I'll break it down... easier
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.
should in theory be ok.... but pints vary in strength etc,
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.
Stopping you is perfectly legit, however the normal procedure is to do a screening breath test at the side of the road (or if there isn't a kit available in car) to have one dropped off by another patrol car), should you then fail there, you would be taken to the station for a full test, or should you refuse to give a roadside sample.
I was told the pass mark was upto 50g of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
it's 35microgrammes per 100ml in breath, and 80 milligrammes per 100ml in blood
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
blank tests? the machine is self test/calibrated and should be operated by someone trained on the machine.... was it a blow test or blood sample? if it was a blow test i'm assuming they put a fresh mouthpiece on in your presence?
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?
There is a possibility... if you can't get it thrown out based on the readings and competence of the officer administering the tests, that good character references would help.... from employer listing what a sterling guy you are, how you make an honest mistake, (may also be worth getting cctv of the pub serving you three pints over the time period to highlight this... getting the exact times of service etc...). Speeding tends to be the course option
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.
Good attitude mate, i do feel sorry for ya, as i hate this drink limit, personally believe in zero alcohol to drive, purely because different drinks at different times of day will affect people differently, there's no hard and fast rule, you could take an example of drinking the same time for 3 days with the same brands, and find due to different activities/tiredness etc, you'd be at different levels on each day....
It's also possible to be over the limit the morning after the night before
They're a decent little community and will tell you straight. The judges would be especially helpful in this case to give you an idea of what to expect etc. Ask about mitigation etc regarding your job. A ban isn't a 100% certainty afaik, but it's a high probability nonetheless. Good luck.
