Done for Drink Driving.

matt100 · 15 Dec 2011 at 09:46

does make you think, if you go on a proper bender like I used to in my younger days (especially work events which tend to be miles from home) you can easily cover 20 units, maybe more.

Apply the rule of losing a unit an hour and you could be over the limit for the best part of a day!

I know years ago I have definitely been over the limit the following morning, I put my foot down now, if work expect me to go out and get hammered then they can pay for a train or live with me hanging around the hotel until I'm 100% sure I'm fine

My understanding is a minimum 12 month ban, possible reduction for a drink awareness course but you always, always get a ban. Always. Without question. No excuses.

Which is exactly as it should be, you blow positive back at the station (had a friend blow over on the street and under back at the station.. very close), you're toast. End of story.

Swordfish · 15 Dec 2011 at 09:52

Matblack said:
Kent police have a new video link from the station to the court which they say means you can be banned within 90 minutes of an offense day or night.

MB

How would that work?

Joe Bloggs arrested for being over the drink drive limit so in theory he is intoxicated. Surely then, he cannot be "up in court" whilst intoxicated and what about legal counsel? Seems a flawed way of dealing with it I would think.

Malc · 15 Dec 2011 at 09:53

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/853.aspx?CategoryID=87&SubCategoryID=871 - Shows the rate at which the body removes alcohol from the bloodstream

http://www.80mg.org.uk/guide.html - Is the drink drive limit

So allow about 20-30mins for the alcohol to get into your bloodstream then assume alcohol is removed from your body at 1 unit per hour after this. The drink drive limit is about 4 units for men and a pint of 4% lager has about 2.3 units in it.

Therefore with a drinking session starting at 7 the previous night with the intent to drive 12 hours later (7am) you have the ability to get rid of about 12 units which is about 5 pints and you'll have zero alcohol in your blood 6-7 and you'll be on the limit.

I'd not want to drink 6-7 as you'd be pushing it but 4 maybe 5 the night before wont be a problem. A hangover might be though

SlyReaper · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:08

matt100 said:
My understanding is a minimum 12 month ban, possible reduction for a drink awareness course but you always, always get a ban. Always. Without question. No excuses.

I know a guy who escaped a ban recently. He got 11 points and a £1k fine, but from what he says, he was only very slightly over the limit. He also didn't try to argue the toss, which I imagine helped his case.

I once heard a story (probably made up) that a man escaped punishment entirely because the copper didn't notice the car was left-hand-drive. He breathalysed the passenger by mistake. Of course the driver was drunk too, but by the time the court date rolled around, it couldn't be proved.

matt100 · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:14

seriously? I was convinced I was right so I googled it and on drivingban.co.uk (no idea if thats legit though) and there's this on there, was he on the way to a hospital or something?

"What is the minimum punishment for drink driving offences?

The punishment depends on the actual allegation. For being in charge of a vehicle, if in exceptional circumstances a driving ban is not imposed, the range of penalty points is between 3 and 11. However, a mandatory ban is the punishment for driving or attempting to drive. "

SlyReaper · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:18

Well then I don't know how he dodged it. Maybe his solicitor managed to get the charged dropped to something slightly less severe.

matt100 · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:22

Hmm, there's nothing to drop it to? Driving while festive?

Anyway, not doubting you, you just undermined something I thought was a nailed on fact but there's no accounting for crazy judges.

Siliconslave · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:34

MikeHiow said:
If I'm still howling at midday, I'm probably not going to drive. If I'm not hungover, I'm feeling bright and alert, I'll drive. Simple.

if you've been out on a bender though the times you don't feel hungover are generally because your still ****ed!

I simply won't drive after a big, or even medium night out - I dropped the misses off at work today as she'd be out at her Christmas party last night an I'm leaving my car at work today so i can get a train in tomorrow after my party tonight

Its in the news so much at the moment there really is no excuse to think you'll be OK the next day

SlyReaper · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:36

I'm no lawyer and I don't know the finer details of the case. I didn't know a ban was mandatory for being caught over the limit though; I thought sentencing was left to the discretion of the judge. It would be a bit harsh to get a year's ban for being like 1% over the limit.

