Breathalyzing drivers of motorhomes

[pandas]

Strictly speaking, (unless things have changed???)
In the UK a breath test cannot be demanded of a person suspected of driving a motor vehicle unless one of the three below conditions is met.

1. Driver/Rider when an accident occured.
2. Driver/rider committing a moving traffic offence
3. Driver/rider suspected of having alcohol/drugs in their system.

That why we don't have mass breathyliser stops in this country.

But I would not take issue about being stopped UNLESS I thought I was going to be over the particular countries limit - but then if I was I would have deserved to have been stopped and penalised!
It should not be about getting away with breaking the law rather adhering to it.

 

[Widge]

Today on the E6 120km towards Tromso the police were breathalyzing all motorhome drivers. The time was approx 10.00am
So if visiting Norway I would suggest you be very careful what alcohol you consume as a driver. Last night I only had alcohol free beer so showed 0 alcohol.

I used to go to norway quite a lot in the 80s, even then a work colleague, insisted on getting me a taxi, and wouldn't let me drive the few kms back to the hotel, and I hadn't drunk very much, so the Norwegian police have always been very hot on drink driving

 

[pandas]

I used to go to norway quite a lot in the 80s, even then a work colleague, insisted on getting me a taxi, and wouldn't let me drive the few kms back to the hotel, and I hadn't drunk very much, so the Norwegian police have always been very hot on drink driving

ditto Spain

 

[chris1949]

A sign of the times I guess......guilty, unless proven innocent.

My late father was killed by a drunk driver. Why do you think your comment was appropriate?

 

[StillGoing]

Get used to it folks. Since July 2024, all new vehicles in the EU have been pre-installed with an interface allowing a breathalyser-based locking system to be connected to the car, which can stop the vehicle if the driver fails a breathalyser test. The so-called "alcolocks" are not compulsory in the EU, just the interface on newly-built cars. You can see what will be coming next. I can’t imagine the UK won’t follow the EU (sorry Nigel).

I don’t have a problem with it so long as the technology is reliable and can be easily repaired.

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[MrLobby]

Strictly speaking, (unless things have changed???)
In the UK a breath test cannot be demanded of a person suspected of driving a motor vehicle unless one of the three below conditions is met.

1. Driver/Rider when an accident occured.
2. Driver/rider committing a moving traffic offence
3. Driver/rider suspected of having alcohol/drugs in their system.

That why we don't have mass breathyliser stops in this country.

Getting off a ferry, where there's a bar. That is probably enough suspicion of having some alcohol in your system

 

[Emmit]

But I would not take issue about being stopped UNLESS I thought I was going to be over the particular countries limit - but then if I was I would have deserved to have been stopped and penalised!
It should not be about getting away with breaking the law rather adhering to it.

My comments are strictly regarding UK.
I wouldn't know what the specific laws are in other countries and therefore would comply with any request/demand.
I do know about the specifics of UK law (and I assume, as my previous comments have not been pulled up by the several Funsters who would have more up to date knowledge than me), are still extant, my original comment stands.

 

[Widge]

Get used to it folks. Since July 2024, all new vehicles in the EU have been pre-installed with an interface allowing a breathalyser-based locking system to be connected to the car, which can stop the vehicle if the driver fails a breathalyser test. The so-called "alcolocks" are not compulsory in the EU, just the interface on newly-built cars. You can see what will be coming next. I can’t imagine the UK won’t follow the EU (sorry Nigel).

I don’t have a problem with it so long as the technology is reliable and can be easily repaired.

And can detect a 12 year old is blowing into it, instead of the driver.

 

[Emmit]

Getting off a ferry, where there's a bar. That is probably enough suspicion of having some alcohol in your system

It would have to be better than that.

 

[The Old Man]

All I want is to feel and be safe on the roads, any checks that may cause inconvenience but helps keep me safe are fine by me!

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[TDub49]

A sign of the times I guess......guilty, unless proven innocent.

