Police breath testing

[nico]

Bikers disappointed in police operation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald...lice-operation
heresz the linky, got send it thru naaf ridyers as most of the guys were there
fairly poor efort on nz police behalf

[scumdog]

Bikers disappointed in police operation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald...lice-operation
heresz the linky, got send it thru naaf ridyers as most of the guys were there
fairly poor efort on nz police behalf

I fail to see any problem barring a bit of congestion for rally leavers......

[Berries]

Bikers disappointed in police operation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald...lice-operation
heresz the linky, got send it thru naaf ridyers as most of the guys were there
fairly poor efort on nz police behalf

Big ups to the 'bikers'. Five out of 2000 is a pretty low rate compared to a normal Saturday night I am sure. Mind you, the five must have been pretty munted seeing as they knew the checkpoint was there. The only thing I don't understand is why that copper has the dude in a head lock on the photo ? I know it was a Ducati, but come on......

[Mully]

The only thing I don't understand is why that copper has the dude in a head lock on the photo ? I know it was a Ducati, but come on......

He's giving the guy a cuddle - he thought it was a Honda.....

What percentage of riders was done - 2009 tested, 5 charged - 0.0024%

I would dare to suggest that's lower than the average from the general population

[Coldrider]

20 metres down the road in full view, fark, did the five think they were blowing IQ scores or something?

[Patrick]

except its impossiable to tell excatly what your blood alcohol level is isnt it.

ESR test will give the "exact" level.... they then reduce it (to the drivers favour) and that is the level one is now done for.... slightly lower than the "actual" level...

.....If they do choose to offer the service, people need to be aware that it is ONLY AND INDICATION....
As for the comments that 'you could offer the service and tell someone they're under; they drive off down the road and crash and you're blamed' What a load of trash, the cops automatically let people drive off that are under and they have the same issues if there's a problem afterwards.....

Exactly what I tell them, when given a test before they go to drive off, or if a fail youth level is blown (for 20 and over...). "It could be different a few minutes later down the road, depending on how long ago you actually had that last drink....."
Ost heed it. Dumb ones won't, and never will.

........ All I can say is: you have a one chance in a thousand that you blood sample will work out lower than the breath one.

Your only hope is that Martians steal the blood sample.

Yep. But one can't tell the pissed driver that, at the time of the test......

Lets be logical at least. There's no difference to a breath test at a check point to one before you get on a bike/in your car. You could later be just as over the limit. The argument does not hold water.


If I blew under at a checkpoint five minutes after skulling a bottle of Cpt Morgan, am I any less DIC in 20 minutes time than if a copper happened to let me blow in the bag at the pub?

You lost me here. At the pub, the breath could be at x limit. 5 minutes later, it could be at another lower x level, due to "sobering up" from not having any drinks for the last 3 hours, or a higher x level as the body has, and continues, to process the gut full of Captain Morgan.... The argument does hold water, just not alcohol....

[MarkH]

After last years Cold Duck Rally I went through a check point. It wasn't right outside the rally though - more like 20+ kms away (I think). It was set up in Hastings (the nearest town) IIRC.

No worries for me though - I had stopped drinking around 10 or 11pm and didn't leave the rally until over 10 hours later. I wasn't plastered at the point that I stopped drinking either. I may break the occasional speed limit - but I have never in my life driven/ridden a vehicle while over the alcohol limit. I like to have my wits about me when riding.

[MarkH]

Bollocks. One standard drink (eg a stubby of beer) would not put an average sized man over the limit, let alone require him to wait an hour before driving.

I'm pretty sure you have missed the point. The average human body can process about 1 standard drink per hour. Drink ten standard drinks and around 6 hours after you started you would expect to be currently under the influence of about 4 standard drinks.

So yes - there are guidelines. Though you need to have a reasonable idea of how many drinks you have consumed and what time you started to be able to work it out.

[MarkH]

Bikers disappointed in police operation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald...lice-operation

Of the 2009 motorcyclists breath tested, five returned excess breath alcohol limits, police said.

"What normally takes an hour took five hours as we had to have people diverting traffic flow."

I wouldn't have been happy if I was one of the bikers - 2004 of the 2009 bikers tested were breaking no laws, but they were inconvenienced and the last of them were delayed by 4 hours due to the police action. I think getting the drunks off the road is a good thing, but the innocent were held up for 4 hours which is a bit unfair when they were doing nothing wrong.

[Patrick]

I wouldn't have been happy if I was one of the bikers - 2004 of the 2009 bikers tested were breaking no laws, but they were inconvenienced and the last of them were delayed by 4 hours due to the police action. I think getting the drunks off the road is a good thing, but the innocent were held up for 4 hours which is a bit unfair when they were doing nothing wrong.

Donno about that, breaking no laws bit.... Everyones warrant, rego and license was current? Diverts taking 4 hours longer than normal...? Diverts to where - Auckland? How many sobered up in that 4 hours? A full booze bus crew can check 2009 riders out in fairly quick time over a long period, as not eveyone left en masse, did they? Can't believe everything one sees in the papers......

[nico]

I fail to see any problem barring a bit of congestion for rally leavers......

absultly no problem if a rider over the limit burn him, am only going on what i was told from the boys who were there, was more the blocking the road off causing trafic jams why couldnt they move off the road and test every one as inside the gate and i aggres the 5 that got done musta beeen munted of harley riders hahahahaaaaa

[rwh]

With all these drink driving education ads and things, I can't help but wonder...

Is it reasonable to expect smashedlydrunk person to think reasonably?

Doesn't alcohol impair judgement?

That's why I think that recidivist drunk drivers should have their licence to drink revoked.

Of course, that would require introducing a licence to drink ...

Richard

[Berries]

Of course, that would require introducing a licence to drink ...

I'd like to see that test. Perhaps a graduated licence system is called for -

Learner - alcopops and maybe cider, but only with a full licence holder on hand to help mop up.
Restricted - beer and bourbon (but not after 10pm unless you have an exemption)
Full - whisky, tequila and meths

Not worked out a demerit system yet.

[Roadrash]

I think half of you would moan no matter what they did, If you thoink you've had to much to drink don't ride, If you've had that much to drink that your close to the limiy your probably not in much shape to be ridding anyway, why should they walk around the camp and ask who wants a breath trest, if your stupid enough to not work it our yourself then you deserve to get caught.

[scumdog]

I wouldn't have been happy if I was one of the bikers - 2004 of the 2009 bikers tested were breaking no laws, but they were inconvenienced and the last of them were delayed by 4 hours due to the police action. I think getting the drunks off the road is a good thing, but the innocent were held up for 4 hours which is a bit unfair when they were doing nothing wrong.

And, how pray do you find out who these innocents are???

If was held up and it took one drunk iriot off the roads I was about to share I'd be happy.

Why not blame the drunks that are the reason such booze-bus operations are held???