ahar

iTrader: (3)

To play devils advocate, if I got caught then I'm not convinced I wouldn't try every trick in the book to get the punishment reduced or get off on a technicality.

Wonder how many of you posting could honestly say different?

That doesn't make it right, but human nature is what it is.

GC8WRX

what do you have to say now eh pal?

GC8WRX

agreed but coppers do seem to never feel the FULL extent of the law, whay is that?


To quote lisa simpson "who will police the police"

boomer

Why would i bother as i have a UK government leaflet in front of me called "THAT'S THE LIMIT" that says

which is precisely what L.J.F said!!

It is up to you to confirm your statement that..

...or your argument is worthless!

What? The fact that i completely disproved your pathetic "so called" fact? You can't read much

mb

Richie856

So mate, tell us what's happened to you to give you such a dislike for the police? I take it you don't phone the pigs if you have a problem?
Is it only this one incident that you're basing your argument that cops never get done?
I've read stuff in the paper about cops speeding on duty/no blues etc and getting done and thinking that a civvie in the similar position wouldn't get a penalty as severe. The cop was made an example of even though he was a highly trained driver etc.
Without either of us actually being in court to hear all the details, we're never getting the full story reading it in the papers.
Do we know that some civvies haven't received a ban based on the same defence?

Jap Import

Moving away from the OP.........................

I can entirely understand GC8WRX's bitter taste towards the corrupt English Police force.
With an uncle (now retired from the force), i had the the utmost respect for the Police and the job they do.
Until........... I was pulled for going through a GREEN light, that was so called RED
Funny that the light was actually green, and that it took quarter of a mile before the riot van with 6 Police officers pulled me.
I was given the spill from one copper who was clearly a noob and his spill was corrected and finished by another officer.
After disputing the colour of the light, I was also told that if I carry on with the dispute it was noticed that I also had two bold front tyres, which was total bollox. I knew that it was not possible for them to get me on this but being young and my word against 6 policemen, it wasn't a game I was going to win.
I now have NO respect for our Police force whatsoever. And if and when I did ever need the Police, I know it would be less hassle to solve the problem myself As with many UK citizens.

I'm not saying they're all corrupt, but it's becoming more and more clear why people are taking the law into their own hands

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

That's a really sad story, but I personally wouldn't tar every copper just because of that.

There's good and bad everywhere, be it coppers or binmen! It's kinda like saying that you hate all women because some bird dumped you! Or you hate all muslims be use 'some' of them are terrorists!

As far as taking the law into your own hands, come on! Depending on what has happened I'm sure that most people would WANT to do that but it takes a certain 'type' to actually do it.

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

In principle I agree with you BUT intent has to be taken into account.

IF you can 100% guarantee that you have never been over the limit (unless of course you don't drink lol) I think you would be in a massive minority. Most people who drink alcohol will have driven at some point whilst over the limit with no consequences, probably by having 'one for the road' or driving the morning after, or perhaps you've had a glass of wine with dinner and a sherry trifle or amaretto or tiramisu which can all be made with high alcohol levels.

alan.g.01

iTrader: (2)

had loads a hassle over this, how many people drink & drive ?? more than you think, how many people drive to work the next day still drunk, but these all say i dont drink & drive , think again if the pigs pulled u over u wouldnt pass the breath test

Leslie

Would you agree that it is a matter of personal responsibility and common sense?

If you do those things as you mention and get caught for it wouldn't you agree that you deserve to get done if you are over the limit?

The law is pretty precise about it as well.

Les

douglasb

Basically, different people metabolise alcohol at different rates. (And the same person may metabolise alcohol at different rates from one day to the next). One unit per hour may be an average, but it would be dangerous to use that as a guideline for any individual case as that may not be the rate at which the inividual is metabolising the alcohol and there are too many other variables.

What weight is the person having had the drinks? A larger person has more blood in their body than a smaller person so the same quantity of alcohol will be more dilute in a larger person and so will (in general) produce a lower blood alcohol count than in a smaller person.

Are they male or female? In general, men metabolise alcohol faster than women so the count comes down quicker.

Are they a regular drinker? If they are, the liver will be geared up to produce the enzymes that metabolise alcohol and thus will start clearing the alcohol from the system faster than in someone who only ever has a glass of sherry each Christmas.

What and when did they last eat? If they are drinking on an empty stomach the BAC will rise to a peak very quickly. If they've just had a large curry the speed of absorption of alcohol into the blood will be slower. The end result is that on an empty stomach the peak BAC is higher and sooner than the peak when drinking on an empty stomach. But alcohol will be present in the blood for longer when drinking on a full stomach simply because it takes longer for it to get into the bloodstream.

Exactly what did they drink and how long did they take to drink it?

There are other factors as well, but that gives you a few reasons why the "one unit per hour" rule is flawed.

speedking

You probably need to be good at maths as well

Leslie

There is only one positive answer to the problem when you think about it.

Les

speedking

We have digressed from the OP, but I doubt that there is any scientific evidence that a sip of beer will affect your ability to drive. In fact wasn't there some research that showed that a small amount of alcohol improved driver's awareness.

What's the point of enforcing a zero limit if it has no scientific backing and there are so many innocent reasons that people might exceed it.

Similar to imposing a blanket 10mph speed limit, but without the obvious safety benefits.

