Officer may have been drinking

**Sanx** · 15th August 2008, 13:30

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10527186

Originally Posted by NZ Harold

Police are investigating a report a police constable may have been drinking before he crashed an unmarked police car in New Plymouth.

The crash happened when the officer lost control of the car on Veale Rd at about 2.30am on August 3.

Central Districts' Inspector Greg Hudson said he was waiting for results of a blood test taken from the constable after the crash.

"The reports are he was (drinking alcohol), but we can't confirm anything until we get a blood result back, because that is the most crucial evidence," Mr Hudson told the Taranaki Daily News.

If the constable, who was taken to hospital after the crash, was found to be over the drink-driving limit he would face court action and it would be up to the police commissioner to make a call on his future, Mr Hudson said.
The incident has also left questions over whether or not the constable, who was due to start work later that day, was allowed to be in possession of the police car at the time of the crash.

The officer has been suspended while the incident is investigated.

Just one question: how fucken long does it take to do a very simple blood alcohol test? I understand it's someone's right to demand a blood test, rather than relying on an evidentiary breath test. The officer either demanded one, or was advised to have one, given the time delay before getting one might help get some booze out of your system. But how the hell does it take twelve days to process the results?

**enigma51** · 15th August 2008, 13:34

All pigs are equal some pigs are just more equal than others

**98tls** · 15th August 2008, 15:08

This oughta be good.All the glass house dwellers throwing stones.

**enigma51** · 15th August 2008, 15:21

Originally Posted by 98tls

This oughta be good.All the glass house dwellers throwing stones.

Not a lot has happend yet

**FJRider** · 15th August 2008, 15:31

Originally Posted by Sanx

Just one question: how fucken long does it take to do a very simple blood alcohol test? I understand it's someone's right to demand a blood test, rather than relying on an evidentiary breath test. The officer either demanded one, or was advised to have one, given the time delay before getting one might help get some booze out of your system. But how the hell does it take twelve days to process the results?

Most hospitals do blood tests for their own reasons, as a matter of course. Results are quick but revealing results to "outside" organisations/people, has legal problems regarding PRIVACY. Nothing to do with being a cop...
As always though...Believe what you choose...
And if YOU had an accident, and were not processed at the scene... the same thing would occur, would you want the results made public...???

**spudchucka** · 15th August 2008, 15:54

Originally Posted by Sanx

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10527186

Just one question: how fucken long does it take to do a very simple blood alcohol test? I understand it's someone's right to demand a blood test, rather than relying on an evidentiary breath test. The officer either demanded one, or was advised to have one, given the time delay before getting one might help get some booze out of your system. But how the hell does it take twelve days to process the results?

Ask ESR, they do the analysis. Typical time frame is 2 - 3 weeks.

**DMNTD:Me** · 15th August 2008, 15:59

Tests are back early and no he wasn't drunk

**Sanx** · 15th August 2008, 16:10

Originally Posted by DMNTD

Tests are back early and no he wasn't drunk

Dude? You let a cop into your garden?

**Sanx** · 15th August 2008, 16:16

Originally Posted by FJRider

Most hospitals do blood tests for their own reasons, as a matter of course. Results are quick but revealing results to "outside" organisations/people, has legal problems regarding PRIVACY. Nothing to do with being a cop...

The test isn't being done by a hospital for medical reasons; it's being done by the cops for prosecution reasons. Or more accurately, the test is being carried out on behalf of the cops.

Originally Posted by FJRider

And if YOU had an accident, and were not processed at the scene... the same thing would occur, would you want the results made public...???

I was commenting on the length of time the test results took to come back, not on the outcome of the test itself. And, given the police have publicly commented on the case, they kinda have to announce, at the very least, whether or not the officer was over the limit.

Originally Posted by Spudchucka

Ask ESR, they do the analysis. Typical time frame is 2 - 3 weeks.

Seems an inordinate length of time to carry out a simple blood alcohol test, but if it's normal then the delay is to be expected.

Just out of interest (and I read the officer concerned has been suspended), would one's licence usually be suspended at this point, or are you free to drive until such time as you've been convicted? EDIT: to clarify; that question is what would usually happen when a member of the public is arrested, not something specific to a Police Officer.

**skidMark** · 15th August 2008, 16:29

Originally Posted by spudchucka

Ask ESR, they do the analysis. Typical time frame is 2 - 3 weeks.

On a slightly off topic note, it's spuddyyyyy

Shit man havnt seen a post from you since i basically joined the site, soon after was your bin.

Hope you healed up for the most part.

**Indoo** · 15th August 2008, 21:53

Originally Posted by Sanx

Just out of interest (and I read the officer concerned has been suspended), would one's licence usually be suspended at this point, or are you free to drive until such time as you've been convicted? EDIT: to clarify; that question is what would usually happen when a member of the public is arrested, not something specific to a Police Officer.

I'm afraid your going to be let down as theres nothing untoward to complain about. A blood test normally takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks to be processed, its routine in all cases of injury accidents where alcohol is a possibility and is always taken at a hospital via a doctor.

Nobody is arrested and they are free to drive until the results of the blood test come in, if the blood alcohol level is more than 130mg then their license will be suspended, if its under then they can keep driving until they eventually end up in court after being summonsed. Then if they have money and can afford one of the parasitic specialist drink driving lawyers they have a pretty decent chance of beating the charge on some ridiculous irrelevant technicality that has no bearing on the ingredients of the offense.

There is a difference though in how cops are treated compared to Joe Public, the cops already been suspended and will lose his career if found guilty and even if hes found not guilty will face internal charges forcing him out.

**Dave Lobster** · 15th August 2008, 22:00

Originally Posted by Indoo

....... and even if hes found not guilty will face internal charges forcing him out.

Why? Just for crashing the car? Seems a little harsh to me.

**scumdog** · 15th August 2008, 22:02

Originally Posted by Sanx

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10527186

Just one question: how fucken long does it take to do a very simple blood alcohol test? I understand it's someone's right to demand a blood test, rather than relying on an evidentiary breath test. The officer either demanded one, or was advised to have one, given the time delay before getting one might help get some booze out of your system. But how the hell does it take twelve days to process the results?

Just one comment: how the fuck can somebody be so niaieve??

Do you think it's like an eftpos machine ya silly cunt??? - blood in, wait 10 seconds and result out??

Sheesh, one can only hope the rest of NZ ain't so bad.

(Sadly it IS!)

Now to read the rest of the thread - and get another marguerita.

**jrandom** · 15th August 2008, 22:06

Originally Posted by scumdog

Do you think it's like an eftpos machine ya silly cunt??? - blood in, wait 10 seconds and result out??

No, we think it's like an eftpos machine in the back room of a very large bureaucracy. Blood in, wait three weeks while it sits in a fridge, 10 seconds of analysis, then wait another week while the report's typed up.