slicksterjam

just like to say I totally agree with everything said about drink driving and to lose a relative or friend to a drink driver must be terrible, if the person involved had no respect for the laws I would not be trying to help at all but this person is a responsible driver and in helping another mate out (and his own doing of course) has got himself into this situation

Let this be a lesson to everyone if you have to drive don't drink at all

Abdabz

That's how I read it, in which case he wont be prosecuted at all... You have to fail both to reep the wrath of the bench...

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Agree with everything.

There are too may varibles to consider. Zero tollerance would get my vote.
Either drink or drive dont do both.

SJ_Skyline

I'm all for zero tollerance but there is always the issue of residual alcohol in the system, if you've had a glass of wine or two the night before or you've used an alcohol-based mouthwash. There has to be a sensible line drawn that allows for this.

Felix.

The test at the road is a screening test only. The procedure at the station gives the actual level of alcohol which is what is used. The second test would be used to show if he is at a level at which he can be charged and allowed to go off and drive again. Therefore the first test is the evidential one and he would be charged with those results unless it went to blood.

Chances are, he will be given a period of disqualification and a fine

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

I always thought that the police would ask you if you've had a drink within the last 20 minutes, if so, that you had to wait for 20 minutes for your body's alcohol levels to stabalise. If he was tested immediately maybe, just maybe he has a case.

No excuse for drink driving though, there are plenty of other non-alcholic drinks available for the driver.

matchmaker

Agree - if I'm driving I don't touch alcohol. At all. Period. I drink Diet Cokes or water. Trouble with the Cokes is that all the caffeine means I'm hyper for the rest of the night and can't get to sleep

EddScott

Been tested twice. First time it went red after 2 pints (what I thought was OK) at the station I blew 39 so they made me walk home and pick up my car the next day.

2nd time I knew I was over. Long story but I drove. I blew 49 so was given the choice for bloods which were still 42 or the equivilent (sp) thereof. 12 months and pretty much screwed me for 6 years.

If its under 40 its at their descretion (sp) anything over you got no chance.

Jerome

My understanding is that the limit is 35, but the breath test machine in the police station has a 4 point inaccuracy. For this reason they don't charge people getting a reading of 39 or less, even though you could be over the limit.

SteveScooby

iTrader: (2)

My forces poilcy is that:
If you blow 35-39 you don't get prosecuted.
If you blow 40-49 you are offered a blood test
If you blow 50+ you get prosecuted

Also you have to provide 2 samples at the station and they must be with a crtain percentage of each other. ie if you blow 41 and 58 within a few minutes of each other it's not a true result.

Unsure if it's the same across the country though

ChefDude

here's a formula up for discussion that i just created

mg per ml of blood = ((((abv*(pints_of_alcohol*0.568))*0.8)-(hours_since_consumption*0.75))*1000)/(your_wieght_in_kg*0.58)

1.5 pints of stella (3 shandys?) after 2 hours for an <ahem> 88kg bloke (me) would leave me at 40mg per 1000ml

(approximately)

that last 0.58 is for men. use 0.49 for women (water per weight conversion factor)

Spoon

Your point could have been made without using my post then as I know about the many different factors and didn't intimate otherwise.

SteveScooby

iTrader: (2)

You could have a pair of identical twins that are exactly the same height, weight and whatever else. They could drink exactly the same amount at the exactly the same time and still blow different amounts on a breathalyzer.

There is no exact formula to work out what you'll blow.

ChefDude

i did say approximately and you would be very silly to get your calculator out in the pub before driving home.

SteveScooby

iTrader: (2)

Easiest way is to not have a drop if you;re going to be driving, then you know for a fact you're fine.

Spoon

My missus has just said it's down to size with her if she had a preference.