Random breath tests-getting me down!

LegacyUser

This sounds strange as a problem, but since it was introduced i always seem to be picked for random breath tests when I come across a garda checkpoint. Why me?. This has happened maybe 6 times in the last 3 years. I am 30 and I do look younger than that, I drive a straight forward family saloon. Do they just take one look at me and try to catch me, maybe I am the 'textbook' drink driver?. They seem not to pick those in front or behind. I drink very very little and it's always came out as being zero, so getting caught for drink driving isn't the problem here. I know its random and the law, but Its just embarresing when I have someone in the car with me. Other people I know never get picked. I am taking this very personal. sorry.

Victor

What is the embarrassing bit? Being stopped? "Being accused"? Blowing in the tube?

There is more enforcement going on these days.

One thing I suggest that you do is make sure that you are using your front lights properly - its one giveaway for possible drink drivers.

star-pants

I wouldn't take it personally, a friend of mine used to always get stopped if he was wearing a cap.
In Australia, myself and a friend were working/travelling and going through airports she *always* got stopped for random drug tests. I used to laugh after a while. Because the two of us had similar enough clothing style, both had brown hair and glasses, but she got stopped every time. Never me. Can't do much about it really - I wouldn't be embarrassed at all, it's random for a reason too.

Clink

You've nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. If you're not over the limit, you've obviously done nothing wrong. Just be thankfull that the Gardai are out there doing their job.

LegacyUser

Im 18. Have been stopped 3 times at night.

I have yet to be breath tested.

The main point is NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

If being breath tested means that eventually they will catch someone.....it means one less drink driver on our roads.

That_Guy

I wouldn't worry about this too much. I know you might feel that the Gardai are out to get you but they're not. It's just a coincidence that you're getting randomly tested. It is the law and it's good to see that it is being enforced even if they have stopped you on several occasions.

Alanstrainor

OP, this is a non issue, it's mostly down to probability, you probably drive on roads with a lot of garda activity. It's as simple as that, there is nothing to take personally here, or to be embarrassed about. And 6 times in 3 years seems about right, twice a year...

Tony H

My wife got stopped and tested twice in a week a couple of months ago in the Christmas crackdown , by the same Garda , she doesn't drink and got a fit of the giggles the second time , she was driving a yaris and like me in late 40's , don't worry about it , it happens to us all .

Teferi

I'd be of the opinion that the younger you are/look the more you get picked to take the test. I was stopped 3 times in one night last year for a breath test (I'm 21). Whenever there are checkpoints I get picked for a sample. Don't take it personally - I've always found that you can have a laugh with the (male) gardai.

allybhoy

Is it possible the people who are with you have drink on them and maybe the Gardai are smelling them? Its just the road near where I live is notorious for random testings and whenever the GF picks me up from the pub to drop me home the gardai always stop and test her. They usually ask has she been drinking she says obviously no, they then test her, it comes out negative and they apologise and say the reason they selected her was because they could smell drink in the car, she explains that I have been drinking and she picked me up from the pub, they then send us on our way. Sometimes i might of only had 2 pints but you would be surprised how keen their noses are. This has happened 4 times in the last 6months.

yellowcurl

I got stopped twice in the one night on both ends of the same street in Dublin city but i don't really have a problem with it. I don't drive a flashy car or one that would attract unwanted attention, they were just genuine random checks. It's the guards responsibility to make sure that all drivers are abiding by the law, why complain about it?

If someone you knew was hit by a drunk driver, would you be complaining that the guards don't do enough to prevent drink driving? Or is it a case of 'it's alright for everyone else to get stopped but not me'?

John Mason

LOL - you should try getting stopped for drugs every single time you get on a plane!!!

one day i got stopped and search three times walking from departures to the plane. i have had my suitcases opened and search in departures twice.

i have been pulled aside at departure gates and asked to about my travel plans, how much money, i am carrying etc. which always sets off alarm bells cos i never have a pe nny with me, it is always on credit cards.

being stopped and breath tested is nothing when you have been searched at gun point in haiti, when they are looking for your second passport

seriously man get over it

one day i got stopped and search three times walking from departures to the plane. i have had my suitcases opened and search in departures twice.

What do you look/dress like out of interest? I often get stopped as well despite looking completely straight laced and sensible. Yeah, I look a bit 'foreign' but just in a European way, nothing that stands out outside Ireland. It's so weird. I have a friend with dreadlocks who dresses like a hippy and she she never gets stopped, which is as well because half the time she most likely is carrying an illegal substance. :rolleyes:

John Mason

[quote=[Deleted User];59243144]What do you look/dress like out of interest? I often get stopped as well despite looking completely straight laced and sensible. Yeah, I look a bit 'foreign' but just in a European way, nothing that stands out outside Ireland. It's so weird. I have a friend with dreadlocks who dresses like a hippy and she she never gets stopped, which is as well because half the time she most likely is carrying an illegal substance. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

i look normal but i always travel long haul by myself, so i look like a drug mule. single white girl traveling to and from jamiaca twice in two years, the same with haiti

_blank_

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

i look normal

:eek:

OP, do you look dopey or constantly look drowsy?

I've no idea why this is a personal issue.

fastrac

I nearly got arrested one night as i had the flu and couldnt get enough air through without coughing.Drove back the same road half an hour later and had to do it again.What can you do only put up with it.

Colostomy Bag

Isn't the random testing just a relatively new thing? I thought there was some legal loophole that had been preventing it. I was stopped last night at about 7pm in the Clonee area and tested. The Garda was very polite and helpful. He did let a couple of taxis through while I was stopped - which I was surprised at - as I know of a couple of Cabbies who like a tipple during work hours.

poindexter

at least you're being tested. i've only had two breath tests ever which i find quite sad really, considering the amount of deaths on the roads i thought there would be more testing done.

MysticalSoul

Everytime I go through security at the airport, the beeper goes off. I reckon it is my underwire bra that sets it off :P