Drink driving camper van
Discussion
Evening all.
Thinking of renting a camper van for a UK road trip. This may involve parking up and an occasional evening sampling of the local ales. As I would return to the camper van to sleep, could I be done for drink driving? Would it matter where the camper was parked for the night? How do camper van road trippers deal with this?
Thinking of renting a camper van for a UK road trip. This may involve parking up and an occasional evening sampling of the local ales. As I would return to the camper van to sleep, could I be done for drink driving? Would it matter where the camper was parked for the night? How do camper van road trippers deal with this?
Funny you should raise this…
The GF and I are going to a wedding in July which will be held in a very remote location with little to no accommodation options. I’ve arranged to borrow her parents Motorhome - stick it in the venues car-park (the venue are fine with this) and after the fun and merriment of the day, retire to the Motorhome.
I asked the very same question of a friend whom is a serving RPU officer.
His advice was plain and simple - they wouldn’t be bothered and you’d have a defence as you’d not attempted to drive. If you, say, started the engine and are sat in the drivers seat then it’s potentially drunk in charge but sat in the back of the MH watching re-runs of the Krypton Factor and minding your own business wouldn’t meet the test.
As he said, thousands of Caravanners sit on campsites week in, week out, nationwide with their cars next to them on the pitch whilst having drinks in custody and control of their car keys and there’s never been any issue.
The GF and I are going to a wedding in July which will be held in a very remote location with little to no accommodation options. I’ve arranged to borrow her parents Motorhome - stick it in the venues car-park (the venue are fine with this) and after the fun and merriment of the day, retire to the Motorhome.
I asked the very same question of a friend whom is a serving RPU officer.
His advice was plain and simple - they wouldn’t be bothered and you’d have a defence as you’d not attempted to drive. If you, say, started the engine and are sat in the drivers seat then it’s potentially drunk in charge but sat in the back of the MH watching re-runs of the Krypton Factor and minding your own business wouldn’t meet the test.
As he said, thousands of Caravanners sit on campsites week in, week out, nationwide with their cars next to them on the pitch whilst having drinks in custody and control of their car keys and there’s never been any issue.
Gt6turbo said:
simple answer yes, if the campsite is barriered off then it isn't public access.
But the public do have access...https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/secti...
(1)If a person—
(a)drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, or
(b)is in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place,
Other public place...
I have had a motorhome for years & have occasionally wondered if the law would ever be an ass over this but would assume that the above advice is pretty good.
There is always the possibility of DIC but there are some obvious lines of defence that work like skins of an onion to me.
Once parked up the drivers seats are always swivelled round anyway.
On top of that I actually have the accommodation door key on a carabiner that I detach from the ignition/cab key & that gets put away so I only ever have the rear door key on my person.
If the keys aren't in the ignition you aren't attempting to drive & why would they be anyway?
If you are attached to an electric hook-up & hose point, you are going nowhere.
If you have used levelling ramps & they are still in place you are quite obviously going nowhere.
If you are in a pitch on a campsite you are obviously not on the public road.
I would guess that with all these levels of protection a conviction would be very easy to fight and extremely difficult to prove.
ETA.
On top of all that if the rozzers ever tried to visit a camp-site & breath test drivers it would be all over the news/media etc so if it were ever "a thing" we would all have heard about it by now.
There is always the possibility of DIC but there are some obvious lines of defence that work like skins of an onion to me.
Once parked up the drivers seats are always swivelled round anyway.
On top of that I actually have the accommodation door key on a carabiner that I detach from the ignition/cab key & that gets put away so I only ever have the rear door key on my person.
If the keys aren't in the ignition you aren't attempting to drive & why would they be anyway?
If you are attached to an electric hook-up & hose point, you are going nowhere.
If you have used levelling ramps & they are still in place you are quite obviously going nowhere.
If you are in a pitch on a campsite you are obviously not on the public road.
I would guess that with all these levels of protection a conviction would be very easy to fight and extremely difficult to prove.
ETA.
On top of all that if the rozzers ever tried to visit a camp-site & breath test drivers it would be all over the news/media etc so if it were ever "a thing" we would all have heard about it by now.
Edited by E-bmw on Friday 9th May 08:16
What about car based campers, or vans with a bed in the back.
Did the van thing a lot as a lad. Company van, sleeping bag in the back, belly full of ale.
I don't know about this but don't you need the keys in the ignition to get power for lights, cooking, shower etc?
I can't imagine cop cars swooping down on Gwithian Farm Campsite in order to book everyone but a motorhome in a layby..........
