Cars on the move that smell of weed
Discussion
I have encountered three occasions in the last few months where I have been on the move in the car, and got a strong whiff of weed from the car I am following (I believe). One of these times was at 8.20am doing the school run, when a Golf did an overtake at 40+mph in a 40mph to get in front of us, only to have to hilariously hit the brakes hard as he encountered temporary traffic light on red with a queue of cars immediately in front. We then saw the driver, driver's window open, and smoke coming out to greet us with the unmistakable stench of weed.
If folk want to smoke drugs in their own house, so be it. I do feel though that driving and smoking this stuff is bang out of order - not to mention illegal. What to do though? Is it worth calling the Police with a registration number, location and direction they are heading in? I personally feel that nothing is likely to happen on the strength of that. A Police car is not going to magically appear and have a word with the driver.
I do note that Police forces have a section where you can report motorists. I presume that may lead to a marker being placed on a car so if ANPR picks it up, they might get a stop and roadside check, but cannot be sure anything still happens.
So, what is the constructive way forward? Ring Police, report on line, just ignore it (and hope no one gets killed). Would be interesting to hear what the hive has to say.
If folk want to smoke drugs in their own house, so be it. I do feel though that driving and smoking this stuff is bang out of order - not to mention illegal. What to do though? Is it worth calling the Police with a registration number, location and direction they are heading in? I personally feel that nothing is likely to happen on the strength of that. A Police car is not going to magically appear and have a word with the driver.
I do note that Police forces have a section where you can report motorists. I presume that may lead to a marker being placed on a car so if ANPR picks it up, they might get a stop and roadside check, but cannot be sure anything still happens.
So, what is the constructive way forward? Ring Police, report on line, just ignore it (and hope no one gets killed). Would be interesting to hear what the hive has to say.
Haven't you watched PoliceCrimeInterceptorsHardBastids? Stop a car four up, with plumes of smoke, and a dash littered with bongs, and the little darlings just get a roadside warning, and moved on 
I suspect, unless you catch them with dealer amounts of bagged up skunk, the effort put in does not equal the PR value, and is thus not a large target for enforcement.
I suspect, unless you catch them with dealer amounts of bagged up skunk, the effort put in does not equal the PR value, and is thus not a large target for enforcement.I have indeed seen a TV programme of that ilk recently. Traffic car pulled a builder's van for a dodgy rear light, then got a whiff. Driver had roadside drug test and was arrested. Passenger had a carrier bag full of weed, also arrested. That was a pull by the Police when they say the van was in a bad way, but translated into drugs arrests and a ban for the driver.
I have also seen an equal amount of TV where, as you say, they get a smack on the wrist and sent on their way. Not sure what a regular patrol car would do. Can they even pull someone over or is that the prerogative of Traffic only?
I have also seen an equal amount of TV where, as you say, they get a smack on the wrist and sent on their way. Not sure what a regular patrol car would do. Can they even pull someone over or is that the prerogative of Traffic only?
Surely the easy option is drug wipe them then take their licenses (if they have them). The current drug drive limits are deliberately set really low to meet the "zero tolerance" agenda so you can fail a drug wipe easily up to 24 hours after smoking a spliff.
A lot of habitual weed users would end up off the roads if there was enough policing enforcement to catch them.
Weather they are really actually driving impaired after such a long time is a different debate.
A lot of habitual weed users would end up off the roads if there was enough policing enforcement to catch them.
Weather they are really actually driving impaired after such a long time is a different debate.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff