random breathalyser stops
Discussion
Cambs police have just started their holiday season random stops again.
This year they seem to be more serious about it though. This morning coming to work there were 5 Traf Pol cars and 3 regular cars hauling people in on the Newmarket Road from Quy, creating a tailback all the way past the Quy roundabout.
Now don't get me wrong, DD is a very bad thing and should be stopped, but I can't help feeling that BiB aren't helping with their public perception by delaying people on their way to work (not just those hauled in but those caught in the traffic jam). Bear in mind this is the same location that 3 weeks ago we had the random stops for a traffic survey.
FG
This year they seem to be more serious about it though. This morning coming to work there were 5 Traf Pol cars and 3 regular cars hauling people in on the Newmarket Road from Quy, creating a tailback all the way past the Quy roundabout.
Now don't get me wrong, DD is a very bad thing and should be stopped, but I can't help feeling that BiB aren't helping with their public perception by delaying people on their way to work (not just those hauled in but those caught in the traffic jam). Bear in mind this is the same location that 3 weeks ago we had the random stops for a traffic survey.
FG
eccles said:
when they did this about 10 years ago, they got 3 people just from where i work!
i think for a few minutes delay, its a good thing, i mean, its not as if newmarket road is a fast flowing road at any time after about 7am anyway.
i think for a few minutes delay, its a good thing, i mean, its not as if newmarket road is a fast flowing road at any time after about 7am anyway.
yes I agree it is a good thing - but the delays on Newmarket Road this morning were much worse because of it, I can just imagine people getting pi$$ed off with BiB and forgetting that it is a good thing.
As much as anything else this will act as a reminder that if you had a lot to drink the night before you might still be over the limit this morning. You're right though - people sitting in the traffic won't think that way.
I'm sure I read somewhere that a lot of these things (like the road tax checking) are most valuable for the other offences that they highlight, like no insurance, driving while banned etc.
I'm sure I read somewhere that a lot of these things (like the road tax checking) are most valuable for the other offences that they highlight, like no insurance, driving while banned etc.
FunkyGibbon said:
Cambs police have just started their holiday season random stops again.
This year they seem to be more serious about it though. This morning coming to work there were 5 Traf Pol cars and 3 regular cars hauling people in on the Newmarket Road from Quy, creating a tailback all the way past the Quy roundabout.
Now don't get me wrong, DD is a very bad thing and should be stopped, but I can't help feeling that BiB aren't helping with their public perception by delaying people on their way to work (not just those hauled in but those caught in the traffic jam). Bear in mind this is the same location that 3 weeks ago we had the random stops for a traffic survey.
FG
This year they seem to be more serious about it though. This morning coming to work there were 5 Traf Pol cars and 3 regular cars hauling people in on the Newmarket Road from Quy, creating a tailback all the way past the Quy roundabout.
Now don't get me wrong, DD is a very bad thing and should be stopped, but I can't help feeling that BiB aren't helping with their public perception by delaying people on their way to work (not just those hauled in but those caught in the traffic jam). Bear in mind this is the same location that 3 weeks ago we had the random stops for a traffic survey.
FG
Seems like a poor choice of location TBH.
I got pulled over last winter for doing 50 in a 60, so they assumed I'd been drinking as was still over the limit... and that was on a road that runs parallel to the A12 and got pulled into a layby.
For the record, I wasn't - I was taking it easy as it was tiping down with rain, and most of the road was like a bloody lake...
julianhj said:
It's normal procedure down my way to explain to motorists why they are being stopped and brethalysed at random, hence avoiding bad feeling from innocent drivers.
I agree - but the non-randomly selected people who are held up in traffic may not see it that way.
Podie is right - it is not the best location (well it may be for maxxing the number of hits!)
Give us a 
sometime. 
zumbruk said:
Be happy you don't live in Scandinavia. They cone off whole lanes and breathalyse everyone, looking for the "morning after" drivers. And they imprison drunk drivers.
I'd be happy to see that over here too, particularly the jailing of people who are over the limit by a fair margin.
zumbruk said:
Be happy you don't live in Scandinavia. They cone off whole lanes and breathalyse everyone, looking for the "morning after" drivers. And they imprison drunk drivers.
I never saw that but would no tbe suprised ,, in sweden it seems normal practise to breath test for no reason at all , i was returning home from a meeting and on the way to the meeting i noticed a speed camera set up so as i neared it i slowed rightdown ,,, still got pulled over and the cow gave me a breath test even though i was not even speeding
markelvin said:
Random stops = good idea.
Those who DD should be strung up!!!!
Whatever one thinks of people who may get caught the morning after I have a problem with creating massive delays on a notoriously bad road (some idiots did a census there a few weeks ago with gridlock the result). Those who DD should be strung up!!!!
How about saving some lives by changing the law to allow the placement of speed cameras where they are actually needed, instead of currently - where they are only allowed to be put in safe places where the limit is too low. THEN I'll take the DD efforts more seriously.
I also have a problem with random stops - are we suddenly back in the eastern block of the 80's again? Christ, don't we have ANY rights any more?
Where did Probable Cause go?
sultanbrown said:
eccles said:
i think for a few minutes delay, its a good thing
Upto three hours delay caused by this when they were stopping people near midsummer common.
yes but to be fair, all it takes is a pedestrians shoe to fall of, or a cyclist to have a puncture, and cambridge is gridlocked!
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