I think the current limit strikes the right balance.

stef_2010

iTrader: (3)

I'm with you on this

When I was 17 I done something pretty stupid, so it wasnt like they picked on me for no reason but they felt the need to beat me up pretty bad

I'm quite a small/skinny guy so at 17 I must have been tiny, that didn't stop them commiting what can only be described as assualt though, I was throw onto the road face first, had 2 cop sitting on the back of each knee cap, 1 on my back, 1 holding my head, while the other proceeded to punch me multiple times in the head, the female officer actually looked quite shocked

They tar all us with the same brush so I'm doing the same with them, I hate them all, with a passion

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely, but we all know that speeding can lead to accidents but people still speed. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

At the end of the day, if you go to the pub and drink, then get in a car and drive, you are guilty of drinking and driving. If you get up in the morning and you're over the limit, you're technically guilty of the same crime but the intent is completely different, that was my point. The punishment of summary lifetime ban could not be condoned IMHO in the second case as the person may genuinely not have known they were over the limit.

Leslie

If you do speed however, you run the risk of getting caught and it will cost, maybe even your licence depending on circumstances. Fairly cut and dried really. You made the decision to break the law at the time.

If you are a bit close to the drink limit, but you are not sure, if you take another drink then yet again you are pushing your luck, and maybe even someone else's! If you get caught, it is still down to you.

If you drive the next morning after a skinful, once again you are pushing your luck...you know the score, and if you do get caught, the fact is that you have been caught driving over the limit whether you meant to or not. You are still just as guilty whether you like it or not. Whether you knew it or not, the possibility is there. There is no defence!

The only real answer is not to drink and drive and then you cannot be caught for it accidentally by accepting "one for the road". As I said, a matter of personal responsibility.

Les

Tidgy

you have more than the legal limit of booze in your system you get banned. if you have so much that your still over the limit the next morning then don't drive, as a drive you have a responsability to make sure your not drugged up when you drive, be it alcohol or other drugs for that mater.

there is no way to defend it and no possible justification for getting caught over the limit, that night or morning after.

speedking

I would agree that with the current limit there is a level of impairment that the driver should be aware of. However if the limit was zero then it would be extremely difficult (I would say impossible) to judge when you could drive after say drinking a small glass of sherry.

Steve.

No there are always exceptional circumstances allowed for anyone, officer or not.

Steve.

Thats generally incorrect.

You tend to find that people committing driving offences are committing other offences and that history has an effect on length of sentence / seriousness of future punishments.

Police Officers if they commit a crime its usually their first and last hence the more lenient approach; they made a career being a Police Officer not of crime.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Well, I've read some b/s in my time.............

So..........the police officer who got away with NO punishment after being caught driving his police Vectra at over 140mph, doesn't exist? Or got no punishment BECAUSE he wasn't a career criminal?

Then what of the local businessman jailed for doing 140mph near Scunny? First offence. A career criminal? I think not. One rule for them, one for the rest of us.

And just to go back to the op, can anyone explain, or justify whay we have one of, if not THE highest limits for alcohol when driving in Europe?

Most other states are 5/8 ours, or zero. WHY do we hang on to this relatively high level, yey spend millions each year trying to get folk not to overdo it? We are either bothered, or not. It's no good just paying lip service.

Steve.

i can quote you just as many if not more cases involving career criminals who have got away with offence after offence.

The law isnt written in stone and its for judges and jury to look at evidence and circumstances.

to suggest that Police get special treatment more than anyone else is utter ****e.

mattsan

I haven't lived in the UK for over 3 years but very rarely got pulled for a breath test when i did. Over here we have RBT sites the police let everyone know that they are having a drink drive blitz by advertising on the radio and in the papers, but around 5% of people stopped still get done for drink driving, and a few for drugs. They always shut roads in and out of the city at certain points around 7pm onwards but some people still think it's ok to have one for the road. They even set one up on the motorway at midnight earlier in the year and as I was on call that Saturday night saw at least 7 cars at the side of the road that the drivers had been done. They print the numbers pulled and amount that got done for drink driving or drugs in the paper the next day. The limit is 0.05 what is it in the UK?

Tidgy

judges are suposed to look on every idividual offence on its own merit, but then when found guilty take into account previous record for sentancing.

police do get special treatment at times? juries out on that one for me lol

any one remember the 100mph and ban rule?

Police super got given 6 points and £350 fine for doining 104mph. mate got done a couple of months later and guess what hey got? yep 6 points and £350 fine, the supers case was used as the reason for not being given a ban. does sound fishy to me.

Richie856

Remember that if someone gets off without a ban etc etc, it's not that persons fault, whether they're a cop or not, it's entirely down to the judge/sheriff.
Some people are like 'f***ing pigs don't get done'....it's not the police who letting them off!!
As above for the 100mph ban....have F1 drivers not got away with a fine in the past where their lawyers have argued how good a driver they are etc??
So I think it's individual circumstances.
Remember that cop that got done for throwing some women into a cell?
Found not guilty at court....still sacked from work.
Not driving related but that's a part that I imagine wouldn't happen to most in other jobs?

Felix.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-arrested.html

The plot thickens........

Tidgy

he can;t tell what hes drinking?

i thought the legal limit was 35mg per 100ml?

belliott69

iTrader: (3)

same here, so an extra 50 mg's on top and he didn't realise, i have a very strong smell of bull**** from his direction.

billyray911

iTrader: (4)

The prescribed limits are:
35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milllitres of breath
80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine