Fair PLay to the BiBs
Discussion
Got stopped on the way home tonight from a meeting at the local motor club night in a pub in Potters Bar. I've just driven round the M25 keeping to about 75, turned off onto the A121 and then south on the A104.
The A104 is a pretty straight road through Epping Forest with two 'fun' roandabouts before you hit the built up areas near Woodford Green.
It's at a set of lights near here that the blue lights come on (unmarked dark blue car behind) and now I'm shitting it coz I know I've had 2 beers and've been gassing it down the road.
I get the car pulled over immediately, get out and meet the officer between our cars. 'Good evening officer, something wrong? How can I can I help?'
He looks like he's in his mid thirties and I let him stand on the kerb whilst I take a position on the road with my bum gently resting on the rear of the pug (206 1.6 GTI) let my knees bend a little so I'm lower than him and look him straight in the eyes...
'I've stopped you because I've been following you for the last 3 miles and my equipment recorded your average speed at 82mph'
I'm thinking 'shit shit shittity shit shit shit' and I've already clocked the breath test machine in his hand. I'm feeling a little nervous. I haven't eaten since lunnch time, and I can feel the fact that I've had a beer. I start praying to my gods and taking real long deep calm breathes - maybe it'll clear out the lungs little?
I say 'well I guess I was pushing it a bit' and smile very sweetly, never losing his eye contact.
He responds 'You were... Now, given the conditions I'm not going to give you a ticket but I would advise you that I believe you were going too quickly given that we do have incidents alongs this road involving wildlife' etc etc etc.
I'm thinking phew and give up a 'thank you officer'.
'However you'll need to take a breath test, I must caution you that if you refuse to take the test I will have to arrest you.'
'Not a problem' I say and smile again...
'Have you ever take one of these tests before?'.
'No' I say 'could you explain to me how it works and what happens?'
'Sure, have you had anything to drink tonight?'
'Yes officer I've had a few pints of Guinness'
and the banter goes on and he explains what its all about.
I'm thinking this is all totally accademic as my life is about to go in one of two directions now. Still I might as well be humble and polite just in case its a border line.
So I blow into the machine taking care not to empty the last 20% of my lung capacity, wait, wonder, say another prayer and get a pass. The world kinda changes colour but I keep the cool calm collected look and we chat some more.
I thank him for manner in which he's conducted himself and we chat about the pug and I say I normally restrict my fun to the roundabouts and he points out that 'yes I was very quick through there as well...'
And he lets me go my way. I'm feeling happy coz in fairness I suppose I did get away with commiting an offence. I assume he's happy because he's alleviated his greatest worry which must've been that I may have been pissed.
I was kind of surprised that there was no document or vehicle check but maybe my open manner led him to believe there was no problem there - there wouldn't have been.
Still a nervous moment but fair play - handled reaonably and prefossionaly by a true gentlemen... and the copper was nice guy too
- nice to know there are some humans out there!
best
Ex
The A104 is a pretty straight road through Epping Forest with two 'fun' roandabouts before you hit the built up areas near Woodford Green.
It's at a set of lights near here that the blue lights come on (unmarked dark blue car behind) and now I'm shitting it coz I know I've had 2 beers and've been gassing it down the road.
I get the car pulled over immediately, get out and meet the officer between our cars. 'Good evening officer, something wrong? How can I can I help?'
He looks like he's in his mid thirties and I let him stand on the kerb whilst I take a position on the road with my bum gently resting on the rear of the pug (206 1.6 GTI) let my knees bend a little so I'm lower than him and look him straight in the eyes...
'I've stopped you because I've been following you for the last 3 miles and my equipment recorded your average speed at 82mph'
I'm thinking 'shit shit shittity shit shit shit' and I've already clocked the breath test machine in his hand. I'm feeling a little nervous. I haven't eaten since lunnch time, and I can feel the fact that I've had a beer. I start praying to my gods and taking real long deep calm breathes - maybe it'll clear out the lungs little?
I say 'well I guess I was pushing it a bit' and smile very sweetly, never losing his eye contact.
He responds 'You were... Now, given the conditions I'm not going to give you a ticket but I would advise you that I believe you were going too quickly given that we do have incidents alongs this road involving wildlife' etc etc etc.
