digital breathalysers

thelawnet

Any experiences of these? How much are we talking about for a half-decent one? Don't really need one, but it would be nice on very rare occasion I guess.

spiro

Huge range of prices, try looking here http://www.ukbreathalysers.com/personal_breathalyzers/personal_breathalyzers_all.htm

rev_henry

I keep this in the car.
http://www.alcosense.co.uk/alcosense-lite.html
It, er, works. Had it a couple of years now. Was much cheaper than the £39.99 RRP though, £20 or so iirc.

Wanton

Is it a good idea to keep it in the car? The offence is not actually "drink driving" but something along the lines of "being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs", you could just be sat in your car having a kip and still be in charge of it.

rev_henry

Wanton wrote: »

Is it a good idea to keep it in the car? The offence is not actually "drink driving" but something along the lines of "being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs", you could just be sat in your car having a kip and still be in charge of it.

Yes, yes. Well actually there are 2 offences - over the prescribed limit (while actually driving) and drunk in charge (where you just have to seem drunk and technically just have the keys on you).

I never sleep drunk in my car.

Sgt_Pepper_2

rev_henry wrote: »

Yes, yes. Well actually there are 2 offences - over the prescribed limit (while actually driving) and drunk in charge (where you just have to seem drunk and technically just have the keys on you).

I never sleep drunk in my car.

To be drunk in charge you have to be above the alcohol limit. Not seen drunk. They also have to prove a likelyhood to drive whilst over the limit. What better defence to the question of how would you know when you were fit to drive. When I blow zero on my machine.

Wanton

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

To be drunk in charge you have to be above the alcohol limit. Not seen drunk. They also have to prove a likelyhood to drive whilst over the limit. What better defence to the question of how would you know when you were fit to drive. When I blow zero on my machine.

Isn't it the other way round? If caught in charge you have to prove your intention not to drive?

Yorkie1

The one reservation I would have about those breathalysers (depending on the distance to be driven and the actual reading before driving), is that you have no way of knowing whether your alcohol level is increasing or decreasing at the time you measure your level. So, you could measure and just be OK, but be over the limit by the time you got home.

thelawnet

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

To be drunk in charge you have to be above the alcohol limit. Not seen drunk. They also have to prove a likelyhood to drive whilst over the limit. What better defence to the question of how would you know when you were fit to drive. When I blow zero on my machine.

dfsfdsfdsfdsfsd

(1)If a person—
(a)drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, or
(b)is in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place,after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit he is guilty of an offence.
(2)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(b) above to prove that at the time he is alleged to have committed the offence the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving the vehicle whilst the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine remained likely to exceed the prescribed limit.
(3)The court may, in determining whether there was such a likelihood as is mentioned in subsection (2) above, disregard any injury to him and any damage to the vehicle.

spiro

I dont know with these machines but with the ones the Police use you have to wait 20min after your last drink before they test you.

Yorkie1

spiro wrote: »

I dont know with these machines but with the ones the Police use you have to wait 20min after your last drink before they test you.

That's to allow mouth alcohol to dissipate.

I don't know whether the DIY ones are designed to remove that element - but I suppose that as they are intended to be a guide, rather than used in a court of law, there is not the need for the type approval and strict regulation / calibration of the police machines.