Drunk Cagers

[Sycophant]

Being that I tend to observe the behaviour of drivers around me quite closely when I am riding a bike, I have spotted a number of drivers who I believe were drunk. After nearly being killed by a drunk driver fleeing a breath testing stop a while ago, I really have not a single ounce of tollerance for it.

In a car I have sucessfully followed the driver while on the phone to the cops, and had him stopped. However on a bike, I can't do it - on one occasion, I followed the driver till I found a safe place to stop, and called in his rego and the direction of travel.

Last night, I followed a driver until he pulled into a driveway, then called the cops. They said basically there wasn't going to be anything they could do, as he was now off the road and on private property, but my complaint was logged against his rego.

Anyone have any successful method for dealing with these people? I figured that I'd follow them for a bit, flag down any cop car I saw or phone it in - but you know, there's never a cop around when you need one.

Makes me want to install some sort of hands-free kit in my helmet so I can call the cops while following them.

[Two Smoker]

Sounds like the easiest way is for you to become a cop.... Ive seen the cellfone in the car trick done a few times, but on a bike easiest way is just to pull over and then caall them.

I like you have absolutely no tolerance for them either. But if im on my bike i either twist the wrist and get past them as fast as i can.... or slow down/stop and give them heaps of distance.

Maybe they need even more harsher punishments for them...............

[spudchucka]

Being that I tend to observe the behaviour of drivers around me quite closely when I am riding a bike, I have spotted a number of drivers who I believe were drunk. After nearly being killed by a drunk driver fleeing a breath testing stop a while ago, I really have not a single ounce of tollerance for it.

In a car I have sucessfully followed the driver while on the phone to the cops, and had him stopped. However on a bike, I can't do it - on one occasion, I followed the driver till I found a safe place to stop, and called in his rego and the direction of travel.

Last night, I followed a driver until he pulled into a driveway, then called the cops. They said basically there wasn't going to be anything they could do, as he was now off the road and on private property, but my complaint was logged against his rego.

Anyone have any successful method for dealing with these people? I figured that I'd follow them for a bit, flag down any cop car I saw or phone it in - but you know, there's never a cop around when you need one.

Makes me want to install some sort of hands-free kit in my helmet so I can call the cops while following them.

The police need to be in fresh pursuit and suspect the driver is drunk or is driving dangerously / recklessly if they are to apprehend a driver once on private property. In the situation you speak of there is nothing they can do because it is an historic event by the time they get there.

As for best method of informing while on a bike, I think stopping and phone in rego and direction of travel is about all you can do while on a bike. If you are close to a station duck in and they will broadcast the rego, description & direction of travel for units to watch out for.

[Lou Girardin]

I think I'd stay as far away as possible from a pisshead if I was on a bike, they're too unpredictable.
Lou

[merv]

..... and how many are under the influence of other substances these days? To me that's a worry. Cops I understand are going back and retesting old blood samples plus new ones to see what percentage the problem is these days. Will be interesting to see the results - I suspect it will be higher than anyone hopes as far as drugs are concerned.

[Milky]

If you are close to a station duck in and they will broadcast the rego, description & direction of travel for units to watch out for.

I was stuck at the caltex station in wellsford yesterday with a flattie and while i was there talked to a guy who had been working there for a time... there were two obviously pissed guys who came in and god a bite to eat - one of them didnt have a lot of success at walking in a straight line, and the other was not far off

The attendant also noticed it and said that previously he had seen similar occurances and phoned the police as a result. They responded by saying tht the only thing they could/would do was absolutely nothing... there is one car operating on the brenderwyn-warkworth during the night shift (11pm on) according to the guy there, and he does all the traffic & domestic callouts etc, as such i really cant blame them for not having the resources to take care of the problem. Still... you have to wonder where all our taxes go - could it possibly be into laundering more cash from our pockets??? :sneaky2:

Just glad that i got the puncture when i did and watched the drunkards drive off in the opposit direction to where i was headed.

[spudchucka]

I was stuck at the caltex station in wellsford yesterday with a flattie and while i was there talked to a guy who had been working there for a time... there were two obviously pissed guys who came in and god a bite to eat - one of them didnt have a lot of success at walking in a straight line, and the other was not far off

The attendant also noticed it and said that previously he had seen similar occurances and phoned the police as a result. They responded by saying tht the only thing they could/would do was absolutely nothing... there is one car operating on the brenderwyn-warkworth during the night shift (11pm on) according to the guy there, and he does all the traffic & domestic callouts etc, as such i really cant blame them for not having the resources to take care of the problem. Still... you have to wonder where all our taxes go - could it possibly be into laundering more cash from our pockets??? :sneaky2:

Just glad that i got the puncture when i did and watched the drunkards drive off in the opposit direction to where i was headed.