Or just law enforcement?

 

[The Wino]

I

I would suggest that the reading has nothing to do with the suspicion. I know one traffic guy who used the various things he saw, to deduce that a driver had been drinking. Weaving within a lane, windows down on a freezing night, stalling at traffic lights, and other things which gave him a personal stoppage to arrest rate of over 99.9%. However on one occasion in over 20yrs, he got it wrong. Driving was woeful and the guy was unsteady on his feet. There was enough to arrest without using the roadside breath test (go stright to arrest and to the breathalyser).

Unfortunately the reason given by the driver turned out to be true. He had MS. He was always unsteady and he stopped driving shortly afterwards because he hadn't been aware his driving was so bad as to seem that he was drunk.

It was probably a good thing that he stopped him then.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Personally if I was in charge of police at off load I would check all Moho drivers, any one tow a caravan and any Eastern European lorry drivers.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Strictly speaking, (unless things have changed???)
In the UK a breath test cannot be demanded of a person suspected of driving a motor vehicle unless one of the three below conditions is met.

1. Driver/Rider when an accident occured.
2. Driver/rider committing a moving traffic offence
3. Driver/rider suspected of having alcohol/drugs in their system.

That why we don't have mass breathyliser stops in this country.

I’m sure 3 should pretty much cover an officer for a stop.
Personally I can’t see why that couldn’t be used for mass stops if officers are particularly vigilant.

I would welcome mass stops.

I would also welcome all pursuit cars fitted with some kind of strengthened item on the front of the vehicles to stop fleeing cars.
And the permission to use their discretion to force a vehicle off the road.
This would include electric e bikes/motor bikes as well as cars.

 

[Ernesto]

My late father was killed by a drunk driver. Why do you think your comment was appropriate?

Because I’m talking about the method the police use to fulfil their remit. There is more than one way to try and prevent death and injury on the roads.
Are you suggesting thats inappropriate ?

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[Ernesto]

Or just law enforcement?

Its a version of law enforcement for sure. My (slightly) tongue in cheek comment, was about the way they decided to enforce the law. In most other areas of enforcement, “profiling” is not acceptable. Some form of reasonable suspicion that a crime has, or will be committed, is required.

 

[PeterCarole29]

From a foggy memory the words are "reasonable cause to suspect".

If you blow nil, what was the suspicion.
Remember, Senior officers can't instruct lower ranks to be in breach of the police disciplinary Regs and if you've blown nil, I repeat, what was the reasonable suspicion.

About the reasonable suspicion in your case it’s his word against yours if you were stopped
Surely as an ex policemen you know they have a job to do

 

[willshep]

A broader issue, it’s a criminal offence to be over the drink driving limit whilst in your car, for example you could be asleep on the back seat but provided you have access to the keys you can be charged with an offence. How many of us when parked up enjoy a drink in the van and of course still have access to the keys? I’m not sure if being parked on private land changes the issue, but anyone stealth camping on public land should be careful, if you get a knock and the police tell you to move on and you can’t because you’ve been drinking….

 

[meanders]

Coming into Christmas the police are often seen at railway stations locally. On the platforms it gives the option of a free test with no consequences if you are intending to drive, so you can make alternative arrangements. They invariably still catch drivers just outside the car park who are over the limit.

I am in the it's never acceptable group and would support any changes in legislation to allow random tests. The sooner we get the selfish drinkers off the road, the better for all of us.

That said I have concerns that ferries, sports stadia etc all push alcohol, that frankly is simply putting profit over responsibility.

 

[Silver-Fox]

How many of us when parked up enjoy a drink in the van and of course still have access to the keys? I’m not sure if being parked on private land changes the issue

Private land is a different ball game.

Now some think say a pub car park or supermarket car park is private land and they’d be safe
This isn’t the case, if members of the public have free access normally all road regs apply.

