following them and calling the police from hands-free so you can give a running commentary on where they are going is a good idea.

[blue curvy jester]

call the cops and tell the bar staff you are going to call licensing in the morning its now a £100 fine for the bar staff ( personally not the company) and is brought up against the managers and the premises liscece when renewal time comes along

[Shellywoozle]

As BP has said call us, if it is regular call Crimestoppers too ! if there is a pattern.

I often go and sit outside a pub or hide in someone street (hard in a blue and yellow flouri car) to catch them on the word of a responsible person.

Your details are never passed so they would never know you did them the favour, you could be saving a life - put the call in :)

Aye, Blue curvy jester is right, the pub has a responsibilty and it is an offence under the Licensing act 2003 to sell alcohol to someone intoxicated (unless I am drinking then it's ok) - repsonsible serving / drinking is the aim and they will be fined or prosecuted.

[Quedos]

call the cops everytime - been there and done it to some one smashed out of his brains at knockhill. and proceeded to drive off Cops were waiting outside for him.

if you don't you could end up with a scene like yesterday where the driver has already rammed one car then ended up on his roof narrowly missing 3 motorcyclists.
words fail me for the idoits that persist wuth this behaviour

[Daimo]

Another for call the police here. I have done it a couple of times. No time for these people in this day and age.

A drunk driver broke my dads neck and left him paralysed for 2 weeks. No time at all for them. Ever.

[maviczap]

Call the Police everytime. In this day and age of Intelligence led Policing, and less & less actual Police on the street, its the only way of getting anything done.

Next time, it might be your kids, your mum, your dad, your sister etc etc. Do you need anymore reasons not to call them :confused:

I passed a plumers or builders van on the A12, the driver was drinking from a bottle of Stella. This was at 10.30 in the morning [-X

[carty]

Drinking drivers - what do you do

I just have a pint of water and a couple of chewing gums when I've finished my last beer, then hope I don't get pulled on the way home....:---)

[yorkie_chris]

Don't try to stand in front of the vehicle, if they've been drinking their judgement won't be the best and they may just run you over.

I believe davepreston got run over this way!


Aye, Blue curvy jester is right, the pub has a responsibilty and it is an offence under the Licensing act 2003 to sell alcohol to someone intoxicated (unless I am drinking then it's ok) - repsonsible serving / drinking is the aim and they will be fined or prosecuted.

Aye but you can be well over drink driving limit. I'm still fairly with it (though I do talk a lot of shoite) after 8 pints or so, well sober enough to get a couple more in within licensing act ... but no way would I drive!

[Alpinestarhero]

if im riding, i dont drink. not even if im riding in 8 hours time.

(but im a lightweight)

[sunshine]

once a week i get a curry, pint of strong bow and pint of coke then get on the sv to go home, with a half full bottle of alcohol based mouthwash so they have to wait 10 minutes if im over the drink/drive limit now when i drove the van home from paintballing in Stafford onces i know i was well over the limit from the night before 14 pints of home brewed cider and half a bottle of vodka, stupid but i had been paintballing for 9 hours, and knew i was still over the limit. and i still complain about drink drivers!

[captainsmelly]

Regarding the posts by police persons, I didn't know you'd go that far. So I could make a call about somebody and if I didn't have a name or reg number but gave a description you'd be able to work from that? That's good I hate people that drive drunk and dont care who they hurt

[-Ralph-]

Having said that I can think of several occassions where members of the Org have ridden next morning after a proper skin full the night/early morning before and nobody critised them. No doubt if they had been breathalised they would have been over the limit as the effects do not come out of your system after just a couple of hours sleep so they are drunk drivers and just as guilty.

i was well over the limit from the night before 14 pints of home brewed cider and half a bottle of vodka, stupid but i had been paintballing for 9 hours, and knew i was still over the limit.

This is how the majority of folk end up drinking and driving. I don't think ride-outs should be arranged to start before midday on the Sunday of an org weekend away, and if you arrive on the Friday night you need to apply some self restraint.

At the first Scottish GM I had to duck out of the ride on the Sunday 'cos I was drunk well into the early hours of the morning and only had 4 or 5 hours sleep.

There's no excuse for it really when you can buy disposable breathalysers in petrol stations for the price on one pint of beer (I know they're not that accurate, but it's got to be better than a guestimate)

once a week i get a curry, pint of strong bow and pint of coke then get on the sv to go home

I don't have a problem with drink driving within the limit, but you need to be careful as the limit guidelines were not set with 5% lager and 13% new world wines in mind. A pint and a half of Stella in less than an hour is easily up to the drink drive limit.