I'm thinking phew and give up a 'thank you officer'.
'However you'll need to take a breath test, I must caution you that if you refuse to take the test I will have to arrest you.'
'Not a problem' I say and smile again...
'Have you ever take one of these tests before?'.
'No' I say 'could you explain to me how it works and what happens?'
'Sure, have you had anything to drink tonight?'
'Yes officer I've had a few pints of Guinness'
and the banter goes on and he explains what its all about.
I'm thinking this is all totally accademic as my life is about to go in one of two directions now. Still I might as well be humble and polite just in case its a border line.
So I blow into the machine taking care not to empty the last 20% of my lung capacity, wait, wonder, say another prayer and get a pass. The world kinda changes colour but I keep the cool calm collected look and we chat some more.
I thank him for manner in which he's conducted himself and we chat about the pug and I say I normally restrict my fun to the roundabouts and he points out that 'yes I was very quick through there as well...'
And he lets me go my way. I'm feeling happy coz in fairness I suppose I did get away with commiting an offence. I assume he's happy because he's alleviated his greatest worry which must've been that I may have been pissed.
I was kind of surprised that there was no document or vehicle check but maybe my open manner led him to believe there was no problem there - there wouldn't have been.
Still a nervous moment but fair play - handled reaonably and prefossionaly by a true gentlemen... and the copper was nice guy too
- nice to know there are some humans out there! best
Ex
in future? 
Mind you had you driven home slowly you'd have been stopped on the belief that those sticking to the speed limit have been drinking!
I know someone who had been to a function in London with his wife, and had a few beers as his wife was driving.
The journey home was about 60 miles, and about 5 miles from home his wife says she's tired can't drive any further. So he says I didn't have that much to drink, must be safe by now, so they swap places.
Coming up the hill in the town he decides the traffic is going to slowly for 1am in the morning, so overtakes. Only to find the car at the frnt is a police car so he gets stopped.
They say "driving a bit enthusiasticly Sir" and he agrees, and they then ask if he has been drinking. He explains the situation and they breath test him. I am not sure if it went yellow or red, but any way they said they'd have to take him to the police station for a further test. So in to the back of the police car he goes. On the way to the Police Station the officers get called to a disturbance, and he sits in the car good as gold whilst they sort it. The police sort it and continue to the police station discussing the disturbabmce and how he was impressed with the way they handled it ec.
Anyway they get to the Police Station and the Officers ask if he is thirsty and e says no. The Officers say "You are thirsty aren't you?" So he agrees, they wander off returning carrying a pint of water. He drinks it, they say "You're still thirsty aren't you?" He agrees they get another pint of water, he drinks it slowly. They then say right now ready for the test so he has the test and passes and gets sent home to face the anger of his wife.
The only assumption that can be made is that the police realised he wasn't significantly over the limit and he had been polite, apologetic etc and not given them trouble.
The irony was a week later his wife drove the 100 yds from the main car park to the green grocer without her seatbelt on. Got stopped, told the police that they should have better things to do with their time etc and received a fixed penalty for her troubles!
I know someone who had been to a function in London with his wife, and had a few beers as his wife was driving.
The journey home was about 60 miles, and about 5 miles from home his wife says she's tired can't drive any further. So he says I didn't have that much to drink, must be safe by now, so they swap places.
Coming up the hill in the town he decides the traffic is going to slowly for 1am in the morning, so overtakes. Only to find the car at the frnt is a police car so he gets stopped.
They say "driving a bit enthusiasticly Sir" and he agrees, and they then ask if he has been drinking. He explains the situation and they breath test him. I am not sure if it went yellow or red, but any way they said they'd have to take him to the police station for a further test. So in to the back of the police car he goes. On the way to the Police Station the officers get called to a disturbance, and he sits in the car good as gold whilst they sort it. The police sort it and continue to the police station discussing the disturbabmce and how he was impressed with the way they handled it ec.
Anyway they get to the Police Station and the Officers ask if he is thirsty and e says no. The Officers say "You are thirsty aren't you?" So he agrees, they wander off returning carrying a pint of water. He drinks it, they say "You're still thirsty aren't you?" He agrees they get another pint of water, he drinks it slowly. They then say right now ready for the test so he has the test and passes and gets sent home to face the anger of his wife.
