[News] Drink / Drugs checks

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Were they parked up just off the road in the nearby doctors surgery Road? I saw a few cars there last night coming back from the gym around 7.15pm.

There were a few officers stationed either side of the road, I didn’t really understand what was happening and just drove past.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Are they officially allowed to do random checks nowadays?

Yes. They have been for years, if not decades. It’s why they’re allowed to do this Xmas thing.

 

[Lenny Rider]

They were out opposite my office by Broadwater Green the other morning between 7.30-9, stopping every third car, the word on the street was, (We have our own local Huggy Bear, Mavis, 72) that at least half a dozen people tested positive and were subsequently nicked.

I can’t comment about the weed issue as Ive never smoked it, but the morning after drink wise is a very grey area, if you really have pissed it up the night before, but have done the right thing and got a cab home, it’s still an issue because we’ve all obviously got different metabolisms.

To reiterate the original poster, stay safe and think about what you are doing during the festive period.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Outside the Southern Water treatment place at Telscombe this morning apparently.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

They were out opposite my office by Broadwater Green the other morning between 7.30-9, stopping every third car, the word on the street was, (We have our own local Huggy Bear, Mavis, 72) that at least half a dozen people tested positive and were subsequently nicked.

I can’t comment about the weed issue as Ive never smoked it, but the morning after drink wise is a very grey area, if you really have pissed it up the night before, but have done the right thing and got a cab home, it’s still an issue because we’ve all obviously got different metabolisms.

To reiterate the original poster, stay safe and think about what you are doing during the festive period.

It is grey and we are indeed all different.

As a very rough rule of thumb, each unit of alcohol takes 1 hour to process out of the bloodstream, starting from when you finished your last drink. Eg 4 pints ~8 units finished at midnight = should be legal by ~8am. 2 bottles of wine, ~12 units, finished at 11pm = should be legal by ~11am. The drive to work next morning can be the jeopardy.

Abstinence is the wise choice ...

 

[schmunk]

It is grey and we are indeed all different.

As a very rough rule of thumb, each unit of alcohol takes 1 hour to process out of the bloodstream, starting from when you finished your last drink. Eg 4 pints ~8 units finished at midnight = should be legal by ~8am. 2 bottles of wine, ~12 units, finished at 11pm = should be legal by ~11am. The drive to work next morning can be the jeopardy.

Abstinence is the wise choice ...

I think you're underestimating the alcohol units there:

4 pints of Harvey's Best = 9 units
4 pints of Brewdog Punk = 12 units

2 bottles of wine @ 13% ABV = 20 units

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I think you're underestimating the alcohol units there:

4 pints of Harvey's Best = 9 units
4 pints of Brewdog Punk = 12 units

2 bottles of wine @ 13% ABV = 20 units

I think a lot of people still use that old two units per pint calculation that is now very old and makes no allowance for different beer strengths.

Ultimately, if you need to drive the next morning, you need to think carefully about your consumption the night before (easily said I know).

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

It is grey and we are indeed all different.

As a very rough rule of thumb, each unit of alcohol takes 1 hour to process out of the bloodstream, starting from when you finished your last drink. Eg 4 pints ~8 units finished at midnight = should be legal by ~8am. 2 bottles of wine, ~12 units, finished at 11pm = should be legal by ~11am. The drive to work next morning can be the jeopardy.

Abstinence is the wise choice ...

I think if I had drunk two bottles of wine I’d be lucky to be able to stand up the next day let alone drive!!

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

It is grey and we are indeed all different.

As a very rough rule of thumb, each unit of alcohol takes 1 hour to process out of the bloodstream, starting from when you finished your last drink. Eg 4 pints ~8 units finished at midnight = should be legal by ~8am. 2 bottles of wine, ~12 units, finished at 11pm = should be legal by ~11am. The drive to work next morning can be the jeopardy.

Abstinence is the wise choice ..

That's not the legal limit that you've calculated, that's zero alcohol in your system.
Using your rough rule of thumb, you'd be legal to drive below the limit earlier than the times quoted.

 

[Petunia]

I’ve been stopped by the booze bus a few times, they pull the majority in and test for both booze & drugs. Happy to say I’ve been zero each time

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think a lot of people still use that old two units per pint calculation that is now very old and makes no allowance for different beer strengths.

Ultimately, if you need to drive the next morning, you need to think carefully about your consumption the night before (easily said I know).

Yes, I saw a case where a groom had been breathalysed the following morning, and arrested, on the way to his wedding!

 

[vegster]

There are so few cops about these days it's probably only this time of year you are likely to get stopped. Can imagine drink driving is more common than we think.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Are they officially allowed to do random checks nowadays? Not that it made any difference, they could always make something up, and anyone who got caught would be wasting time trying to argue that they shouldn't have been stopped.

I was once stopped randomly and the policeman's excuse was that "there had been a lot of Austin Maestros stolen recently". Come off it. They could have found a more likely excuse, such as "we saw Prince Philip dressed as a lizard man and thought you were going to be abducted to an alien spaceship".

clearly they thought you were wrong ’un …. Who knew.

 

[Commander]

I got pulled over in Brighton on the way to work in December a couple of years ago. I said to the copper it's an odd time to be breathalising people, at 9am on a Friday. He said it's to catch people who have been out the night before and are still over the limit.

Now I'm not condoning somebody driving the next morning when they are still over the limit, but I did think it was an odd demographic to be actively trying to catch, when if they sat down the road from any country pub in Sussex and breathalised people coming home from them they'd find numerous people who think it's OK to have three or four pints and drive. And presumably those people are much more likely to kill someone than someone who is a bit bleary eyed from the Christmas party the night before but has had a night's sleep.

 

[jackalbion]

I solve this problem by not driving.

 

[jessiejames]

Are they officially allowed to do random checks nowadays? Not that it made any difference, they could always make something up, and anyone who got caught would be wasting time trying to argue that they shouldn't have been stopped.

I was once stopped randomly and the policeman's excuse was that "there had been a lot of Austin Maestros stolen recently". Come off it. They could have found a more likely excuse, such as "we saw Prince Philip dressed as a lizard man and thought you were going to be abducted to an alien spaceship".

Pulled over in car for having window all way down. Apparently DD use fresh air to keep them away and aware.

 

[AlbionBro]

Ironically this was reported on today

A scientist who helped design breathalysers has been banned for drink driving.

Dr Richard Lacey, 70, mounted a roundabout in his car after drinking wine and “a couple of pints” with his lunch.

When police were called to the scene they found that the retired scientist was “wobbly” and breathalysed him, Llandrindod Wells magistrates’ court heard.

Shane Maddocks, prosecuting, said that after police arrived at the roundabout on the A479 near Talgarth in the Brecon Beacons on Nov 23, they found Lacey’s car “damaged, its right wheel was twisted, which had rendered the vehicle immobile”.

Doctors drink like fishes, and to think we let them sometimes let them cut us up. I hope they are breathalysed before clocking in each shift.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I solve this problem by not driving.

Same. I hate driving, am rubbish at it, it’s best for everyone if I’m not on the road.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Doesn't really seem fair to have your life ruined through consuming a natural substance, which should certainly be legal, several days ago and no longer under any of its effects.

Would be interesting to know how enforceable it has been as a law.

But yes, be careful. Two pints can put many people over the limit.

Absurd post. When I used to smoke weed there is no way I would have driven. It would have been madness.

And one pint will put many over the limit.

 

[Mustafa II]

Absurd post. When I used to smoke weed there is no way I would have driven. It would have been madness.

And one pint will put many over the limit.

If you're saying you wouldn't have driven for several days after smoking weed, then you're probably lying.