[metalangel]

Yeah, it's the morning after that's the risk, I knew I was still mullered one fine Sunday so I staggered to the train station to get the train into work as opposed to driving. I could barely walk so driving was right out. But it's when you feel fine that's the risk.

Hell, the week after next is a works-encouraged trip to the pub... wtf am I meant to do, I'm on the early (7am start) shift the next day except have one pint and go home! Nice planning, team leader. Everyone on early is going to resent everyone who isn't.

Safest way is to save any drinks until you know any driving is done for the day. Even if it's lunch and you're not driving again until after dinner.

Big question to ask yourself if you find yourself tempted is do you really need alcohol that much? And further think - unless you're going to get wasted, the two or three pints you're likely to have you'll barely notice and aren't really worth it.

[Warthog]

You have to call the cops, how would you feel if you let them drive home drunk and they killed some poor pedestrian!?

[Milky Bar Kid]

Disregarding my job, I cannot abide drink drivers. It is a selfish, inconsiderate egotistical, needless thing to do.

I would call the Police on anyone, even family, if I thought for a second they were about to drink drive. My own personal morals wouldn't allow me to turn a blind eye. I would feel incredibly guilty if I didn't 'phone and something happened.

[captainsmelly]

So who has phoned the police on their friends and family? Much as I hate drink drivers I dont know if I could land a mate in jail.

[Warthog]

So who has phoned the police on their friends and family? Much as I hate drink drivers I dont know if I could land a mate in jail.

One's friends and family should not place you in that situation if they were decent people!

[SoulKiss]

And further think - unless you're going to get wasted, the two or three pints you're likely to have you'll barely notice and aren't really worth it.

Complete rubbish.

What if you drink it because you actually like the taste of it?

The a pint, or two, or maybe just a half is not a case of "aren't really worth it."

If you only drink to get off your face, then maybe you should look at WHY you need to get so drunk instead of just drinking.

[G]

A couple of years ago around here they did a christmas advert about shopping in drink drivers and you could get £500 if they were convicted.

A mate of mine sat down the local skanky pub that you could only really drive to and allegedly made £2500

[tanis34]

i've grassed before and ill do it again ive picked up the pieces from the results of drink drivers too many times to ignore them

[maviczap]

Complete rubbish.

What if you drink it because you actually like the taste of it?

The a pint, or two, or maybe just a half is not a case of "aren't really worth it."

If you only drink to get off your face, then maybe you should look at WHY you need to get so drunk instead of just drinking.

I'm afraid I have to agree. Although I have at least one colleague who has admitted he can't have just one drink, he has to get out of his brain. On his way to AA or the liver transplant clinc.

I'm too old for the wasted day the following morning now, a couple of social drinks with mates

[maviczap]

A couple of years ago around here they did a christmas advert about shopping in drink drivers and you could get £500 if they were convicted.

A mate of mine sat down the local skanky pub that you could only really drive to and allegedly made £2500

Don't Crimestoppers still pay on results? Seems like a worthwile industry to join :p

[beanie79]

My dad watched his school friend (obvisouly a long time ago), get hit by a drunk driver, who didn't even stop when he ploughed through the local park gates with his friend on the bonnet.
There is no excuse for drink driving. Ever.
If someone wants to kill themselves, far be it from me to interfere, but why should someone else have to join them?

[davepreston]

well here's one to stur it up a bit
as a convicted drink driver , yes i got a 20 month ban and fine i would say
make that phonecall
i know what i did and alow i did not hurt anyone it is still something i am ashamed about to this day, for those who know me
i at the time did not care i had far to much going on in my life that someone of my age should not have had to deal with, but that does not excuse my actions and i took and still take full responcibility for them
my one thankful thought is i didnt hurt anyone if i had of i dont know how i would have coped getting "done" was probably the single best thing to happen to me at that time and i have learned ( not because of the ban but other things) that i was ridiculasly lucky and it is not something i would ever do it again

[Milky Bar Kid]

well here's one to stur it up a bit
as a convicted drink driver , yes i got a 20 month ban and fine i would say
make that phonecall
i know what i did and alow i did not hurt anyone it is still something i am ashamed about to this day, for those who know me
i at the time did not care i had far to much going on in my life that someone of my age should not have had to deal with, but that does not excuse my actions and i took and still take full responcibility for them
my one thankful thought is i didnt hurt anyone if i had of i dont know how i would have coped getting "done" was probably the single best thing to happen to me at that time and i have learned ( not because of the ban but other things) that i was ridiculasly lucky and it is not something i would ever do it again

Words of wisdom from a man who has been there!

