Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Its like a code of conduct for evidence and investigations, and poking people in the kidneys until they fess up is definitely not in it.
Disqualify Drink/Drug Drivers at Roadside
- Thread starter sheddy
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Time Waster
Veteran
@Drago, from what you can remember, would you say that there is any part of PACE that's slightly questionable?
What I mean is, compared to Aussie system you made out the PACE is a good thing, is there nothing that you thought was less than it should or could be? My view is anything in law isn't perfect on account it's created by a political process. I'm hoping you have a few juicy examples of loopholes you could drive a police car through or at least a copper's size 11 boot (possibly in the ribs)! We won't tell anyone!
What I mean is, compared to Aussie system you made out the PACE is a good thing, is there nothing that you thought was less than it should or could be? My view is anything in law isn't perfect on account it's created by a political process. I'm hoping you have a few juicy examples of loopholes you could drive a police car through or at least a copper's size 11 boot (possibly in the ribs)! We won't tell anyone!
Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
Only in England and Wales. So not applicable in Scotland, thankfully!
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I think that some would approve of pop-up gallows in the back of police cars to tidy away suspected murder suspects.
Slick
Guru
Of that there is no doubt.
classic33
Leg End Member
There's the "Glasgow Maiden", for use north of the border.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
There's a maiden in Glasgow???
Time Waster
Veteran
Scottish tribute band for Iron Maiden. A more terrible form of torture I cannot imagine!
Time Waster
Veteran
Yes Scotland and Northern Ireland don't have PACE act like England and Wales but they have the equivalent through a mix of legislation. I think it makes sense to put it all together in one law personally.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
No, you'd normally be bailed to appear in court at a future date. You'd only be remanded for court in the morning if you posed an unde risk to the public, such as a repeat drink driver in a short space of time, repeat disqualified driver, etc.
Slick
Guru
Marchrider
Über Member
I have an old white van and up until about 2020 if I a was out late at night I would occasionally get stopped (once or twice a year), They were always very friendly make some silly excuse for stopping me (you seem to be driving quite slowly, you seem lost) but really they want to know where I am going and what is in the back of the van.
I welcomed the stops, it shows they are out there doing something, obviously blokes in old white vans must often be up to no good. So quite right they should target me. I feel safer for being stopped
But since 2020 I think the police have given up, I often wonder if there is any police in the scottish borders - can't remember the last time i seen a copper
Time Waster
Veteran
I got stopped about 8 years ago for a difference in brightness between the two headlights. Nothing that was illegal but the difference was there because a new light I bought an ultra bright one whereas it was a standard brightnes one that showed as dull. The copper pulled me in (it was December) and sent me into an industrial estate. There I got diesel checked for red diesel by the C&E people then VOSA gave me a piece of paper telling me my light was defective. A female copper walked over and tried to sniff my breath. Wanting a bit of fun I stood up straight and since she was 5 foot nothing (or very close to that) and I was over a foot taller she had no chance. She laughed and took it in good humour. Said that since she could not smell alcohol on my breath she would not test me. I had actually had just unde a half pint of weak as piss bitter and left it half finished so well under the limit so I was not worried about peeing a copper off. Glad she took it in good humour!!
Anyway a walked around the corner and got a light from the garage and the VOSA guy put it in for me, seriously that car was a bastard to fit lights in and my hand was too big to get in there without a lot of cursing and shed skin!! Nice guy then gave me another sheet of paper and I drove off with the new light bulb putting out just about the same amount of light as the old one that failed me!! I ended getting a second ultra bright bulb.
Another time I got stopped by the UK equivalent of the Village people motorcycle cop. He even had the handlebart moustache. I had the hardest of time trying to keep a straight face and I am not sure I managed it. I certainly hummed a bit of YMCA as I put my window up. It was funny and you know what, I reckon that was why he had that moustache. EIther a bet lost or to defuse a stop situation. Do coppers have a sense of humour? I thought he must have had.
Anyway a walked around the corner and got a light from the garage and the VOSA guy put it in for me, seriously that car was a bastard to fit lights in and my hand was too big to get in there without a lot of cursing and shed skin!! Nice guy then gave me another sheet of paper and I drove off with the new light bulb putting out just about the same amount of light as the old one that failed me!! I ended getting a second ultra bright bulb.
Another time I got stopped by the UK equivalent of the Village people motorcycle cop. He even had the handlebart moustache. I had the hardest of time trying to keep a straight face and I am not sure I managed it. I certainly hummed a bit of YMCA as I put my window up. It was funny and you know what, I reckon that was why he had that moustache. EIther a bet lost or to defuse a stop situation. Do coppers have a sense of humour? I thought he must have had.
Time Waster
Veteran
As to roadside bans that is rubbish and would never happen. As was said by ex coppers the breathaliser is not good enough for evidence and drink driving is determined conclusively at the station. At that point a ban could theoretically be applied but it would not be a ban but a police bail condition I guess. Perhaps that is possible already??
Drink driving should be handled differently than driug driving because the tech to get evidence of being over the limit is available now. Once instant drug tests are available then perhaps station bans (or bail conditions) should be applied, but we are nowhere near there yet.
BTW a classic drunk driver was the English owner and blank cheque for a local football team. He was often found driving his bentley with his first name and the number 1 on the numberplate in the town. I heard that he got stopped by a copper and when he realised who it was he told him to get on his way but perhaps let someone else drive for the rest of the day. I saw him trying to get his keys into the lock to get into his car at the pub near his daughter's. He kept dropping his keys and nearly fell over trying to pick the keys up. He seriously needed help to even get in his car. Scary indeed. Nobody in that town would report him. I will not mention who it was but you'd probably understand why he was never going to be picked up in that town!!
It is not just alcohol and drugs you need to worry about but medications and dementia / old age reaction speeds and other medical conditions from dementia to brain tumours or stroke. A GP or other doctor will never report a driver for not being fit to drive. If it ever happens I know enough cases of it not happening when it should to think that is what is happening. I personally think every doctor should have a legal responsibility to refer a driver to the standards if they think they are unfit or could be unfit. We just need a good system to deal with that notification.
Anyway the drink, drug and medically unfit cases could all be treated better in the UK systems. There is simply not the inclination to do that in this car centred society.
Drink driving should be handled differently than driug driving because the tech to get evidence of being over the limit is available now. Once instant drug tests are available then perhaps station bans (or bail conditions) should be applied, but we are nowhere near there yet.
BTW a classic drunk driver was the English owner and blank cheque for a local football team. He was often found driving his bentley with his first name and the number 1 on the numberplate in the town. I heard that he got stopped by a copper and when he realised who it was he told him to get on his way but perhaps let someone else drive for the rest of the day. I saw him trying to get his keys into the lock to get into his car at the pub near his daughter's. He kept dropping his keys and nearly fell over trying to pick the keys up. He seriously needed help to even get in his car. Scary indeed. Nobody in that town would report him. I will not mention who it was but you'd probably understand why he was never going to be picked up in that town!!
It is not just alcohol and drugs you need to worry about but medications and dementia / old age reaction speeds and other medical conditions from dementia to brain tumours or stroke. A GP or other doctor will never report a driver for not being fit to drive. If it ever happens I know enough cases of it not happening when it should to think that is what is happening. I personally think every doctor should have a legal responsibility to refer a driver to the standards if they think they are unfit or could be unfit. We just need a good system to deal with that notification.
Anyway the drink, drug and medically unfit cases could all be treated better in the UK systems. There is simply not the inclination to do that in this car centred society.