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[The Wino]

A

A broader issue, it’s a criminal offence to be over the drink driving limit whilst in your car, for example you could be asleep on the back seat but provided you have access to the keys you can be charged with an offence. How many of us when parked up enjoy a drink in the van and of course still have access to the keys? I’m not sure if being parked on private land changes the issue, but anyone stealth camping on public land should be careful, if you get a knock and the police tell you to move on and you can’t because you’ve been drinking….

And the number ever prosected for being in the back seat of a car while over the limit is.....? I suspect zero. The same asleep in a motorhome over the limit. In theory yes in practice it would have to be a really quiet shift for the police.

 

[ACB]

I lived and worked in Norway for several years, the alcohol limit was 0.02%, it was quite common to have checks on Saturday mornings whereby all vehicles other than public transport would be diverted through a lay-by where all drivers where breathalysed. Up to 5 police doing the checks!

 

[Whippet93]

A few years ago on a two week Scottish jaunt, because the drink drive limit is much lower than England, I bought a reusable breathalyser. If I'd had a drink the night before I used it first thing in the morning. Still carry it and use it wherever I am.

 

[Ernesto]

A

And the number ever prosected for being in the back seat of a car while over the limit is.....? I suspect zero. The same asleep in a motorhome over the limit. In theory yes in practice it would have to be a really quiet shift for the police.

Exactly ...If I were Britstopping for example, had fulfilled my "duty" in the pub, and was then told to move on for some reason...I'd simply take the punishment for not moving on, rather than drive under the influence.

 

[The Wino]

I lived and worked in Norway for several years, the alcohol limit was 0.02%, it was quite common to have checks on Saturday mornings whereby all vehicles other than public transport would be diverted through a lay-by where all drivers where breathalysed. Up to 5 police doing the checks!

The question has to be are their roads any safer because of it?

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[Ernesto]

I lived and worked in Norway for several years, the alcohol limit was 0.02%, it was quite common to have checks on Saturday mornings whereby all vehicles other than public transport would be diverted through a lay-by where all drivers where breathalysed. Up to 5 police doing the checks!

This shows how nuanced the issue is .....Norway has a higher rate of alcohol related deaths (approx. 25%) than the UK (5-6%). I guess they are desperate to do something about it and see random tests as the best way

 

[Silver-Fox]

A few years ago on a two week Scottish jaunt, because the drink drive limit is much lower than England, I bought a reusable breathalyser. If I'd had a drink the night before I used it first thing in the morning. Still carry it and use it wherever I am.

Please don’t take this as a criticism but if my job depended on driving I wouldn’t be drinking anything.

Same as when away in the Moho, if at a rally and leaving Monday I wouldn’t drink on the Sunday.

That’s just the way I am though

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

Coming into Christmas the police are often seen at railway stations locally. On the platforms it gives the option of a free test with no consequences if you are intending to drive, so you can make alternative arrangements. They invariably still catch drivers just outside the car park who are over the limit.

I am in the it's never acceptable group and would support any changes in legislation to allow random tests. The sooner we get the selfish drinkers off the road, the better for all of us.

That said I have concerns that ferries, sports stadia etc all push alcohol, that frankly is simply putting profit over responsibility.

The subject should be widened to include others, such as drug users - whether street drugs or prescription drugs - that have warnings about drowsiness or not to drink or to operate machinery.

Mathematically, there should be more users, of such prescription drugs, driving than consumers of alcohol and some inebriated drivers may also have prescription drugs in them.

I would hope those you mentioned, who skipped a voluntary breath test and were caught by the compulsory test had a more harsh experience in court. If there's no offence of 'aggravated driving under the influence' there ought to be, imv.

 

[Wildbill]

I was happy to report a regular drunk driver who now has to walk everywhere or taxi bus.
WB

 

[Ernesto]

I was happy to report a regular drunk driver who now has to walk everywhere or taxi bus.
WB

I suspect this approach would be supported by just about everyone, and is probably behind the fall in cases. Everyone agrees it is unacceptable and no one is afraid to call it out

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