Cold Kiwi drink drivers, all 4 of them

[red mermaid]

It has more to do with the road side test only giving an indication that you may be over the limit.
A positive result on that test then gives a police officer to require you to accompany him for an evidential test that can be admitted in law.

Also alcohol can effect people in different ways depending on many factors, eg; food eaten, weight, fatigue, drug use.

Plus if are allowed a roadside test, then drive and crash and it is established that the alcohol in your system contributed to your driving what liability does the police officer carry for this crash?
That is not only liability in law but also within the police under their employment process's.

Some people got homes to go back to. Doesn't make sense to waste an extra 4 hours "drying out" if you're actually under the limit now does it?


Whereas the local cops here are quite happy to breath test us upon request when leaving a pub. Produces quite a few surprises...both "oh my gawd, I'm still over" and "how can I be fit to drive". Either way, it's about safety and education.

Clearly the cops at the bike rally's are more concerned about statistics and revenue gathering.

[sinned]

Doesn't make sense to drink all night if you have to go home in the morning now does it?

+1 and why should my taxes be used to provide an alcohol test to anyone who wants it.

The drink driving limit is a limit I would want to be well under before throwing a leg over a motorcycle. Okay though for throwing a leg over some female riders on KB

[tigertim20]

+1 and why should my taxes be used to provide an alcohol test to anyone who wants it.

The drink driving limit is a limit I would want to be well under before throwing a leg over a motorcycle. Okay though for throwing a leg over some female riders on KB

would you rather the few dollars for each test, or the hundreds of thousands for the hospital bills?

[gatch]

I don't think it is fair to hate on the front line coppers.

In the end they are cunts with jobs and receive their orders from their bosses just like us regular douche bags.

If they stray too far from their guidelines they get a kicked arse. Except if they lose their jobs, it is a bit harder to find another in the same industry in NZ.

Ultimately if you are worried you may be over the limit in the morning, don't get boozed.

[_Shrek_]

does anyone have the figures to compare how 4 out of 600 compares to the amount caught out of every 600 tested in say auckland or dunedin or anywhere else in a routine booze-bus stop? just wonder if thats any higher than the average?

3 out of 2200 tested at march hare

OK< not going into the pros and cons of the March Hare story but one thing I will say:

IF they had tested everybody who wanted to be tested before they left the rally a fair number would probably be over.

If the test device showed a positive reading it would then 'purge' in that it takes a minute or two to clear that alcohol from its system before it is ready for the next test.

I understand where you are coming from in terms of the device needing time between positive readings, BUT, If the cops in that instance were there because they wanted to make sure people were safe, then they would have produced many more machines, so that people could be tested to check.

apart from what scummy said, I went out & tried to get tested (march hare) & they said no & I tried a few different points....
while I was waiting got to talking with plod, & it had happened at another rally some where, that they tested some one before they left & the rider found that he was ok, so the goes back in starts drinking then goes out & gets done DIC it goes to court & he gets off coz the said he was ok the 1st time, egg all over police face, so now they tell us you not sure eat some thing have another coffee "BUT DON"T RIDE" until your sure or know

[gatch]

I was thinking more on this tonight.

In organized circuit racing, there is always an ambulance on site. I wonder if there would be scope to have a couple of cops an hand at big rallies in a similar fashion, at the request of the event organizers. For the purpose of breath testing before people get on their bikes.

Worth investigating ?

[idb]

Why not just settle down in the morning, cook up a breakfast and get away a bit later?
You're rested, refreshed and sober.

[tigertim20]

I was thinking more on this tonight.

In organized circuit racing, there is always an ambulance on site. I wonder if there would be scope to have a couple of cops an hand at big rallies in a similar fashion, at the request of the event organizers. For the purpose of breath testing before people get on their bikes.

Worth investigating ?

what should really come out of this discussion, is the realisation that event organisers need to take this issue into account when they organise the bloody rally.
As annoying as it is that the cops dont want to test you unless you are riding, its not really their responsibility to make sure you are sober, its their responsibility to remove drunks from the road.