[metalmonkey]

From having a quick read I don't think anyone has mentioned drugs...

It doesn't matter wheter its legal or not, if you have taken something that makes you high, dopy or whatever that is still an offence just as serious.

So would you pass information about someone who regular takes precribe painkillers lets say Tramadol and then drives a car or rides a bike?

Just a thought.

[-Ralph-]

Don't try to stand in front of the vehicle, if they've been drinking their judgement won't be the best and they may just run you over.

I believe davepreston got run over this way!

Yes, I heard that too, but didn't wan't to mention Dave and drag him into it if he didn't want to be

well here's one to stur it up a bit
as a convicted drink driver , yes i got a 20 month ban and fine i would say
make that phonecall
i know what i did and alow i did not hurt anyone it is still something i am ashamed about to this day, for those who know me
i at the time did not care i had far to much going on in my life that someone of my age should not have had to deal with, but that does not excuse my actions and i took and still take full responcibility for them
my one thankful thought is i didnt hurt anyone if i had of i dont know how i would have coped getting "done" was probably the single best thing to happen to me at that time and i have learned ( not because of the ban but other things) that i was ridiculasly lucky and it is not something i would ever do it again

But now you're here :)

What happened exactly???

[Daimo]

Complete rubbish.

What if you drink it because you actually like the taste of it?

The a pint, or two, or maybe just a half is not a case of "aren't really worth it."

If you only drink to get off your face, then maybe you should look at WHY you need to get so drunk instead of just drinking.

Then stay at home at drink, or if your out catch a cab. Simple really. Why should anyone else be put at risk due to the drinkers ignorence, arrogence, and stupiditty.

I'll have a shandy, thats it. Otherwise, OJ, coke, and those J20 things spread out do the job. Either that, or I bite the cost bullet, get a ride out, drink, and either crash at a friends or fork for the cab home.

I won't put others at risk, but then im a decent bloke, many are not.

[timwilky]

From having a quick read I don't think anyone has mentioned drugs...

It doesn't matter wheter its legal or not, if you have taken something that makes you high, dopy or whatever that is still an offence just as serious.

So would you pass information about someone who regular takes precribe painkillers lets say Tramadol and then drives a car or rides a bike?

Just a thought.

I take Tramadol when I need it. If I am physically able to drive I will. Why phone the plod for somebody who probably is constipated out their skulls? I don't think they need that sh*t even if I could

[-Ralph-]

From having a quick read I don't think anyone has mentioned drugs...

It doesn't matter wheter its legal or not, if you have taken something that makes you high, dopy or whatever that is still an offence just as serious.

So would you pass information about someone who regular takes precribe painkillers lets say Tramadol and then drives a car or rides a bike?

Just a thought.

No, you don't know what dosage, how as a person they react to it, and whether or not their doctor has deemed them safe to drive.

[davepreston]

ok first me getting run over by a drunk driver (karma a hear you say)
a car at a bike rally reversed into 2 parked bikes, i ran over as she tried to drive away and i stopped her , i ask for her insurance details at which point , with her head rolling about and slurred speach she to me to f off , i walked to front of car to get reg and told someone else to call plod, then screch of tyres dave airborne dislocated knee she does one and police fail to attend the scene but thats a different story
as for my idiocy
i just got back from a particularly bad tour and had just put 3 of my mates in the ground so i necked a bottle of brandy and went for a drive , hit a gas tank at 70 then knocked the door of the farmer whos supply it was informed them to turn out all naked flames and prob electric sat and waited for the fire and ploice

p.s the statements above are no way an excuse for my actions just there to give a complete picture
dave

[Bri w]

Grass 'em up!!

It may be your partner/mum/dad/sister/bruv they hit on the way home. It may even be a complete stranger but you could have stopped it happening.

As to drugs; read the label, ask the doc.

[-Ralph-]

Do pubs still do free soft drinks for the nominated driver of a group?

[Quedos]

Do pubs still do free soft drinks for the nominated driver of a group?

in certain areas they still do but not sure where

[independentphoto]

TGI Friday were one for doing that. Not sure if they still do. Be advertising it soon for Christmas though I should think.

