Screwed up

Aruffell

Aruffell

Aruffell

Soldato
Joined
29 Dec 2004
Posts
5,653
Location
Chatham, Kent
Went to the pub at 2pm yesterday and had 3 pints between 2pm and 8pm.

I had a friend who was stranded 10 minutes away so i got into my car to go and collect him, i felt fine, and even asked the bar staff in the pub if they think i would be ok to drive, told them how much i had to drink and in a space of 5 hours and we all agreed i would be ok.

Low and behold i picked up my friend and on the way back i was driving in my Black Ford Fusion as the cops were after a Black Ford Fiesta so decided to pull me and take me to the station to breath test me on the intoxicator machine.

I was told the pass mark was upto 50g of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

2 blank tests were done, giving a reading of 35 and then my turn came which is when i recieved a 54, 3 hours later of me waiting in a cell feeling like a criminal i was charged with driving under the influence of too much alcohol in my system and now have a court date set for the 26th July at 9:30.

I was very courteus (spelling?) to all involved, the office doing the test wasn't sure how to use the machine which filled me with lots of hope :(

Problem is, my car is a company car as i work in the car trade and i have been told that the minimum is a 12 month ban?

This is my first time offence with the police to be honest, i use my car for work, i didn't cause any agro with the officers involved and would be willing to be sent on as many driver courses they want to send me on as long as i don't get a ban, because if im banned, i lose my job, so can anyone shed some light on what im likely to get?

Is it worth me looking for a new job now before the court case to line something up just in case?

Before anyone kicks off, i know i was wrong, thats why im being sent to court, you dont need to point it out, i felt fine, i even double checked with the bar staff to see in their opinion if i was over the limit as they see this kind of thing every day im sure.

Many thanks in advance for the sensible replies :)

Thanks,

Andy
 
gutted tbh.
though im quite amazed that 3 pints still put you over. are you sure you only had 3 pints?
also, why did you take your car to the pub if you were planning on drinking?

on losing your license - who will it effect? do you have any dependants? if not, say hello to a ban. regarding being banned, talk to your bosses NOW, let them know what has happened and what is happening.

1 question - did they just take you to the station or did you do a breath test when pulled over?
 
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Morba said:
gutted tbh.
though im quite amazed that 3 pints still put you over. are you sure you only had 3 pints?
also, why did you take your car to the pub if you were planning on drinking?
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I only had 3 pints, I live in the road behind the pub, didn't take my car to the pub.

Andy
 
I'm a little bit torn here if i'm honest mate, because I do feel for you, especially after the explanation. But on the other hand, i'm extremely prejudice to drink driving (any form of it), even the "i'll just have one" philosophy. Every drop of alcohol in your system lowers your focus, awareness and makes you more dangerous on the road, whether or not you feel fine. There's been many a time i've felt fine to drive after a couple, but feeling fine doesn't necessarily mean you're as aware as you would be not having had a drop.

I would explain the situation to your work ASAP, keeping them in the dark about it definitely isn't the best idea
 
3 pints of what?

and over 5hours. You shouldn't be over the limit.

Edit - actually no

That's probably 9units. Even if you ignore the absorption time, that would still put you over.
 
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Most people would know that 3 pints in 5 hours is too much. I do have some sympathy for you but I think a punishment is deserved.
 
Well, the offence will certainly incur a ban from driving, so if your current position is reliant on having a driving licence, I’d most certainly make preparations for a new position where you do not need a licence.

Drink driving is classed as a ‘very’ serious offence, and not to sound you out, as the prospects of a ban from driving will be stressing you out more then enough, if you had to ask, then you perhaps shouldn’t have drove.

Still a valuable lesson about to be learnt, I do wish you all the best with the court case, just take it on the chin, be thankful no one was hurt but your pride and lost licence for a few months, maybe a year and just except the consequences of your mistake…
 
3 pints of fosters.

That's what i thought, but i hadn't eaten so i guess it all played a factor against me to be honest :(

Never doing it again, not even 1 :(

I just don't know how to tell my work about it. I've been with this company since December.

Andy
 
If you need a car as part of your job you would probably be better off looking for a new job, of course that won't be easy as you now have a criminal record. I also suppose you could have a chat with your current employer.

Some mid strength lagers can be heading towards 3 units a pint so 3 pints is 9 units.

You know you made a mistake and to be honest you don't need people here giving you grief as you will give yourself enough of that but let this be a leason to anybody else who considers driving after only having a "few" and feeling "fine"
 
Aruffell said:
3 pints of fosters.

That's what i thought, but i hadn't eaten so i guess it all played a factor against me to be honest :(

Never doing it again, not even 1 :(

I just don't know how to tell my work about it. I've been with this company since December.

Andy
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Oh, good luck on getting anything worthwhile insured for a few years after the ban!
Just go into your work and tell your boss.
 
Dracata said:
I'm a little bit torn here if i'm honest mate, because I do feel for you, especially after the explanation. But on the other hand, i'm extremely prejudice to drink driving (any form of it), even the "i'll just have one" philosophy. Every drop of alcohol in your system lowers your focus, awareness and makes you more dangerous on the road, whether or not you feel fine. There's been many a time i've felt fine to drive after a couple, but feeling fine doesn't necessarily mean you're as aware as you would be not having had a drop.
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Sadly but rightfully so, I'm of the same mind on this, but my reply was a little more diplomatic, but drink driving is drink driving, no matter how many you’ve had.... We've all seen the ads, basically, if you drink anything alcoholic, leave the keys behind.
 
Relying on the advice of the bar staff was a pretty idiotic thing to do. IIRC a pint of 5% beer has between 2.5 and 3 units of alcohol in it. 3 pints could potentially have 9 units of alcohol. That takes 9 hours to dissipate from the average person.

Lesson learned I hope. Look forward to years of ridiculous insurance premiums.
 
AcidHell2 said:
1 unit an hour. so 5 hours is 5 units. That's also ignoring absorption time.
A strong pint will be 3units.
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for some reason i was thinking it was 2 an hour. never mind :]
quite surprised he was so close to the limit then in that case
 
Morba said:
why is it?
don't you burn / release 1 unit every 30 mins or something?
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Too many variables, just like some people will pass a breathalyzer after a few pints and some won't and the same goes with how long it takes your liver to process the alcohol.

If I had three pints it would be more than five hours before I got in a car as a: alcohol affects me easier than some and b: because of a I'd want to be more than sure it was out my system.
 
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