The drink/driving cop

**RT527** · 3rd August 2006, 22:46

Well I`ve heard a lot of people on talk back today talking about how he did the right thing and how would he feel if he didnt go and the person he helped had died as well, And IMO I think he shouldnt have gone!.
You Might think I`m a bit callous , but I dont question anymore about what if, or should have done if I did that I wouldnt be able to handle Being a volunteer anymore, If i had been drinking and the siren went up, And Lets face it no one can guess after a few beers how close to the limit they are, But if i made the decision that I`d had too much I wouldnt go, now you might say that theres plenty of other volunteers around but actually we dont hang around home or have a roster at our station.
Which means if your around you go, if not hard luck.
Anyways Most of the time someone has made a mistake and has got themselves and someone else in a mess and we go and clean it up whether its ambulance, fire,or police you have to be professional about it.Only difference is that out of those three only 1 of the proffessions is paid.
I sympathise with this officer though and wish him luck as he did save someone.
But before we say more I think we need to let this go Through the Courts and then we will find out the facts about what happened. What if the Deceased that was drinking with the constable only had two beers, Would you stop a mate driving after 2 -3 beers?.
IMHO I think he should be prosecuted for drink driving, but I also think He shouldnt Loose his job over it either.

**roogazza** · 4th August 2006, 09:17

Discretion, is obviously not considered as an option nowdays, well not very often anyway!
Breathtesting another cop assisting at an accident scene and in those circumstances ! well fuck me ! double fuck me !
Another reason I'm so glad to be out of that job after 30 odd years !
The dumbing down of the NZ Police, I'm ashamed. G.

**ManDownUnder** · 4th August 2006, 09:38

Why didn't he get someone to drive him to the accident?

If no-one was available for that then I think he probably did the right thing (unless he was well and truely legless). The law gets in the way sometimes.

**The_Dover** · 4th August 2006, 09:42

Originally Posted by roogazza

The dumbing down of the NZ Police, I'm ashamed. G.

I'm surprised. Just when I thought they couldn't get any dumber

**Jantar** · 4th August 2006, 09:49

Originally Posted by RT527

But before we say more I think we need to let this go Through the Courts and then we will find out the facts about what happened. .....IMHO I think he should be prosecuted for drink driving, but I also think He shouldnt Loose his job over it either.

Yes, he did break the law, but he did it to save someone's life. The court does have discretion, in this type of case, to convict, then discharge under section 42. Effectively it means that although the person is guilty, a conviction would have harsher consequences than the offence warrants. Therefore no conviction would appear on his record, and his job ould be safe.

**acewheelie** · 4th August 2006, 09:52

I have ridden drunk with a bloody traffic cop on the back of my bike.

Some people can drive/ ride pissed better than some of the half assed sober drivers.

The cop saved a life, get over it and move on.

**acewheelie** · 4th August 2006, 09:55

errrr... and that was over twenty years ago, when my reaction times/ skills were better than they are now, these days I',d be lucky if I have a beer before I go out there.

Don't drink and drive.....

**SPman** · 4th August 2006, 13:09

Laws - there for the guidance of wise men and the slavish adherence of idiots!

**ManDownUnder** · 4th August 2006, 13:14

Originally Posted by SPman

Laws - there for the guidance of wise men and the slavish adherence of idiots!

touche!..............

**McJim** · 4th August 2006, 13:26

Hang on a minute - if the 2nd cop got there 20 minutes after the 1st cop then the 1st cop wouldn't have been driving at the time as he would have parked up some 20 minutes earlier. 2nd cop would therefore have been unable to witness 1st cop driving - 1st cop could allege sobriety whilst driving and then had a swift drink at the scene of the accident which put him subsequently over the limit.
What I'm getting at is that 2nd cop has no proof, merely assumption, that 1st cop drove to the scene. The only thing provable is the alcohol content.

we're obviously missing some facts here coz the above will not stand up in a reasonable court.

**Winston001** · 4th August 2006, 13:48

Originally Posted by Big McJim

Hang on a minute - if the 2nd cop got there 20 minutes after the 1st cop then the 1st cop wouldn't have been driving at the time as he would have parked up some 20 minutes earlier. 2nd cop would therefore have been unable to witness 1st cop driving - 1st cop could allege sobriety whilst driving and then had a swift drink at the scene of the accident which put him subsequently over the limit.
What I'm getting at is that 2nd cop has no proof, merely assumption, that 1st cop drove to the scene. The only thing provable is the alcohol content.

we're obviously missing some facts here coz the above will not stand up in a reasonable court.

Not if he admitted that he drove to the scene. And you are expecting him to lie about drinking and driving when other witnesses know differently. Furthermore the law presumes that your blood alcohol level at the time of testing is the same as at the time of driving. This is because people used to stop/get away for a short time, skull a few drinks, and then say the alcohol came after the driving. No defence.

**RT527** · 4th August 2006, 20:44

Originally Posted by Jantar

Yes, he did break the law, but he did it to save someone's life. The court does have discretion, in this type of case, to convict, then discharge under section 42. Effectively it means that although the person is guilty, a conviction would have harsher consequences than the offence warrants. Therefore no conviction would appear on his record, and his job ould be safe.

Well then If they do this , I`m all for it.
Like I said he did save a life but at what risk to every one else did he do this, As they say it happens closest to home.