[Biker Biggles]

Now Im against drink driving too,but I sometimes wonder if we overdo the angst to the exclusion of other issues.Someone mentioned drug driving but what about fatigue and, IMO the most serious of all,bad attitude.Sober people driving badly are some of the most dangerous on the road.

[timwilky]

Now Im against drink driving too,but I sometimes wonder if we overdo the angst to the exclusion of other issues.Someone mentioned drug driving but what about fatigue and, IMO the most serious of all,bad attitude.Sober people driving badly are some of the most dangerous on the road.


Some years ago, I knew I was falling asleep as I crawled up the M6 at stupid O'clock. I did the sensible thing, pulled off at the next exit, pulled into a layby, tipped the seat back and....

Bloody hell broke out, car rocking violently, torches being shone in. Cops what are you doing here. I tried to explain and was told I cannot park there. A layby, big sign saying parking, I argued how could a couple of hours at 3 in the morning break the rules, but rules are rules. I agreed not to be there when they returned in 2 hours.

[mkz9876]

when i was 16 i went out on the **** (yes uderage i know) had a skinfull fell out with the then girlfriend and got a taxi to my mums to crash there the night, fell out with her ad decided to go to my dads so jumped on my 50 and rode the 7 miles to my dads got there and saw headlights by the house which doesnt happen up a dark lane at 2 i the morning scared the life out of me and killed the lights on the bike and hid it up the road, then snuck into one of the sheds to sleep it off,
i never heard anymore about it, i realised the next day how stupid it was and have been ashamed of it since,
but i also feel i have and continue to try and make ammends, i have reported quite a few drink drivers who have been charged and prosecuted,

as for the subject of family drink driving my brother used to do it regularly, whilst having a conversation with a local copper one day i said to him would you book a member of your own family for drink driving, his reply was i know your asking because of your brother and we keep trying to get him but havent managed yet, it was about 2 or 3 weeks later they had him

[yorkie_chris]

One lad I know got banned, he had a couple at a house party. Went out to sleep in his car as he was a fair amount over the limit. Coppers chanced to pass and breathalysed him, summonsed, banned.

Never thought the police as much of a bunch of c**ts than after that one, and my regard for the law is low at the best of times.

[captainsmelly]

One lad I know got banned, he had a couple at a house party. Went out to sleep in his car as he was a fair amount over the limit. Coppers chanced to pass and breathalysed him, summonsed, banned.

Never thought the police as much of a bunch of c**ts than after that one, and my regard for the law is low at the best of times.


Some years ago, I knew I was falling asleep as I crawled up the M6 at stupid O'clock. I did the sensible thing, pulled off at the next exit, pulled into a layby, tipped the seat back and....

Bloody hell broke out, car rocking violently, torches being shone in. Cops what are you doing here. I tried to explain and was told I cannot park there. A layby, big sign saying parking, I argued how could a couple of hours at 3 in the morning break the rules, but rules are rules. I agreed not to be there when they returned in 2 hours.



That is ridiculous, no wonder the police get no respect now. Nicking people who go out of their way to do the right thing.

[-Ralph-]

One lad I know got banned, he had a couple at a house party. Went out to sleep in his car as he was a fair amount over the limit. Coppers chanced to pass and breathalysed him, summonsed, banned.

Never thought the police as much of a bunch of c**ts than after that one, and my regard for the law is low at the best of times.


I have a Vectra estate that is easily as big with the back seats down as a two man tent and completely flat floor. If when my son gets a bit older, we want to go away fishing or whatever, we'll just take the car and throw an air bed in the back to save pitching a tent, drier, warmer, less hassle. But if I decide to have a wee dram or two in the evening suddenly I'm a drink driver?

If I pitch a tent three feet away from the car and sleep that with the keys in my pocket am I still a drink driver? Come to think of it is anyone who gets ****ed on a caravanning holiday and has the keys in their caravan, are they a drink driver? How about somebody who sleeps in their front bedroom with the car on the driveway?

It's ridiculous. None of those scenarios make it any more difficult to get in the car and drive it, than actually sleeping inside the thing. They should have to prove intent to drive the car, ie: keys in the ignition, person sitting in the driving seat, not sleeping in the back. You should be allowed to have the ignition on, so long as you get out and climb in the back or the passenger seat.

