Police breath testing

[T.W.R]

This isn't the thread to whine about the police checkpoint?

If being there and being horribly held up by the actual checkpoint yeah maybe but as you weren't even there and just using second hand news to blurt on about it...it'd be better to

You were just dismissing the half hour or whatever that the rider had to wait as irrelevant because the breath test itself only took 20 seconds?

FFS I've been held up longer trying to get to a rally and on occasion that has been caused by the exact thing the cops are trying to stop by doing the checkpoint

Yes, somehow all 2009 riders should have figured out how to leave first . . .

Well the majority are long term rally goers realise that getting away early does cause less hassle and once upon a time rallies were more than heading somewhere to get totally pissed up which unfortunately a lot of johnny come latelys think is the main drawcard of a rally

Thanks for the link - I might just have a good read. It'll make me want to take another trip to the SI though. At least I can get a cheaper ferry crossing now though. If I see you there next year I'll buy you a drink to make nice!

Always helps to have a bit of insight to the actual event before saying something about it via 2nd hand news.
08 Magpie madness was your last one down here wasn't it......least you wont have to have your tent moved halfway through the night again

[davereid]

So cops would have to watch out for the symptoms of drunk drivers...

Yes of course. If there is no reason to suspect you, why should you be subject to search ?

[scumdog]

Yes of course. If there is no reason to suspect you, why should you be subject to search ?

Yeah, so if you're pissed?
Drive REALLY good and the cops won't be allowed to stop you - and you can drove on pissed-as!!

[bogan]

Yes of course. If there is no reason to suspect you, why should you be subject to search ?

Its not a search, its a test. Like when a cop flicks his radar gun onto you to see how fast you are going, or should they only be able to do that if they suspect you are speeding?

[davereid]

Yeah, so if you're pissed?
Drive REALLY good and the cops won't be allowed to stop you - and you can drove on pissed-as!!

Hmm, if you can drive really well, the cops should be looking for someone else I would think !

[rwh]

Yeah, so if you're pissed?
Drive REALLY good and the cops won't be allowed to stop you - and you can drove on pissed-as!!

Yeah, so if you're walking down the street with an overcoat full of illegal guns - lots of guns?

Walk really normally, and the cops won't be allowed to search you, and you can go on to your murder site. Nothing new there, is there?

Richard

[davereid]

Its not a search, its a test. Like when a cop flicks his radar gun onto you to see how fast you are going, or should they only be able to do that if they suspect you are speeding?

No its a search, a radar gun is merely an observation.

I hate drink drivers, don't miss-understand my motives.

But this was one of the first issues over which police got the right to randomly stop people, when there was no evidence they had broken the law, and then look for that evidence, requiring the co-operation of the suspect.

But it hasn't worked. Police use it to stop and harass people they don't like. It fails all the basic tests.

[rwh]

Its not a search, its a test. Like when a cop flicks his radar gun onto you to see how fast you are going, or should they only be able to do that if they suspect you are speeding?

The radar gun doesn't slow you down.

And you're providing them with a lungfull of air, which they will search for alcohol molecules.

If the cop can smell your breath (maybe assisted by a bumper-mounted air tester?) from driving along behind (and it looks like you don't have any passengers), that might count as sufficient reason.

Richard

[red mermaid]

Im sure I've said it before, perhaps not in this thread, but since at least 1983 police (and MoT) could stop any vehicle at random.

You have never have to give a reason, just a random because you felt like it.

Some people read to many American comics.

No its a search, a radar gun is merely an observation.

I hate drink drivers, don't miss-understand my motives.

But this was one of the first issues over which police got the right to randomly stop people, when there was no evidence they had broken the law, and then look for that evidence, requiring the co-operation of the suspect.

But it hasn't worked. Police use it to stop and harass people they don't like. It fails all the basic tests.

[davereid]

Im sure I've said it before, perhaps not in this thread, but since at least 1983 police (and MoT) could stop any vehicle at random.

And search it without cause as well ?

[bogan]

No its a search, a radar gun is merely an observation.

I hate drink drivers, don't miss-understand my motives.

But this was one of the first issues over which police got the right to randomly stop people, when there was no evidence they had broken the law, and then look for that evidence, requiring the co-operation of the suspect.

But it hasn't worked. Police use it to stop and harass people they don't like. It fails all the basic tests.

I agree that it can be abused in order to harass people which is bullshit and there should be measures in place to stop that (archived patrol car camera footage perhaps?). And if they conduct a search of the vehicle it seems a bit OTT, but just taking a breath sample I got no problem with, to me thats no more of an impingement on my freedom/rights etc than being pinged by a radar.

[davereid]

I agree that it can be abused in order to harass people which is bullshit and there should be measures in place to stop that (archived patrol car camera footage perhaps?). And if they conduct a search of the vehicle it seems a bit OTT, but just taking a breath sample I got no problem with, to me thats no more of an impingement on my freedom/rights etc than being pinged by a radar.

Well, it all academic really. Police DO have the ability to randomly stop you and require a breath test. They DO use it to harass. They will NEVER give up these powers.

Doesn't mean I approve of it or think its correct.

[scumdog]

And search it without cause as well ?

Nah, they got to have cause - only some don't (in their mind) agree they had ENOUGH cause.

I bet their is a country somewhere that doesn't have such laws...

[red mermaid]

How can they harass you by asking for specimen of breath?
If you've had no alcohol you will return a negative test and that will be the end of the matter, bye bye, have a nice day.

And don't put words in my mouth...I said vehicles could be stopped at random, you take that and imply further with " search it without cause as well?"

That is a completely different subject, nothing to do with drink driving.

[Genestho]

Anecdotely - It's said the higher conviction rates are due to more booze buses and random testing, last year the figures jumped to 38000 convictions.

In 2007 the figure of overall convictions were 27,829, in 2006 the convictions were 24,240, 13% Rise in convictions across the board from '06 to '07.

With an 11% rise in 3+ convictions. Source is Official Info Act Request:Crossroads.

Going by the numbers of conviction rates and the sharp rise last year, clearly the police are working hard to stop drink drivers, and clearly random breath testing is working for its particular purpose....how else would these driver's have been stopped?