NathWraith · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:38

To be honest at this time of year, you would be mad to have a seession the night before and then drive the next day.

Police roadblocks ahoy!

DRZ · 15 Dec 2011 at 10:43

NathWraith said:
To be honest at this time of year, you would be mad to have a seession the night before and then drive the next day.

Police roadblocks ahoy!

This.

Every year there are road blocks on the main roads around here. They pull almost every car in when it is quiet and when it is busy they pull in 1 in 3 or so. I've been breath tested once and chatted to a couple of times over the years but you do see people being arrested and taken away...

Dup · 15 Dec 2011 at 11:06

You can be in charge of a vehicle if you're pushing it... but that's not the same as driving it.

Barry Smalley · 15 Dec 2011 at 11:21

If you are sat in it with the keys without the engine running, you are still in charge. I know someone who got done for that.

Deep · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:05

Barry Smalley said:
If you are sat in it with the keys without the engine running, you are still in charge. I know someone who got done for that.

The guy from My Family got charged for that.
I think that rule is a bit stupid tbh

Psycho Sonny · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:05

matt100 said:
Hmm, there's nothing to drop it to? Driving while festive?

Anyway, not doubting you, you just undermined something I thought was a nailed on fact but there's no accounting for crazy judges.

i read in a newspaper once:

there was a muslim (oh yes i know the ironing) who got no ban for drink driving, because he had 2 wifes and needed the car in order to work in order to support them, i think he got 12 points or something, but was able to keep his licence, in fact i know someone personally with more than 12 points (speeding related) who still has their license. having a good lawyer, and needing the car to support yourself and family is the most common used excuse.

matt100 · 15 Dec 2011 at 12:22

daily mail by any chance? don't believe that at all. Pretty sure its an absolute offence or something like that.

totting up is totally different, I've known plenty of people dodge a ban for that however I read up a lot on that when I was on 9 points years ago and the whole inconvenience thing or not being able to live your life properly is kinda the point of the ban so you've got to prove undue hardship to your family but that's not a defence for drink driving.

SlyReaper · 15 Dec 2011 at 13:57

I just heard one of the anti-drink-driving adverts over the radio. It was a testimonial from a guy who had been caught: "I had to spend a night in the cells, it was terrible", "I lost my job", "it put strain on my relationship with my girlfriend and we ended up splitting up", etc etc.

It struck me that none of these things are consequences of drink driving. They're consequences of getting caught and being punished for drink driving.

Dave M · 15 Dec 2011 at 16:09

SlyReaper said:
I just heard one of the anti-drink-driving adverts over the radio. It was a testimonial from a guy who had been caught: "I had to spend a night in the cells, it was terrible", "I lost my job", "it put strain on my relationship with my girlfriend and we ended up splitting up", etc etc.

It struck me that none of these things are consequences of drink driving. They're consequences of getting caught and being punished for drink driving.

A more effective advert would be having a few, running someone over and not getting caught. I can't imagine what it would be like having a secret like that - you'd have to own up or top yourself surely?

Siliconslave · 15 Dec 2011 at 16:39

Telescopi said:
A more effective advert would be having a few, running someone over and not getting caught. I can't imagine what it would be like having a secret like that - you'd have to own up or top yourself surely?

there was one like that a couple of years back where the guy kept seeing the dead kid everywhere - that was pretty damn freaky

The Running Man · 15 Dec 2011 at 19:17

Ive given up driving the day after a session. Ill plan my weekend around if im going out and either walk by foot the day after or just work it a different way.

it not worth it. Ive been pulled twice a couple of years ago on suspected drink driving but it was due to leaving a pub car park at gone last orders. Didnt touch a drink though as i knew i was driving so they not bother to breathalise me.