A few weeks back I approached a car weaving from side to side on the northbound of the A1 dual carriage way close to where I live, I witnessed the driver nearly side smack 3 cars due to his obvious drunken state. I pulled over at the next layby and telephoned the police who took details of the car and said they would attempt to intercept the driver.
When I had heard nothing back from the police I assumed they did not catch him, that is until I read in my local paper a report of the driver being stopped, the time, date and where the call was made from matched my report of the drunken driver. The driver was reported as having 161 mltrs of alcohol in his blood 5 times the legal limit and had previously been banned for drink driving.
What surprises me was that although I witnessed him nearly collide with 3 cars and other cars had to brake when they seen him swerving all over the place, it appears from the report that I was the only one that rang in. Although I am pleased they have not contacted me since as a witness to the manner of his driving I was surprised they did not, or is it sufficient evidence just to rely on the blood alcohol results.
Any way I am pleased to have been instrumental in removing one more drink driver from the roads. It is reported he now faces a custodial sentence.
Edited by mal on 07/12/2007 at 11:45
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Mal, first of all, well done for not ignoring this. A couple of years back I witnessed some awful, dangerous driving on the M8 and phoned the police. They too told me they would try to intercept the car but I didn't hold out much hope. Several miles further up, there it was parked up next to a Traffic car.
Unfortunately, altrhough you have taken a drunk off the road, with his history it doesn't look good that he will stay off the road!
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2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS
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No you're ok, unless he was fast asleep in bed when they tubed him your evidence of manner of driving would not have been required and you were sensibly kept out of it. Basically all that happens is that the Officers form a suspicion enough once they get your call, all they had to do was see him on the road and Bingo enough to stop him, even if his driving was perfect at that point.
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Yes, I meant to add well done.
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Further to what PU has said, it can be preferable to keep the case 'simple' and if they've got the evidence they need to proceed, they don't need to risk muddying the waters by involving other people
A quick phone call from the control room might have been courteous though...but often depends how busy they are
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Well done Mal ! Not many people would bother reporting somthing like this.
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That is correct , Rover, it is a sad indictment that many people turn a blind eye to criminal activity because they do not want to get involved. From experience I can in a way empathise with that. Some may recall the time I was main witness to a an accident in which 2 people were killed. At the inquest I was not prepared for the kind of cross examination that I was subjected to,I had to remember details regarding speeds, distances and positions of vehicles from way back, On answering questions one of my answers regarding speed, distance and positions differed slightly from my original statement and WHAM!!! I was made to feel like I was in the dock in a court of law!!!. On leaving the inquest somewhat mentally bruised I thought to myself never again!!. But, I suppose conscience would prevail if there were another time.
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Unfortunately altrhough you have taken a drunk off the road with his history it doesn't look good that he will stay off the road!>>
How about?
1st offence - ban
2nd offence - custodial, followed by ban
3rd offence - loss of body part
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i think if you want head, you may be on the wrong forum
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A couple of years ago I was on the M1 northbound in the Trajet with the family in heavy traffic. Average speed was no more than 60mph at best. I saw in my mirrors a bright yellow low slung sports car weaving in and out of the traffic causing cars to brake. As he got near me I identified the car as a Porsche GT3 and rang the police from the car.
The GT3 went past me in the same fashion as before and about two miles later we came to a service station with a patrol car waiting on the slip road. He pulled in behind the GT3 and followed him for several miles at a nice 55mph in the inside lane. The porker driver got the message when I overtook him and my wife waved nicely at him!
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