Observing driving under influence qualify for calling 999?
Discussion
What's the form for dealing with someone who is driving under the influence?
Driving last week, about 10pm, single lane A-road (A12 past Woodbridge), saw a white van that was repeatedly bumping off the nearside kerb before swerving to half cross the white lines and then swerving back and repeating the process. The only thing preventing a major RTA was the lack of traffic coming the other way and the speed he was doing - anywhere from 10-20mph.
Does this classify as an emergency that validates calling 999? I had no idea how to go about finding the local police station number, and by the time I'd stopped and faffed with my phone to find a number, he would likely have been away and gone.
Driving last week, about 10pm, single lane A-road (A12 past Woodbridge), saw a white van that was repeatedly bumping off the nearside kerb before swerving to half cross the white lines and then swerving back and repeating the process. The only thing preventing a major RTA was the lack of traffic coming the other way and the speed he was doing - anywhere from 10-20mph.
Does this classify as an emergency that validates calling 999? I had no idea how to go about finding the local police station number, and by the time I'd stopped and faffed with my phone to find a number, he would likely have been away and gone.
Yep 999. They could direct your call to the local police station or if you have time, find the local police station number and call them.
Similar happened to me but worse. Small white van, large bottle of something in the drivers hand, rubber missing from one wheel, running on the rim with sparks all over the show, heading into the town centre!
Took his reg first and made a note, then called 999.
Similar happened to me but worse. Small white van, large bottle of something in the drivers hand, rubber missing from one wheel, running on the rim with sparks all over the show, heading into the town centre!
Took his reg first and made a note, then called 999.
I've dialled 999 before for a possible drunk driver, and followed them all the way to the eventual coming together of car and hedge.
Whilst I was giving a statement in the police car, I could hear radio chatter about a burglary in progress, suspicious persons on roofs and suchlike.
Feeling a bit guilty about keeping them away from jobs like that I asked them if I'd done the right thing. They said damn right, other units were available for those jobs and they love nothing more than catching a DDer in action.
A decent witness statement apparently makes it all the less likely for them to try it on in court - the police hadn't actually seen him driving, so the outcome could have been different had he been able to leg it from the scene and cast doubt on the identity of the driver.
In the past I've phoned 999 for things like a cone in lane 3 of the motorway, or a confused looking chap wandering between the bridge railing and lane 1 of a 70mph D/C with no hard shoulder in the middle of the night. (
) Not once have I been b
ked for doing so, so I guess if it makes sense and there is an obvious danger, don't be shy.
Whilst I was giving a statement in the police car, I could hear radio chatter about a burglary in progress, suspicious persons on roofs and suchlike.
Feeling a bit guilty about keeping them away from jobs like that I asked them if I'd done the right thing. They said damn right, other units were available for those jobs and they love nothing more than catching a DDer in action.
A decent witness statement apparently makes it all the less likely for them to try it on in court - the police hadn't actually seen him driving, so the outcome could have been different had he been able to leg it from the scene and cast doubt on the identity of the driver.
In the past I've phoned 999 for things like a cone in lane 3 of the motorway, or a confused looking chap wandering between the bridge railing and lane 1 of a 70mph D/C with no hard shoulder in the middle of the night. (
) Not once have I been bked for doing so, so I guess if it makes sense and there is an obvious danger, don't be shy. 999 every time. I've done it a couple of times at work in the past, never had anything said (and at least in my force, it comes in as a 'flash' which means blues and twos).
On a side note, its worth having a look, a lot of forces are using the 101 number now instead of a local number.
On a side note, its worth having a look, a lot of forces are using the 101 number now instead of a local number.
Ki3r said:
999 every time. I've done it a couple of times at work in the past, never had anything said (and at least in my force, it comes in as a 'flash' which means blues and twos).
On a side note, its worth having a look, a lot of forces are using the 101 number now instead of a local number.
Once upon a time (about 10-12 years ago) I was driving behind somebody who was obviously pissed. In a town at 4.15 in the afternoon.On a side note, its worth having a look, a lot of forces are using the 101 number now instead of a local number.
My thoughts that he might have been pissed were confirmed when he drove straight into a planter at the side of the road and knocked it off its stand, towards a woman who was pushing a kid along in a push chair at the time.
I "did my duty" and called 999. The guy had got out of the car and was being looked after by the woman he'd come close to flattening with the planter. I stayed in the background out of the way to see what would happen.
A couple of minutes later Plod turned up who, by the look of him, was a couple of weeks short of a pension. The car was still where it was, but the bloke had wandered off. Plod took one look and cleared off himself, back towards the station. I went after him, flashed him on a couple of occasions until he stopped, then explained that I was the one who had called in and that the bloke in question was about 100 yards up the road, or at least was when the PC drove off. He went back and duly collared the miscreant.
However, "Last of the Summer Wine" sprang to mind as the incident unfolded
"when to dial 999:-
You or someone else requires immediate medical attention. Your own welfare or that of someone else is in immediate danger, or is about to be in immediate danger. A Crime is in progress or about to happen. There is a risk of serious damage to property. A Fire is in progress or has been in progress. Persons are trapped in buildings or vehicles, with no safe means of escape." - Warwickshire Police
So yes, dial 999 without hesitation. It is also entirely legitimate to dial 999 whilst driving.
You or someone else requires immediate medical attention. Your own welfare or that of someone else is in immediate danger, or is about to be in immediate danger. A Crime is in progress or about to happen. There is a risk of serious damage to property. A Fire is in progress or has been in progress. Persons are trapped in buildings or vehicles, with no safe means of escape." - Warwickshire Police
So yes, dial 999 without hesitation. It is also entirely legitimate to dial 999 whilst driving.
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