The only assumption that can be made is that the police realised he wasn't significantly over the limit and he had been polite, apologetic etc and not given them trouble.
The irony was a week later his wife drove the 100 yds from the main car park to the green grocer without her seatbelt on. Got stopped, told the police that they should have better things to do with their time etc and received a fixed penalty for her troubles!
It dilutes the blood - until your kidneys manage to get rid of it. Hence the blood alcohol concentration would be lower and so correspondingly would be the amount of alcohol in your breath going into the test machine.
I guess that drinkning the second pint slowly is the key to it as just having 2 pints of water sloshing in your stomache won't help much.
best
Ex
TheExcession said:
It dilutes the blood - until your kidneys manage to get rid of it. Hence the blood alcohol concentration would be lower and so correspondingly would be the amount of alcohol in your breath going into the test machine.
I guess that drinkning the second pint slowly is the key to it as just having 2 pints of water sloshing in your stomache won't help much.
best
Ex
My guess is that it must have been exceptional circumstances though as I can't see it being a common occurence.
It is beyond me why most people on here are congratulating you as I think you are an absolute tw@ for drinking and driving in the first place.
This time you have had a lucky escape, next time it could be someone on here's relative that you plough into and kill after having a couple of pints and then driving home.
Now if that thought doesnt sober you up then I dont know what will.
This time you have had a lucky escape, next time it could be someone on here's relative that you plough into and kill after having a couple of pints and then driving home.
Now if that thought doesnt sober you up then I dont know what will.
SpudGunner said:
It is beyond me why most people on here are congratulating you as I think you are an absolute tw@ for drinking and driving in the first place.
This time you have had a lucky escape, next time it could be someone on here's relative that you plough into and kill after having a couple of pints and then driving home.
Now if that thought doesnt sober you up then I dont know what will.
Fair point SpudGunner - but life is full of lucky escapes - in fairness I believe that having two pints between 19:30 and 23:30 isn't outside the bounds of the law. Also if you read, I had taken caution on the M25 where my speed never went above 75. Only on the last leg home down a very straight, deserted road with no ajoining roads, clear visibillity and good conditions did the car behind turn out to be a officer who was following me.
My point was that I was extremely impressed with the courtous and sensible manner in which this officer dealt with the situation.
Apparenlty I wasn't over the legal limit to drive - the test proved that - my concern was that I'd never taken a breath test before and consequently found the whole experience a little unnerving.
Incidently are you saying you've never driven a car after having a pint or two of beer? Then you're a rare breed.
I didn't make this post to gain the congratulations of other PH'ers. I made it to point out that given the current wake of people complaining at having been caught by cameras it was a real refreshing change to be stopped by a polite, considerate and courteous officer of the law who made a valued judgement about the circumstances in which he deemed it necessary to stop and advise me.
Remember he told me that he wasn't going to ticket me before we did the breath test - now my driving was either so bad that he was convinced that I was drunk or in my mind more likely a breath test is a formality at that time of the night and he just wanted to caution me about what had happened.
Now, I do have an SP30 on my license for doing 37 in a 30 on a deserted road at 03:40 near Brixton in London on the way to collect my girlfriend from a night out in club - I hadn't been drinking, it was just late and I wanted to make progress, collect her and get home and back to bed. THis was three years ago.
Go figure... where was the offence and where was the reasoned evaluation of a highly trained traffic officer?
best
Ex
>> Edited by TheExcession on Friday 18th July 00:42
You argue your case very well but the fact that you were somewhat apprehensive of being asked to provide a specimen of breath whether you passed or not leads me to conclude that you were not sure that you were in a fit state to be in charge of a motor vehicle. If you are not sure then don't. that you subsequently passed was fortunate but you must consider how you considered your own capabilities.
If you thought you were at risk then you must decide for yourself what danger you posed and learn from the experience.
If you thought you were at risk then you must decide for yourself what danger you posed and learn from the experience.
Absolutely - and I have!
but the fact remains - the road was empty and realistically the only danger was to my self - lets face it if you are tanking down a road at 80 in the dark and a car comes round a corneer in the distance you are going to back off untill everything calms down again.
