Random breath tests!

Sgt_Pepper_2

lazer wrote: »

Unmarked actually, but full uniform.

I'm not saying there was anything wrong or suspicious, I'm just saying I didn't feel at all comfortable stopping with them.

The point of saying about this occassion is that the random breathalyser checks are more than just inconvient and annoying, depending on where there are located, they can make people physically uncomfortable and feel unsafe etc, and its very hard to breath into one of those things when you're feeling that way, and if you fail to do it 3 times (I think), they then take you in for a urine sample .

I'm not anti-police, I recognise that they do a good job and are needed to maintain a civilised society, but at the end of the day, its just a job, and should be treated like that. The police are not above the law.

I am however anti anything that undermines the principle of innocent until proven guilty especially the powers to stop/search and detain people including the 28 day internment for people suspected of terrosim offences, either you have the evidence to charge or you don't, and if you don't then let them go.

You think wrong.

dacouch

I was pulled over for drink driving, they took me back to the station and performed a urine test.

As they were locking me up, a massive fight started with someone else they had arrested. As I was drunk and the cell door was unlocked and I was not thinking logically so I decided to do a runner. As I was on my way out I went past the room with the breathliser and I saw my urine sample. I decided to steal the evidence so they could not ban me.

Just after I got home, the police turned up and arrested me for taking the pi$$

Weird_Nev

lazer wrote: »

I suppose no police man has ever attacked, robbed, or done anything else wrong have they?

Why should a person feel safe just because it was the police that stopped them, just as in ever other profession, there are some unsavoury characters, however the police can also use their position to gain access to people and property.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/715842-met-policeman-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15759361

This is 2 quick examples from a google search.

A serving policeman can also be a criminal.

I saw a black swan once. Doesn't mean all swans are black.

I don't get this thread: The post the OP made does not give any indication that breath tests will be conducted either at random or outside of the bounds of legislation. So why the 7 page thread.

As motorists we should all be glad that Police are doing something to prevent/deter drink and drug driving, IMO.

JimmyTheWig

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Suppose you don't go to the doctors in case you get touched up.
etc

It's completely different.
In one case you go to the doctor to get examined.
In the other case the police are stopping you.
It would be more like being stopped by a doctor (in full doctors uniform, so it's ok) and asked to come into his clinic for an examination.

The chances of the doctor that you choose being corrupt are tiny. The chances of someone stopping you on the street being corrupt are much higher as they've already, potentially, made the first move.

Trebor16

LincolnshireYokel wrote: »

I could post hundreds of these.................. the police in this country are institutionally corrupt from the top down.

What an idiotic statement to make!

Joe_Horner

AlexisV wrote: »

The inevitable first Nazi reference! :D:D

In a valid context, though - and I didn't mention the H-word

Honeydog

lazer wrote: »

Unmarked actually, but full uniform.

Unmarked.

So how did they get you to stop? Were they inside their car or outside?

Genuine question.

dacouch

The answer is to be a royal or look like a royal, you even get an apology

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4378708/Prince-Harry-cops-off-Royal-biker-is-pulled-over-by-cops-with-a-pretty-mystery-blonde-he-was-taking-for-a-romantic-picnic-under-the-stars.html

pogofish

I have vague memories of a trial period by a south of England force period back in the late 1980s that at the time was touted as the nearest thing to true random breath testing ever allowed in the UK.

Its results were not very inspiring - In fact, the after some months of operation the statistical analysis did read like the "random" element had translated into "Stop anyone who is not likely to be drunk driving," - With some types of driver being up to sixty times more likley to be stopped than the drivers then recognised as having the greatest propensity to drunk driving.

Strangely, the clamouring for random stop powers did subside for some years after that!

cord123

I find this thread hilarious!This whole 'police are corrupt' is great! As someone has already said, in every job you will get bullys etc, how many stories come out about people in the army beating people to death or hiding civilian deaths, yet it seems to be that the minority in the police make the majority hated. (I am married to a policeman and my little brother is in the army so I have ties to both before anyone starts!)


I just personally dont get all the police haters! If you were smashed into by a drunk driver, who would be the first people you called, and who would you blame for that drunk person on the road? They are trying to be proactive, rather than re-active and they get moaned at for it. Surely, for those people that feel it is ok to drink drive, knowing the police may pull you over and breathalise you regardless of suspisions it will put people off doing this. I have no issue at all with being breathalised.... i cant understand anyone that does tbh... it would be far more inconveniant to be hit by a drunk driver than to be pulled over for 10 minutes....


As for the whole Ian Tomlinson thing, yes it was unfortunate but if you look at the footage he had been told to move many times before yet didnt.... it was an unfortunate outcome, but had it been a 17 year old with a bandana round his face doing exactly the same I wonder if you would feel the same?


My husband went to the London Riots and he said it was a very scary place to be. He got called in so hadnt slept at all as he had just been on a 10 hour shift .... he said the noise etc was out of this world. All the training in the world cant prepare you for everything. They just have to go with their instincts and maybe they can get it wrong but they are only human. How would you feel if you were faced with groups of youths with their faces covered throwing god knows what at you? Before you say it yes it is their job, and yes they get paid but I wonder if you would do they same for less than 30k?
The job has changed so much from when he joined but unfortunately, after being in it 10 years and with the current climate he couldnt leave to do anything else if he wanted to.
I think if you went out for one night and saw what they did you may well just do a breathaliser test, thank them for their proactiveness and go on your way... they may be scraping someones brains up a few hours later while you are sat at home watching eastenders.....