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https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules

I disagree with drink driving but.....

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Comments

  • #62
    vinylrules
    Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭vinylrules


    Let's not forget in all this discussion that there is no law that states you cannot drink alcohol and drive. The laws simply relate to the amount of alcohol you're permitted to have in your system while driving. And while it's not a lot - it allows someone to have say, a glass of wine or two with a meal and to remain within the law. Whether you or I think they should or not is irrelevant. If they are within the limits they are law-abiding citizens and should not be treated the way a friend of mine was recently (He “failed” a breath test, was arrested, a blood sample taken and three weeks later he found that he had just 20mgs in his system – a quarter of the legal limit.) Lots of things in life are "socially unacceptable" to some people but not illegal (smoking for instance). I personally find it unacceptable that my daughters' school is surrounded by massive SUVs in the morning driven by mothers who can barely drive or park these tanks. It's well known that these vehicles are more dangerous to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. In fact you're twice as likely to die if struck by one of these monsters compared with a normal saloon car. My point is, there is nothing I can do about it - they're completely legal and I just have to accept it. Random Breath Testing has a smack of a police state about it - it's not allowed in many countries including the UK.


  • #63
    Terrontress
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,923 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    dudara wrote: »
    To the best of my knowledge, they have done this in the past in England when trying to catch a serial rapist/killer. People were not obliged to donate a sample. Thousands of people participated.

    Well if they had two lanes at their checkpoints, one for people who wish to give a breath sample and one for those who didn't and could sail through then I would not have such a problem with it.

    You could, I'm sure, also have thousands participate.

    Do you still think your analogy is worthwhile?


  • #64
    Gary ITR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,801 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    superscouse wrote: »
    Bloody Hell.

    I started this thread on the basis of driving the day after going to the pub. The issue I have is that, who knows if you are over the limit the next day?

    99% of the people on here go out in the evening and drive the next day.

    What if they are over the limit without realising they are or could be.
    What if they are found to be over the limit.

    Its enough to stop you having a few pints on your day off.

    I do not condone drink driving. But how can you tell if you are over the limit the next day?

    It is unnerving. If I was a big drinker, I would probably invest in one of those breathalyzer gizmos. But then again, do they stand up in court.....


    I could go on and on.

    The thing is, common sense will tell you that you aren't fit to drive after a feed of pints.

    If I'm on a night out I usually drink a shed load of Jagermeister and whatever it is about jager I always wake fresh as a daisy and feel fine the next day but I won't drive until at least evening time and that's only if I really have to

    If you have to drive the day after a night out then you really need to take it easy and stay off the shorts


  • #65
    roosterman71
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,984 ✭✭✭roosterman71


    If people obey the law, they'll never have anything to worry about. Its simple really. Why give out about guards doing their jobs? You'd only give out if ya'd something to hide.


  • #66
    eamonpendergast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69 ✭✭eamonpendergast


    roosterman71 wrote: »
    You'd only give out if ya'd something to hide.

    Utterly not true. See previous examples.


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  • #67
    Terrontress
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,923 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    Onkle wrote: »
    The thing is, common sense will tell you that you aren't fit to drive after a feed of pints.

    If I'm on a night out I usually drink a shed load of Jagermeister and whatever it is about jager I always wake fresh as a daisy and feel fine the next day but I won't drive until at least evening time and that's only if I really have to

    If you have to drive the day after a night out then you really need to take it easy and stay off the shorts

    Let's be honest, knowing you have caused a fatal accident is much more of a sentence than losing your license for a year or so.

    The law should be a deterrent but not THE deterrent.

    Your approach is the best Onkle, so there can be no doubt.


  • #68
    dudara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    Terrontress wrote: »
    Well if they had two lanes at their checkpoints, one for people who wish to give a breath sample and one for those who didn't and could sail through then I would not have such a problem with it.

    You could, I'm sure, also have thousands participate.

    Do you still think your analogy is worthwhile?

    Yes, because you're still failing to see the difference between the responsibilites you face as a driver in charge of a car, and being asked as a random punter to participate in something.


  • #69
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,713 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Deleted User wrote: »
    what you're suggesting is that traffic corps observe peoples driving instead of drink driving checkpoints.. how do they do this?

    This is the method used in the UK. Checkpoints(looking for motoring offences) are illegal in the UK and so is any form of random breath testing. You can only be pulled over if you do something wrong and you can then be breathalised.


  • #70
    roosterman71
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,984 ✭✭✭roosterman71


    Hailey Purring Fan wrote: »
    This is the method used in the UK. Checkpoints(looking for motoring offences) are illegal in the UK and so is any form of random breath testing. You can only be pulled over if you do something wrong and you can then be breathalised.

    But its not illegal in Ireland so the guards are within their rights to set up checkpoints to ensure that drivers are within the law.


  • #71
    vinylrules
    Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭vinylrules


    roosterman71 wrote: »
    But its not illegal in Ireland so the guards are within their rights to set up checkpoints to ensure that drivers are within the law.

    The Gardai are not allowed to set up Mandatory Alcohol Checkpoints without prior written authorisation. There have been several cases already where it's been shown they have not done so and anyone arrested at these checkpoints have had their cases dismissed.

    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/random-breath-testing-hits-legal-roadblock-1443182.html


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  • #72
    Bogger77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,857 ✭✭✭Bogger77


    Terrontress wrote: »
    On the M7 home, there was a lone man in an Izusu Trooper driving at 45mph, straddling the hard shoulder and the driving lane with no lights on. Most likely coming home drunk from his Sunday visit to the golf club.

    I think that a competent traffic officer should be able to spot impaired driving rather than sitting at a solitary spot and wait for it to come to him. And in doing so can look out for other offenses. The current set-up is lazy and ineffective.

    So did you do your civic duty, and call the gardai to report this suspect driver, or were you a lazy and ineffective citizen?


  • #73
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,676 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Terrontress, pilots, train drivers and soldiers can be subjected to random drink / drug tests. Do you also feel that these are overboard?

    Pilots, train drivers and soldiers kill very few people in Ireland. Car drivers kill hundreds.

    A driving licence is just that - a licence. There is no right to drive a MPV in a public place. One of the conditions of being allowed to drive is that you are subject to a graduated scale of checks


  • #74
    Big Nasty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    Victor wrote: »
    soldiers kill very few people

    Ever hear of WWI/II, Vietnam, Afganistan, Iraq, to name but a few?


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