Don't get me wrong - I don't condone driving drunk - and by my own admission I could feel that fact that I'd had a beer - if you don't understand how this feels I suggest you spend an afternoon with a play station, a copy of GrandTourismo 3 and a 4 pack of beer. Try a few of the license tests and then start to crack open a few beers - you'd be amazed at how you reaction times deteriorate and you can't pass thetests anymore.
I was aware of this at the time, I was taking into account the fact that I'd had a drink and I'd adjusted my driving accordingly - I still made a decision that it was safe for me to proceed at this speed in these circumstances - apparently an officer of the law agrees with me too
Ex
>> Edited by TheExcession on Friday 18th July 01:09
but the fact remains - the road was empty and realistically the only danger was to my self - lets face it if you are tanking down a road at 80 in the dark and a car comes round a corneer in the distance you are going to back off untill everything calms down again.
Don't get me wrong - I don't condone driving drunk - and by my own admission I could feel that fact that I'd had a beer - if you don't understand how this feels I suggest you spend an afternoon with a play station, a copy of GrandTourismo 3 and a 4 pack of beer. Try a few of the license tests and then start to crack open a few beers - you'd be amazed at how you reaction times deteriorate and you can't pass thetests anymore.
I was aware of this at the time, I was taking into account the fact that I'd had a drink and I'd adjusted my driving accordingly - I still made a decision that it was safe for me to proceed at this speed in these circumstances - apparently an officer of the law agrees with me too
Ex
>> Edited by TheExcession on Friday 18th July 01:09
No, Im not saying I am perfect and have never had a drink and then driven, however I have never had more than 1 pint, as I know for sure I will be below the legal limit, but even on the very rare occassions where I have had one pint, I cant help feeling guilty and wondering just how much it does dull the reactions.
It would be bad enough to badly injure/kill someone if I had not consumed ANY alcohol, but to have done it after drinking a pint or 2 would always leave you wondering would the outcome have been different if I had stayed away from the booze for that night.
Best to stick to your suggestion and get bladdered at home playing Gran Turismo or even better GTA3!
My post was just to make you think a little about the consequences. At the end of the day, if you were worried about being over the limit, it shows to me that you perhaps should have stuck to just the 1 pint and then you wouldnt have needed to worry so much.
It would be bad enough to badly injure/kill someone if I had not consumed ANY alcohol, but to have done it after drinking a pint or 2 would always leave you wondering would the outcome have been different if I had stayed away from the booze for that night.
Best to stick to your suggestion and get bladdered at home playing Gran Turismo or even better GTA3!
My post was just to make you think a little about the consequences. At the end of the day, if you were worried about being over the limit, it shows to me that you perhaps should have stuck to just the 1 pint and then you wouldnt have needed to worry so much.
I thought I read somewhere recently that drivers who were at or close to the drink drive limit were actually safer than other drivers. The theory being that they knew there was a chance that their senses were impaired and therefore drove slower and with greater concentration.
Once you start to exceed the limit in a significant way you actually believe that your senses are not impaired and your driving is fine.
I agree that driving after a few beers is not to be condoned, however I believe that anyone stopped after any drink be it at lunchtime or 1 pint in the evening is going to worry about having to breath into the machine. After all no one really knows what their metabolic rate is.
The fact is we have a law that states your alcohol level should not be more than x, the person concerned wasin, and therefore they weren't driving with excess alcohol. Mind you the shock of being stopped and tested may well mean that in future they have 1 pint instead of 2!
My guess is that most people have driven with excess alcohol on board, particularly the morning after the night before, just as most people have driven at speeds in excess of the limit.
Once you start to exceed the limit in a significant way you actually believe that your senses are not impaired and your driving is fine.
I agree that driving after a few beers is not to be condoned, however I believe that anyone stopped after any drink be it at lunchtime or 1 pint in the evening is going to worry about having to breath into the machine. After all no one really knows what their metabolic rate is.
The fact is we have a law that states your alcohol level should not be more than x, the person concerned wasin, and therefore they weren't driving with excess alcohol. Mind you the shock of being stopped and tested may well mean that in future they have 1 pint instead of 2!
My guess is that most people have driven with excess alcohol on board, particularly the morning after the night before, just as most people have driven at speeds in excess of the limit.
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