You can buy breathtesters on the open market fairly cheaply, and those who are concerned about it, can purchase one themselves for personal use. a friend of mine has one that he takes to rallies, and lets his mates use it too. Its about taking responsibility for your OWN actions I guess.

Some rallies have already thought this through, and purchased some breath testers, and provided them for use by the patrons of the rallies. There may be a few fucktards that will use a safe reading as an excuse to drink more piss, but those are the fuckwits that you WANT to get caught, before they drive their bike/car into your wife and child.

That said, as an overall, it doesnt seem like the incidence rate of drink driving at rallies is any higher overall than the incidence rate of the average checkpoint, which is good, because I bet the incidence rate IS considerably higher for events like rock concerts and that fag-game, whatsit.. Rugby, yeah, I bet rugby games produce a higher rate of drink driving...

[scumdog]

3 out of 2200 tested at march hare

Possibly because those that felt they were over the limit did not leave the site hence were not caught and processesd...

[doc]

Assuming that they had a checkpoint on the Waiouru side of the site as well, they must have not caught anyone. There were more than 600 at the rally. Seems like a bit of dodgy reporting again.

[Katman]

Why not just settle down in the morning, cook up a breakfast and get away a bit later?
You're rested, refreshed and sober.

And risk having to use the toilets on the Sunday morning?

Are you insane?

[_Shrek_]

Why not just settle down in the morning, cook up a breakfast and get away a bit later?
You're rested, refreshed and sober.

Possibly because those that felt they were over the limit did not leave the site hence were not caught and processesd...

& me being one of these, went back in had another feed & coffee, felt rested, refreshed and sober went back out & had 0 breath alcohol

[_Shrek_]

And risk having to use the toilets on the Sunday morning?

Are you insane?

thats why you go at 1st light & then hope like hell you don't need to go back

[MarkH]

The Christian club with the breatherliser station on sunday morning was a good idea it caused some too delay their departure,but better too be told you need a coffee and a feed by a christain rather than being told too park over there by the police...

When we got too the cheak point at Ohukune we were just waved through,as they already had a cue on the side of road which were mainly cars

So how car drivers were over at those cheak points??

The Christian Motorcycle Club members were also wandering around the Cold Kiwi area offering their free breathalyser tests to anyone interested. Even though I am a dedicated atheist I'd like to point out that those guys were doing a damn decent thing and I hope everyone appreciated what they were doing for their fellow bikers (regardless of religious beliefs).

When I got to the checkpoint in Ohakune they were waving the cars through and checking all bikers (even ones on maxi-scooters). I wonder how many car drivers were over the limit but were waved through the checkpoint without being tested.

what should really come out of this discussion, is the realisation that event organisers need to take this issue into account when they organise the bloody rally.

Or the individuals attending the rally can just enjoy being treated as responsible adults and try to behave that way. Those fuckin' idiots that ride drunk hopefully will learn from their experience with the police and not kill themselves or anyone else. Plenty of motorcyclists have been killed or injured by drunk drivers, I reserve my sympathy for other people and offer none to the drunk drivers.

[scumdog]

Or the individuals attending the rally can just enjoy being treated as responsible adults and try to behave that way. Those fuckin' idiots that ride drunk hopefully will learn from their experience with the police and not kill themselves or anyone else. Plenty of motorcyclists have been killed or injured by drunk drivers, I reserve my sympathy for other people and offer none to the drunk drivers.

Yep, yesterdays O.D.T. had the Court news in it including the idiot with a 6L on the Buell who left this years Vincent rally a bit worse for wear. (admitted drinking until 4am).

And hammered down a short straight and shot through a T-intersection into the chevron sign that indicated the road was now running at right-angles to his direction of travel.

Just lucky he only suffered a broken collar-bone - and a day in Court along with the fines & disqualification etc.

I guess HE got his monies worth out of ACC...