If you are in a pub and your car is in the car park, and your keys in your pocket, and you're ****ed, you go out to your car unlock it, take your mobile phone out of the glovebox, lock it and walk back into the pub, phone a taxi home. Are you a drink driver? No but you could still get done if there's a copper there when you unlock the car.

[-Ralph-]

That is ridiculous, no wonder the police get no respect now. Nicking people who go out of their way to do the right thing.

The police don't make the policy, but they do sometimes have the freedom to choose under what circumstances to enforce it. If a policeman/woman does decide to write a ticket, maybe they are just being an a***hole, but it's then down to the court to decide whether or not to convict, and this is where the real problem lies. We shouldn't be convicting people who clearly had no intention to drive. The courts sometimes seem to uphold the law in a meaningless manner, and convict simply because the law allows them to.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I have a Vectra estate that is easily as big with the back seats down as a two man tent and completely flat floor. If when my son gets a bit older, we want to go away fishing or whatever, we'll just take the car and throw an air bed in the back to save pitching a tent, drier, warmer, less hassle. But if I decide to have a wee dram or two in the evening suddenly I'm a drink driver?

If I pitch a tent three feet away from the car and sleep that with the keys in my pocket am I still a drink driver? Come to think of it is anyone who gets ****ed on a caravanning holiday and has the keys in their caravan, are they a drink driver? How about somebody who sleeps in their front bedroom with the car on the driveway?

It's ridiculous. None of those scenarios make it any more difficult to get in the car and drive it, than actually sleeping inside the thing. They should have to prove intent to drive the car, ie: keys in the ignition, person sitting in the driving seat, not sleeping in the back. You should be allowed to have the ignition on, so long as you get out and climb in the back or the passenger seat.

If you are in a pub and your car is in the car park, and your keys in your pocket, and you're ****ed, you go out to your car unlock it, take your mobile phone out of the glovebox, lock it and walk back into the pub, phone a taxi home. Are you a drink driver? No but you could still get done if there's a copper there when you unlock the car.


If you were in the back of the car, with the keys in a rucksack or something then I, personally, would not ever consider arresting you for being drunk IN CHARGE (not driving) a motor vehicle. If, however, you were sitting in the drivers seat (sitting or sleeping) and had the keys either in your hand or in the ignition, then yes, I would.

The law is there to try and stop the risk of drunk people, who may or may not have been sleeping in the car, thinking...oh, to hell with it, I will just drive home, only 5 mins away.

I realise that the majority of people on here would never consider driving whilst under the influence but, unfortunately, you are more than likely the intelligent 5% of the population...:rolleyes:

[-Ralph-]

If you were in the back of the car, with the keys in a rucksack or something then I, personally, would not ever consider arresting you for being drunk IN CHARGE (not driving) a motor vehicle. If, however, you were sitting in the drivers seat (sitting or sleeping) and had the keys either in your hand or in the ignition, then yes, I would.

I don't think any of the other police on here would either, trouble is not all your colleagues would behave the same.

What if I had the engine running for five minutes to blow the heaters and warm the car up, but I wasn't in the drivers seat?

Drunk IN CHARGE is a pretty silly law for cars really, if your within walking distance of your car and you have the keys you are in charge of it. I drink my weekly recommended allowance (or perhaps a tad more) spread over the week, rather than all on a Friday night, so I'm probably over the limit most evenings, but still walk past the car with the keys in my pocket whenever I take the dog for a walk.

The law is there to try and stop the risk of drunk people, who may or may not have been sleeping in the car, thinking...oh, to hell with it, I will just drive home, only 5 mins away

Trouble with that is we as a society are convicting people (and it is happening) of a criminal offence, when whilst they have technically broken a law, they actually haven't yet done anything wrong. That's a bit "Minority Report" is it not?

The other problem is the court are supposed to make judgements based upon what is "reasonable" and it's not reasonable to convict in this case, but it is still happening.

[Biker Biggles]

This is what I mean by overdoing the DD thing.By all means nick people who drive while anchered,but nick those who might drive while drunk?That shows an arrogance from those in authority well beyond the call of duty IMO.

[Milky Bar Kid]

This is what I mean by overdoing the DD thing.By all means nick people who drive while anchered,but nick those who might drive while drunk?That shows an arrogance from those in authority well beyond the call of duty IMO.

It is the law. Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act states that it is an offence for any person to be:

1) Drive,
2) Attempt to drive,
3) be in charge of

a motor vehicle whilst the volume of alcohol in ones breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.

