pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Loads of spot checks, loads of people I know getting stopped but not me ?

I have never been breathalysed in 12 years of driving, 10 of which have been in Imprezas.

I've been stopped and asked if I've had a drink, saying no has always seen me on my way ..

I actually don't drink much and never drive (zero limit as far as I'm concerned) but I feel left out ..

Do you lot get stopped much this time of year?

donny andi

iTrader: (3)

Been driving 20 years and my first and only breath test was when I wrapped the wr1 up

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

For Christmas?

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

The only time Ive been breathalysed was Christmas time last year whilst working in Brighton, Police were doing stop checks first thing in the morning.

^Qwerty^

Twice for me. First time was comical. I was working at a supermarket on the graveyard shift and the plod car was in the car park when I left. They followed me out and stopped me 100yards down the road.

Asked if I'd been drinking etc. I couldn't help but laugh, but then got a lecture it not being funny and people getting killed etc, to which I agreed but pointed out that they had just seen me come out of work and I nor my employer were really into drinking at work.

Anyway, the crystals (years ago) didn't go the wrong colour, so I was free to go.

It was only at the end when the SGT pointed out that the PC doing all the talking was training.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Twice, well 3 times if you count one they did at my former place of work.

1st time was when someone decided to pull out in front of me from a junction, I was about 10 foot away when she started to move, and travelling at 40mph.

Made a mess of both cars, she left the scene and I got breathalysed and a load of hassle from her insurance, even though they'd accepted she was liable for it.

That was 10am on a Sunday morning, clear breath sample.

2nd time was one evening on my way home from work. Some ******* daft cow decided to do a U-turn across the front of me, on a dual carriageway, at the end of the soft central reservation. Not surprisingly that was clear, also, since it was over 20 hours since I'd had a drink.

If something had been coming the other way, I wouldn't be here to type this now.

3rd time, I blew just over half the drink drive limit at 7am on a Monday morning. That was part of my former employers drink and drug testing routine.

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

I have had about 4 I recall//the most memorable was after going into a police station to see how my mate was after being arrested for fighting with the local butcher after sniffing too much evo stick...lol it was the 80s

LVC

Several times (quite common in France) but as I don't drink alcohol it's never a problem.

However I did manage to "help" a drunk driver lose his license - followed him for a while whilst he was zigzagging all over the road, crossing the solid white line on blind bends - eventually I overtook (was in the WRX) to which he took exception and then proceeded to flash and gesticulate - shortly afterwards I came across 3 bike Gendarmes doing a radar check - rolled straight up to them and explained the situation, gave them the reg and description of the "dangerous driver". They sped off and I later caught them up, they'd stopped the chap: 70 years old with his misses in the car, so drunk he couldn't even stand straight while the copper was speaking to him. At that age and that much over of the limit his license was immediately and permanently revoked.

I hate drunk drivers - no excuse for anyone to drink and drive in my book.

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

I've been breathalysed 3 times, first was xmas eve about 12 years ago, I had a pint at lunchtime and then went to a mates house at tea time, I blew mid teens.

the last time was last xmas, I had just finished rewiring a flat above a pub and drove to the local take away, I was followed from the pub and blocked in when I parked up outside the takeaway, I blew zero

I can't believe some people's attitude towards drink driving though, a joiner I work with has been caught 3 times , he just doesn't think it's bad

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Many many times, sometimes more than once a night back in the day. I used to collect the little sticks and ended up with quite a pile in the glove box.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Only once, and never around Christmas.

I don't drink, so always end up being designated driver, especially at this time of year.

SJ_Skyline

Once, 11 years ago after I buggered up my Impreza.

Anger

iTrader: (4)

Once after I hit a kid who ran out in front of me

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

i blew a big fat zero after 8bottles of export, i asked plod to check to see if i could drive home after a row with the wife, i baby sat from 6pm until 1am and drank them in that timespan and blew zero at about 1.30am even the copper was gobsmacked, drove home job done no more row

Brun

Once, 18 years ago. Don't know what I blew but I'd has a pint (passed btw).
Anyone own up to failing?

shooter007

After a car bumped into my BT van I reported to my company, my company reported to police. Had to report to nearest police station after my shift. Bump occurred at 7.45am, I attended police station with details at 16.30 pm when I was breathalysed. ?????