Did the van thing a lot as a lad. Company van, sleeping bag in the back, belly full of ale.
I don't know about this but don't you need the keys in the ignition to get power for lights, cooking, shower etc?
I can't imagine cop cars swooping down on Gwithian Farm Campsite in order to book everyone but a motorhome in a layby..........
croyde said:
I don't know about this but don't you need the keys in the ignition to get power for lights, cooking, shower etc?
No, you have a leisure battery for that, it does not use the vehicle battery.croyde said:
I can't imagine cop cars swooping down on Gwithian Farm Campsite in order to book everyone but a motorhome in a layby..........
Most of the above "layers of protection" I mentioned for me, would still be in place.LosingGrip said:
But the public do have access...
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/secti...
(1)If a person—
(a)drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, or
(b)is in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place,
Other public place...
I wasn't clear. If the place isn't open to general public , eg a barrier then you are legal.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/secti...
(1)If a person—
(a)drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, or
(b)is in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place,
Other public place...
The problem is drunk in charge, releasing a handbrake puts you in charge even if parked up for other places.
Asked my brother in law the same question last year(while we were camping, albeit in tents, but looking at some motorhomes further down the hill) - he's also a serving traffic officer.
He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
No, you won’t.
I park up in public car parks from time to time and have a few beers. The window shades are up, stop lock on and yes, I’m in the back with the blinds drawn watching reruns of The Price is Right.
Every DIC I have ever known will involve something stupid like being sat in the drivers seat, engine on, slumped over the wheel. Or even one a while back where the vehicle was in drive with engine running, thankfully handbrake on with sparko pissed guy behind the wheel.
I park up in public car parks from time to time and have a few beers. The window shades are up, stop lock on and yes, I’m in the back with the blinds drawn watching reruns of The Price is Right.
Every DIC I have ever known will involve something stupid like being sat in the drivers seat, engine on, slumped over the wheel. Or even one a while back where the vehicle was in drive with engine running, thankfully handbrake on with sparko pissed guy behind the wheel.
t what you drink.sleepezy said:
Asked my brother in law the same question last year(while we were camping, albeit in tents, but looking at some motorhomes further down the hill) - he's also a serving traffic officer.
He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
basically dont fail the "attitude" test,He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
sleepezy said:
He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
Should be safe so long as you're not in proximity to the officer responsible for this farce;https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
bobtail4x4 said:
sleepezy said:
Asked my brother in law the same question last year(while we were camping, albeit in tents, but looking at some motorhomes further down the hill) - he's also a serving traffic officer.
He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
basically dont fail the "attitude" test,He was clear - if you have no intent on driving they typically have no interest - it will help if you had the motorhome set up to sleep in (levelled off and blinds down etc.) - but whilst you may technically be in breach of a drunk in charge position, they do have the ability to engage their own brain on whether it's appropriate or not. Best take keys out of your pocket and leave them in the van while you're in the vicinity of the vehicle (not in the ignition!).
The 'horror stories' you hear about people being pulled up for this are generally either when someone is known to them and has form or where there's another reason they may wish to prosecute and drunk in charge is just easier. He did say, and I would re-iterate, be careful about driving the morning after if you find the ales are particularly to your liking!
About a thousand years ago we slept in my Vauxhall Viva on Hunstanton sea front.
We'd had eleventeen beers each & I decided to show good intent by removing all the HT leads and rotor arm.
Couldn't find them next day.
We also tried to operate on my mates nose with a mole grip & stanley knife to stop him snoring.
We also had the tide come in behind us after a post pub drink up to our necks. And then were all sick in the car.
Also did the launderette thing in our pants.
No help I know...but there you go
We'd had eleventeen beers each & I decided to show good intent by removing all the HT leads and rotor arm.
Couldn't find them next day.
We also tried to operate on my mates nose with a mole grip & stanley knife to stop him snoring.
We also had the tide come in behind us after a post pub drink up to our necks. And then were all sick in the car.
Also did the launderette thing in our pants.
No help I know...but there you go
Blimey. I lived in a campervan continuously for almost a year (albeit not in the UK). We drank rather regularly in the evenings and this never even occurred to me!
If you're really paranoid you could chuck a cheap wheel clamp on to really make the point. The one I had for a caravan was a pain in the arse to get off when stone cold sober so I'd have no chance after a few pints
If you're really paranoid you could chuck a cheap wheel clamp on to really make the point. The one I had for a caravan was a pain in the arse to get off when stone cold sober so I'd have no chance after a few pints
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