It is not arrogance by the Police officers. We are doing our job. We do not make the laws, only uphold them.

Anyway, this thread was meant about whether or not we would call it in when we knew someone was about to drink drive, not whether or not the law on this subject is correct or whether or not the Police are arrogant in upholding said law.

[Biker Biggles]

I think Im within the bounds of the thread given Tims and Yorkies posts and the OPs response to them.When I say arrogance from those in authority I mostly mean those who make the law although it can be those who enforce it as well.Law can be good,but it can be badly thought out,badly drafted and badly enforced.My opinion only of course

[MiniMatt]

A lot of people say "call the hawaii 5-0" and that's obviously the right thing to do; it's also quite a hard thing to do in many circumstances and I guess often we don't really know what we'd actually do in the circumstances (hell, if I saw a granny getting mugged by three big blokes I'd like to step in, but would I in actuality?)

I'd like to offer a different tack, one that's easier to pull off. I used to work in a pub, as many of us have done in our younger lives. Thankfully, mine was one of those friendly local pubs "where everybody knows your name".

First - be loud, not obviously loud but enough so others can hear you. Then appeal to male ego - "Dave/Bob/Bill etc., I know you're perfectly capable of driving" - all of us, but blokes in particular, don't like to be told we're not up to some task - "but I know you're on your fourth pint and the law's the law" (make some undefined legal bueracrat the jerk, not the potential drink driver), "your job's screwed if they stop you" (consequences that sound plausible - 'you might have an accident' doesn't seem like a possibility to the driver because they think they're in complete control, male ego again), "so let me call you a cab on the house" (give them a face saving way out of the situation).

Of course the "on the house" cab always ended up being payed for at some later date or else they'd never get invited to lock-ins ever again (oops! well, licencing law ain't gonna kill someone, drink driving might).

If you go through this with just enough volume for others to hear you're pretty much guaranteed that one of his mates will chime in support of common sense.

EDIT: On the drunk in charge thing, I kinda see the point in that. I wouldn't want a ten year old playing in a car even without the keys (handbrake off, stick in neutral, weeeeeee! kerunch) and I kinda put a sloshed driver at the mental capacity of a ten year old (albeit one who may have enough muscle memory to operate the controls of a car). Certainly turning the engine on, if only to operate the heaters is pushing into dangerous territory. I kinda figure that arrest and conviction is not the same thing - it's perfectly right for the police to arrest at that point, it's then up to a magistrate to determine the difference between "camping" in the back of an estate and taking a couple hours to (perceiving to) get over the effects, before driving off.

[454697819]

That is ridiculous, no wonder the police get no respect now. Nicking people who go out of their way to do the right thing.

The charge is drunk in charge, so if your deemed to be behind the wheel and potentially in charge, they can prosecute, although its harder if you havent actually been cought driving, if you must sleep in your car sleep in the back with the keys out of the ignition.

[metalangel]

I don't think that's enough either, you've got the keys on your person. I've heard of people leaving a door unlocked, putting the keys on the ground or in a small pothole and then rolling the car on top of the keys so they're safe but on in their possession if a cop comes along.

Thing I wanna know is - suppose I am at work, decide to go out on the wazz and leave the car in the works parking lot cos I'm getting the train home? Could I be done with the keys in my pocket?

[joshmac]

If I was at work I'd stop serving someone who was acting at all drunk (did on my last shift), but like YC said, you can be well over the drink drive limit without coming across as completely fu**ed.
As for calling the police on one of my mates... I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that. I'd like to think so on principle, but in reality I'd probably just try to take their keys.

Interesting thread though

[Milky Bar Kid]

I don't think that's enough either, you've got the keys on your person. I've heard of people leaving a door unlocked, putting the keys on the ground or in a small pothole and then rolling the car on top of the keys so they're safe but on in their possession if a cop comes along.

Thing I wanna know is - suppose I am at work, decide to go out on the wazz and leave the car in the works parking lot cos I'm getting the train home? Could I be done with the keys in my pocket?


No. No. No. No. No!!

Bascially, if the 99% of us came across a guy sleeping in the back of his car with the keys either in a pocket or in a bag in the back with him we would probably have a word and give him "suitable advice".

If some jobsworth did breathalyse him and then arrest him for drunk in charge then I doubt very much that it would prove in court. Infact, I would bet a whole years salary that if it even went to court that the guy would be found not guilty.

And no, you cannot get done for having the keys in ur possession.

[Milky Bar Kid]

If I was at work I'd stop serving someone who was acting at all drunk (did on my last shift), but like YC said, you can be well over the drink drive limit without coming across as completely fu**ed.
As for calling the police on one of my mates... I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that. I'd like to think so on principle, but in reality I'd probably just try to take their keys.

Interesting thread though

And this seems a sensible idea...take keys, can't drive.

What if the person is an Ar$e with drink though? I have seem many occasion where friends have taken keys from "friends" who were about to drink drive and then the drunk "friend" phones us and says "HE'S TRYING TO STEAL MY CAR!"

[fizzwheel]

Umh... one of my friends was killed by a drunk driver in 2006, Pete was walking along the pavement on the way home from the pub, lad comes along the road, p*ssed out of his face, also high on good knows what, he aimed his car at some people that were crossing the road, and then floored the throttle he then lost control missed the people in the road, mounted the pavement, knocked over Pete who was minding his own business, left him lieing there reversed his car away and then drove off.

He was I think 3 times over the drink drive limit plus whatever else he had floating around his system.

The drivers friends, tried and succeded once in taking his car keys off him, he then went and got his spare set and drove away in his car.

Do what you can, if that means calling the Police or taking the keys away then do it, dont just sit there and do nothing, I know its not easy, two peoples lives got ruined that night, Petes, and the lad that was driving the car as I believe he is still serving his time behind bars, and I dread to think what the people that tried to stop him driving put themselves through when they found out what had happened...

[-Ralph-]

Thing I wanna know is - suppose I am at work, decide to go out on the wazz and leave the car in the works parking lot cos I'm getting the train home? Could I be done with the keys in my pocket?

No. No. No. No. No!!

Bascially, if the 99% of us came across a guy sleeping in the back of his car with the keys either in a pocket or in a bag in the back with him we would probably have a word and give him "suitable advice".

If some jobsworth did breathalyse him and then arrest him for drunk in charge then I doubt very much that it would prove in court. Infact, I would bet a whole years salary that if it even went to court that the guy would be found not guilty.

And no, you cannot get done for having the keys in ur possession.

Nice to know you can't get done for possession of keys, cos that's just daft.

I'll check next time I see my friend who lives near there, but I'm pretty sure a couple of people got done in the car park of The Owd Tythe Barn on the A6 at Garstang, North of Preston, for the example below, and that's where I got it from. It could just have been pub chatter though.

If you are in a pub and your car is in the car park, and your keys in your pocket, and you're ****ed, you go out to your car unlock it, take your mobile phone out of the glovebox, lock it and walk back into the pub, phone a taxi home. Are you a drink driver? No but you could still get done if there's a copper there when you unlock the car.

[boot]

A couple of years ago, I reported a stand holder leaving a well know equestrian event held at Badminton, he'd been drinking all day on his stand and was most certainly drunk. The response I got, was "what do you want us to do about it?". Seriously. I couldn't believe my ears. I responded that given I had an exceptional description of the van being driven, the plate number and the fact that the roads were practically grid-locked and police were manually controlling traffic, he shouldn't be difficult to find.

As for the original question. Report it. No questions.

If it was a mate - I'd give him the choice. Keys or be reported. That simple. There's no excuse.

I will happily drive a car having had a drink but remaining under the limit, but have never ridden the bike having had a drink.

[TazDaz]

My brother killed two of his passengers whilst drink driving. He's now in prison for the forseable future, and my mates know this, yet still a few of my mates continue to drive after 4-5 pints. I've lost patience with it and now just ensure I'm not on or near the roads later on a friday or saturday night.

Grassing them up to the police would do nothing but cause hassle for me.

[-Ralph-]

Grassing them up to the police would do nothing but cause hassle for me.

Honestly TazDaz, you can even refuse to give the police your name, the police wouldn't even mention that he had been reported, it would be "just a routine stop sir, while my colleague checks round your vehicle could you please blow into this tube?", they are great liars those coppers ;) You wouldn't need to give evidence 'cos he'll be taken down the cop shop for a blood test and that's all the evidence they need.

[amarko5]

might be handy for those that can't resist the drink

http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=188675

[-Ralph-]

I've got one, but I'm not sure it worked for very long and now I don't trust it, but then maybe I've not been over the limit the last few times I've used it. I'll have to remember to try it when caned one night and see if it works at all.