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Every year i get stopped on a certain road for a spot check, but it isn't obligatory so what the fecking point is, i really dont know when most people say no i dont want to do it and then carry on their way :s

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

They are bang on it where I live, if you go anywhere near the town late at night you're guaranteed to get stopped.
Both times I've been breathalyzed I was in my GTi6. Once me and a mate went out for a meal and was stopped on my way to work nights. I took the option to say no when asked if I'd had a drink and the female officer took exception to me lying, even though I was under the limit. They made us park up and leave the car overnight and walk .
Funnily enough finishing work at about 11pm every night at my old work I was stopped all the time in my WRX, but never breathalyzed.

They seem to be spending more time doing morning after checks around here lately, so I'm paranoid about having a beer or 2 at home.

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

I've been stopped a number of the is my youth, but only when I had a Nissan Bluebird! Best was the coppers who watched me pull off from the promenade outside a nightclub and followed me all the way along worthy seafront, I got bored of being followed and pulled over and stopped. At which point they got out to talk to me asking why I'd stopped. I just told them I was saving them wasting anymore time and told them to get on with breath aliasing me!( I'd been stopped the night before twice and tested). As I only ever used to have a bottle when I got to the club around 10 then water from then on I knew I was fine.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Been breathalyser a number of times. On every occasion bar one I was stopped for something trivial or I was already stationary. Everytime bar one I had zero to drink, and on several occasion the copper was adamant they could smell alcohol on my breath.

Obviously saying they can smell alcohol when me or nobody else in the car has touched a drop doesnt go down well - I can't stand a lying copper. If they wanted to breath test all they had to do was ask, rather than invent some excuse to force me to have one. Never once have I been uncooperative or abusive and I'm always polite, so there is just no need.

Ironically the time I had two tins at my mates and was stopped on the way home due to tripping the ANPR I wasn't breathalysed


Plod was out in full force last night doing random stop checks on main roads, I do have to question if the resources required to do this are really worth it, if I were to drive pissed (not that I do or condone it ), I'd proactively avoid the main roads and stick to the residential back roads and country lanes - which is where most accidents are likely to occur.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

To be fair, if they are out, they can still respond to calls and if they deter and save one person, it's worth it.

Especially if that person saved is one of my kids.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I think my point is really that I do know a few people in the local pubs that do drink and drive. I think I'm not alone in thinking these types of people exist across the uk.

The thing is over the christmas period they don't drive - they say too many coppers about, but once new years etc is over they are back to the same old routine. Still drinking 3+ pints and jumping into the car parked right outside.

That's why I don't think these checks will catch the right people, the odd person who usually doesn't drink and drive...but misses the habitual year-round drink driver.

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

I was under the impression that what changed most over the Christmas period was that drink-drive 'campaigns' are far more heavily advertised/publicized, precisely to deter non-habitual culprits from making a mistake that they're more likely to regret than a year-round drink-driver (who by definition obviously doesn't give a **ss), and in actual fact the number of checks carried out isn't very different from other times of year.

I could be wrong of course, and I'm not sure how you'd go about finding something like this out - maybe an FOI request to the right govt department?

r32

Never been done, they should stop more people in my opinion. Drink driving is a huge no no.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

twice in my life: once after being pulled for speeding in a MkI Escort Mexico, and again last summer...in France

The first was because they were peeved because I spotted them and brought my speed under control before they'd done the regulated 2/10th mile..

ScoobyWon't

I failed once. It was in a class room, whilst being trained to use the device. Blew 0, then took a 10ml shot of cheap whisky, waited 15 mins, blew over the limit by quite a long way, just on that tiny sip.

Never been stopped, let alone breathalysed on the road.

Ant

a women in our area killed 3 people and injured others last friday due to being drunk behind the wheel.

Such a shame

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/upd...rash-1-6330541

97TURBO

Had to do it after a bloke ran out in front of me and got launched over the bonnet.

I also tipped off the police about a guy a couple of doors down from us at our old house.
He was caught within 3 days as he came home virtually every night half cut, staggering out of his car.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I tend to be of the same opinion, as bad as it is, those that are regulars are safer than those doing it once a year...

All need to be caught though ..

David Lock

In the many years that I have been driving I have seen a complete social change. My early driving was pre-breathalyzer and now and again I was stopped and asked what my number plate was. But I avoided the "can you walk in a straight line" test. In those days it was pretty "acceptable" to drink and drive. Now and again one of your mates got into trouble and with a few serious injuries. But fewer and slower cars of course. Certainly I was over what would be the limit now and again but we didn't really care as we raced each other back from a late night bierkeller and a midnight film in London.

Now of course drink driving is a big no no and I have changed completely although I still like to visit a country pub and have a pint - no busses or affordable taxis around here. My kids completely accept the no drink concept.

Cheers,dl