Alcohol and sleeping in your motorhome (1 Viewer)

Oct 8, 2014
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I'm a newbie and always will be. You never know it all.
It all seems like mountains and molehills to me. I have never seen any information relating to prosecution for the offense or indeed any individual who can say they have been questioned by the Police.
As the old Yorkshire saying goes
"Use thee loaf an act rate ith edd" ;)

If you have a striped shirt on, your wearing a black mask and have bag over your shoulder with Swag written on it whilst standing outside the bank at midnight, expect to get your collar felt. :whistle:
And even then I've got my doubts :rolleyes:
 
Apr 10, 2010
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How about asking the landlord to hold the M/H keys behind the bar until the next day's opening time?
Welcome to the forum. Your suggestion has the right approach but with a significant flaw: how do get in then set the alarm before going to bed?

Enjoy motorhoming when you get one.
 

John & Joan

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If you have a striped shirt on, your wearing a black mask and have bag over your shoulder with Swag written on it whilst standing outside the bank at midnight, expect to get your collar felt. :whistle:
And even then I've got my doubts :rolleyes:
Apparently not the case barsteward. It was reported recently that police cannot stop a known criminal, on suspicion of going prepared to commit a crime any longer. They actually have to be caught in the act now.
 

JockandRita

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Apparently not the case barsteward. It was reported recently that police cannot stop a known criminal, on suspicion of going prepared to commit a crime any longer. They actually have to be caught in the act now.
Is that right? :eek: If it is, then how ridiculous is that? Gordon Bl##dy Bennett. :mad:

Jock. :(

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suavecarve

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Aug 18, 2009
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Apparently not the case barsteward. It was reported recently that police cannot stop a known criminal, on suspicion of going prepared to commit a crime any longer. They actually have to be caught in the act now.
This is complete news to me. The offence of going equipped still exists to my knowledge and is also covered by the powers within a search under PACE.
The fact that the CPS may not charge may be their decision, but the law is still there.
I did lose one job on Going Equipped when he said "I went out to do a burglary but changed my mind and was going home when officer stopped me"
He was therefore stating he was "Going home equipped" !!!
 
Dec 24, 2014
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Ever since lighting was by Calor gas.
Apparently not the case barsteward. It was reported recently that police cannot stop a known criminal, on suspicion of going prepared to commit a crime any longer. They actually have to be caught in the act now.

Oh dear, I'd better remove my comprehensive tool kit from the m/h or get some business cards printed:

'SPRIDDLER SECURITY SERVICES'
Locksmith to the nobility.
Mobile 24hr emergency service.
Motorhomes a speciality.


That should keep me safe from suspicion.

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suavecarve

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http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/25

"A person shall be guilty of an offence if, when not at his place of abode, he has with him any article for use in the course of or in connection with any burglary or theft"
i was thinking of the crimes act 1958
<Broken link removed>
and in particular : committing a burglary, theft or cheat shall be evidence that he had it with him for such use. and therefore if he was on the way home he did not have it for such use.
This was the one we used to charge them under.
Even less interesting was before i went to the dark side i was a store detective and foil lined bags were all the rage. In order to legally detain somebody an arrestable offence had to have been committed. In those days an arrestable defence was determined as an "Over 5 year" offence. Going equipped was a 2 year offence. We still detained for them but i cant remember under what power for civilians.
If you or someone else you know suffers from insomnia, read my post again or try reading PACE 1984 it is proven to be better than Night nurse
 

suavecarve

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Yes, if you were in the state of Victoria in Australia, I guess that's the relevant one :)
wow i quoted aussie. I could have sworn it was 1953 as well.

Where is the amateur button ?

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Robert Phillips

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Aug 17, 2017
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Hi
New to motor homing and am similarly concerned about this issue.
But I think Cavs has it nailed...
When in a pub car park....
'How about asking the landlord to hold the M/H keys behind the bar until the next day's opening time?'
How difficult can it be to open up the van and drop the keys back behind the bar? How big can a pub car park be?!
Rob
 
Jun 30, 2010
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Another thing to watch out for is the Morning after the booze up!

A Plumber here in Cornwall was picked up P I C @11.30 AM after a night at the pub. He went to bed at midnight and started work at 0800hrs.
 

Jackcs

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Mar 15, 2018
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I am no expert in road traffic law but Section (2) of the Road traffic Act 1988 states;

"a person who, when in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle which is on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence."

Where as Section 4(3) states;

"For the purposes of subsection (2) above, a person shall be deemed not to have been in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle if he proves that at the material time the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving it so long as he remained unfit to drive through drink or drugs."

Also there are several other laws that count camper vans as vehicles when they are being driven but count them as domiciles whilst they are being slept in. So I think you would have a legal defense if you got arrested but if the officer your dealing with has any doubts or concerns you will likely just be arrested and the officer will leave it to the CPS or court to decide whether you have committed an offence.

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Oct 12, 2009
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Another possibilty is to give the keys to my girlfriend who would swear blind that she would refuse to give them back if I tried to drive till I was under the limit - in Polish and demand a translator.

She could not be accused of being in charge as she has no C1 licence and has never driven the MH.

Geoff
 
Aug 18, 2011
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Think this could be the new alternative to GASSING and A.Frames,,bring it on,,,BUSBY:D2:D2
 
Aug 26, 2008
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Think this could be the new alternative to GASSING and A.Frames,,bring it on,,,BUSBY:D2:D2

Yes, but have you considered sleeping it off while strapped to your A-Frame and wearing a gas mask? :rolleyes:
 
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Jim

Jim

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I am no expert in road traffic law but Section (2) of the Road traffic Act 1988 states;

"a person who, when in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle which is on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs is guilty of an offence."

Where as Section 4(3) states;

"For the purposes of subsection (2) above, a person shall be deemed not to have been in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle if he proves that at the material time the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving it so long as he remained unfit to drive through drink or drugs."

Also there are several other laws that count camper vans as vehicles when they are being driven but count them as domiciles whilst they are being slept in. So I think you would have a legal defense if you got arrested but if the officer your dealing with has any doubts or concerns you will likely just be arrested and the officer will leave it to the CPS or court to decide whether you have committed an offence.

No argument there. That's pretty much what the article says.
 
Dec 20, 2010
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Laws, the police can say anything, your word against there's. Who do the court believe.
That is why they do not like being filmed, saying that is illegal to film them. It is not against the law to film in a public place.

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Oct 12, 2009
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Laws, the police can say anything, your word against there's. Who do the court believe.
That is why they do not like being filmed, saying that is illegal to film them. It is not against the law to film in a public place.

So if the Police allege you are drunk in charge 'in a public place' they cannot allege it is illegal for you to be filming.

At that point they might decide it is time for their tea break and a bacon sarnie.

Geoff
 
Jan 28, 2008
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bury st edmonds car park has 4 motorhome bays but says on the terms and conditions no sleeping in vehicles she was a bit worried by this so i said if anyone knocks tell them ive had 3 viagras and there will be no sleeping in this van tonight .Might be embarrassing if they asked me to prove it
 
Jan 28, 2008
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a motorhome show would be deemed to be a public place so most of us will be breaking the law at some point this year

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Ducto

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May 19, 2018
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Interesting thread and commentaries. Only one of us drinks when stopped in public places, not the driver.

Just put a £5 in your kitty for info on camping sites. Thanks
 

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