Resourcing is a huge issue. Obviously in smaller areas they can't have huge amounts of staff and if the only cop working is 20 km away from the location then there is no hope of getting them.

If the attendant passed the rego to the operator it would have been logged and hopefully if a direction of travel was given this would have been passed on to units further down the line. Thats about all that could be done in that instance.

For every drunk caught on the roads there would be dozens that routinely get away with it - and they are the bastards that need to be caught.

[Jackrat]

Resourcing is a huge issue. Obviously in smaller areas they can't have huge amounts of staff and if the only cop working is 20 km away from the location then there is no hope of getting them.

If the attendant passed the rego to the operator it would have been logged and hopefully if a direction of travel was given this would have been passed on to units further down the line. Thats about all that could be done in that instance.

For every drunk caught on the roads there would be dozens that routinely get away with it - and they are the bastards that need to be caught.

No kiding,try finding a cop in Waiuku.
And then when they do, Do a booze stop they catch half the town.
For such a small town this place must be piss head city.

[Lou Girardin]

Funny, there seems to be no shortage during daylight hours.
Lou

[georgedubyabush]

Just to slightly balance the view...
My only dealings with the cops in the last 12 months was when my car was broken into in my garage.
It was a Sunday mid-morning on a holiday weekend when I found it, so didnt have much hope but rang the cops anyway. The call was transferred to godknowswhere, but they told me they'd get back to me. Within the hour the sole cop for the entire kaikohe district on duty at the time was there. Prints taken, very thorough, was a good guy.
I was previously under the impression they didnt even print car break-ins?
Nothing came of it, but his write-up helped with insurance I suppose.
Copper left after over an hour for a shoplifter in town.

[spudchucka]

Funny, there seems to be no shortage during daylight hours.
Lou

Again a resourcing issue, why do they roster that many units on for day shifts?? Might be because 90% of the population goes about their business during daylight hours????

[Lou Girardin]

Again a resourcing issue, why do they roster that many units on for day shifts?? Might be because 90% of the population goes about their business during daylight hours????

Eggsxacttamundo, you catch on quick. Better cost/revenue ratio.
Shame that more nasties are about at night.
Lou

[Coldkiwi]

... line and sinker lou!

(geez we're cyncicla bastards)

[Zed]

...If the attendant passed the rego to the operator it would have been logged and hopefully if a direction of travel was given this would have been passed on to units further down the line. Thats about all that could be done in that instance...

One could try making a citizen's arrest considering the drug offense (alcohol) and that they might drive off and kill some poor innocent!

This may be of interest:



How to make a citizen’s arrest

When can I make a citizen’s arrest?

Private citizens have the power to make an arrest in the following circumstances:

• if the crime is being committed at night
• if the crime being committed is punishable by three years’ imprisonment or more
• if a person is attempting to escape from someone trying to make an arrest

As a general rule the offences for which one is likely to make a citizen’s arrest will be of a more serious nature, including murder, serious assault, drug offences, sex offences, breaking and entering, fraud and theft.

What should I say in making the arrest?

When making a citizen’s arrest, you should inform the person that you are doing so for the particular crime in question, and that you are taking them to the nearest Police officer.

Witnesses

If there are any other witnesses present, try to get their help and ask for their names and addresses.

How much force can be used?

If force is required to make a citizen’s arrest, you should use only reasonable force to overcome any resistance being given; otherwise your actions could amount to an assault.

You should be aware that the suspect has the right to resist your efforts to make the arrest: you do not have the same powers as a Police officer.

Do I have any powers to search or question the person?

No, you have no legal rights to search or seize anything from the person, nor to question him or her.

Cautionary notes

• Even though you have the right to make a citizen’s arrest, you are not required to do so by law. If you feel it is necessary to make an arrest, you should proceed with caution, as the person in question may well be dangerous.
• You should also ensure that you have the proper grounds to make the arrest; if you do not you may open yourself to being sued for wrongful arrest.

Source: http://www.howtolaw.co.nz/html/ml116.asp

[Lou Girardin]

You should also ensure that you have the proper grounds to make the arrest; if you do not you may open yourself to being sued for wrongful arrest.

This alone should make everyone stay well clear of citizen arrests, most people do not know the law well enough.
And then there's always the risk of a good bashing.
Leave it to plod, if they show.
Lou