Having just seen this in the News Section
"Figures released by the (Northumbia) force showed that between December 10th and 16th, 13 per cent of drivers tested at random were above the legal alcohol or drug limit."
I don't think random testing is necessarily a bad thing but is it legal, yet? I thought one had to be involved in an accident, commit a moving traffic offence or give an officer reason to suspect that one had had a drink or two, before one could be breathalysed.
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I wondered this very thing two days ago.
My friend was driving (18y/o) us home after a night out. He had nothing to drink. He only passed his test two weeks ago and he drives really carefully. I can say that his driving was faultless during the time the police car was behind but she pulled him over anyway.
The officer just admitted that they're cracking down on drink drivers. She sent him on his way after seeing that he did not look or sound drunk.
I thought they needed reasonable cause to pull someone. I don't think they stick to the rules! This was at 1am.
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"I thought they needed reasonable cause to pull someone"
Probably in some American state, but in this country Police are empowered to stop any vehicle
under S159 of RTA without need for suspicion of any offence. The suspicion required for drink drugs test can be formed as the Officer speaks to the driver (i,e, smell or other physical symptom). Its an old power rigorously tested in the Courts as these things should be (as opposed to badly written legistlation as has been the norm of late). Police have also got a power to from checkpoints to undertake safety check. The first fallible item I'd check at such a point has nothing mechanical in its make up.
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there is no need at all for random breath test legislation... a 31mph driven car in a 30mph limit is a moving traffic offence... a slight deviation in path in a particular lane might give me cause to suspect the driver of having drunk alcohol etc
plus as PU says you can stop any driver you like to check their driving licence or insurance and then put your head right in their window to see if you can smell anything
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I'm usually against any of the new rules & regulations, that keep being applied, but when it comes down to a Police officer requiring a supposedly valid reason to stop a vehicle, that'd be crazy.
The countless times I've said to myself, while driving, or even as a pedestrian, I'd 'pull' that vehicle, is considerable.
That's even before the driver has been using the highway under the special dispensation for any skills whatsover, once entering the boudaries of Luton!
Stop everyone, that's what I say & I'll happily accept the officers request to present my documents at the designated Police station - even if does 'waste my valuable time'.
VB
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That's fine and I understand it - they can stop you without any reason if they feel like it. In the summer they could not pursue a stolen motorcycle because the rider/thief wasn't wearing a helmet (2 serious offences there) and if he fell off during the pursuit he could sue for injuries sustained. I know PU isn't an ass and nor are the police but I think the law may be!
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eee aawwwlways says that. The Law is pretty good on this. The reason not to pursue the helmetless motorcyclists was driven by a risk assessment rather than law....
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Ah, the dreaded Elf and Safety!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 25/12/2007 at 14:11
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Post Stockwell there's only one way its going though.
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ohhh yeesss......it's only going to get far worse
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HHeeeeyyyyyyyy PU.
Blow into this. Too much sherbert already?
Section is 163 (power to stop) not 159.......
...won't accept justy testing.......
...and you AS not spotting that. Severe reprimand Wing Commander.
Come 4.45pm and Dvd should be at the point of exploding...
Rgds all
dvd
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Sorry DVD - I am a bear with a very small brain! What didn't I spot, among many things in life? As we are into light hearted seasonal banter I have to tell you that I was a Wing Commander, but in the Air Force of a hot sandy place, and my arabic rank translated as "Leader of Eagles" - has a certain air to it I thought at the time. Now I am an NHS Admin and Clerical (Grade D) which doesn't have much of a ring to it at all!
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Jet Provosts by any chance ?
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No Jaguars - if your query was addressed to L of E!
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Interesting point, P.U. Here the decision whether or not to cease the pursuit is one of safety to the innocent bystanders, not the occupants of fleeing vehicles who regularly reduce the population by picking a high-speed fight with a power pole or bridge abutment etc. The decision is actually made from the Police control room, not by an adrenaline-filled pursuit driver.
We do have random breath testing and nobody except those caught complain about the booze-bus [ a mobile laboratory for taking blood samples at random testing positions.] Some people never learn though. A few days ago, a gentleman was caught with so much alcohol in the breath that he was hauled off to the Police station forthwith. Later bailed, he phoned his wife to come and collect him. She was sufficiently under the influence upon arrival at the Police station, that both ended up under arrest.
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Round here, if the police stopped and breathalised every driver with defective lights, they'd have more than enough to satisfy their statistics.
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On my first day here in Sweden, I got pulled at a Police checkpoint and breathalised. After blowing (and passing), and when he'd finished laughing at my paper driving licence, he said they have a target of 3000 breaht tests a month for the kommun (about 110,00 people). Drink driving is viewed as worse than bank robbery here, I think.
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So the police can stop any car at random? Not a problem for me.
Just the same as powers to stop a pedestrian, erm anywhere, anytime. Human Rights Act is still suspended, by the way.
Hang on a sec....
If the police can stop anyone anywhere for any reason... then we're back at the start. i.e. they can't stop EVERYONE. So it's extremely unlikely they'll stop ME.
So - Merry Christmas everyone!! Stop worrying!
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Good point Bilboman. It's all random really.
The people who say if you don't drink and drive you won't get into trouble for drink driving are quite right of course. It's the same in a way as saying that if you don't buy a lottery ticket you certainly wont win the lottery.
Nevertheless I wish the best of luck to all the careful, competent drink drivers out there.
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