Drink driving

Ebe_Scrooge

Herzlos wrote: »

Why would they detain him for 20 minutes prior to the test? He'd have been caught essentially red handed, so he'd be asked for his license and have his details confirmed and then asked for a test.

The 2 times I've been breath tested (both after crashes, 1 my fault, 1 not) and I was breath tested pretty much straight away.

It's true that if you've just had a drink in the last few minutes you'll give an artificially high reading. My understanding is that you'll be breathalysed at the roadside immediately after a crash or whatever. If you're clear then that's it. If you read positive then they take you to the station and give you another test after 20 minutes, then take the lower of the 2 readings. So if you'd had, say half a pint, the second reading would pass and you'd be on your way. But if you'd had a lot, then the second reading would also fail, and would be a true representation of your blood alcohol level; that's when you'd be in trouble.


( I think they then do a blood or urine test after that to double-check, but I'm not 100% sure on that part - never having been in that situation myself ).

Herzlos

Indeed, there's a follow up.

My point was largely that even if he turns out to not be over the limit, it's going to be a lot of inconvenience if he's stopped, since at minimum he'll have 10 minutes wasted at the roadside, or even an hour wasted getting to/from the station.

Tothepoint.

Herzlos wrote: »

Why would they detain him for 20 minutes prior to the test? He'd have been caught essentially red handed, so he'd be asked for his license and have his details confirmed and then asked for a test.

The 2 times I've been breath tested (both after crashes, 1 my fault, 1 not) and I was breath tested pretty much straight away.

Because he's actually drinking alcohol when driving, you have to wait 20 minutes after the last alcoholic drink before conducting the test.

Tothepoint.

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

It's true that if you've just had a drink in the last few minutes you'll give an artificially high reading. My understanding is that you'll be breathalysed at the roadside immediately after a crash or whatever. If you're clear then that's it. If you read positive then they take you to the station and give you another test after 20 minutes, then take the lower of the 2 readings. So if you'd had, say half a pint, the second reading would pass and you'd be on your way. But if you'd had a lot, then the second reading would also fail, and would be a true representation of your blood alcohol level; that's when you'd be in trouble.


( I think they then do a blood or urine test after that to double-check, but I'm not 100% sure on that part - never having been in that situation myself ).

Not any more and it was only for readings between 40 and 50.

Tothepoint.

Herzlos wrote: »

Indeed, there's a follow up.

My point was largely that even if he turns out to not be over the limit, it's going to be a lot of inconvenience if he's stopped, since at minimum he'll have 10 minutes wasted at the roadside, or even an hour wasted getting to/from the station.

I've told you once, it'll be a minimum of 20 minutes until he can even do the test.

iammumtoone

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Check some of OPs other posts, please don't feed the troll.

Yes a troll post but still it raises an interesting question, what would happen in that situation if it were real?

prosaver

Tothepoint. wrote: »

I've told you once, it'll be a minimum of 20 minutes until he can even do the test.

I seen that on a uk cops programme , this lad was having a can of stella while on a motor bike ..he said he only had one...so the police made him wait for ages and then done the test and passed. Must have to wait for something.

Tothepoint.

iammumtoone wrote: »

Yes a troll post but still it raises an interesting question, what would happen in that situation if it were real?

Easy, they'd wait 20 minutes then give you a breath test or lock you up straight away if you were unfit.