I disagree with drink driving but.....

ScouseMouse

Was on the Tallaght By-pass today at half past one in the afternoon, and the traffic corp had a road block. They were pulling three cars at a time into the hard shoulder and breathalysing them all. Two squad cars and one unmarked. They were stopping people in batches in the middle of the afternoon.

Jesus Christ ! Now I would be afraid to have a drink on my only day off just in case I am still over the limit next day....

Risarow

Sure while they're doing that they don't have to deal with the drugs dealers, robbers, travellers, gang crime and all the other issues the normal people of Ireland would like some protection from.

Midnight_EG

superscouse wrote: »

Was on the Tallaght By-pass today at half past one in the afternoon, and the traffic corp had a road block. They were pulling three cars at a time into the hard shoulder and breathalysing them all. Two squad cars and one unmarked. They were stopping people in batches in the middle of the afternoon.

Jesus Christ ! Now I would be afraid to have a drink on my only day off just in case I am still over the limit next day....

Really? I didn't see any of them :S

EDIT: Just realised I came in through aylesbury/killinarden, avoiding the main road :L

slimjimmc

Having a drink or even two won't put you over the limit the next day, it takes a few more than that. Besides, do you think it should be ok to drive while over the limit just because you done your drinking the previous day?

Looks like they might be following the Ozzies with their booze bus. The set up checkpoints, breathalise every driver and have a bus waiting to haul the naughty ones to the shop.

TheNog

superscouse wrote: »

Was on the Tallaght By-pass today at half past one in the afternoon, and the traffic corp had a road block. They were pulling three cars at a time into the hard shoulder and breathalysing them all. Two squad cars and one unmarked. They were stopping people in batches in the middle of the afternoon.

Jesus Christ ! Now I would be afraid to have a drink on my only day off just in case I am still over the limit next day....

Unfortunately drunk drivers are not just confined to weekends or after a specific time in the day. Drunk drivers have been arrested at all times of the day.

Risarow wrote: »

Sure while they're doing that they don't have to deal with the drugs dealers, robbers, travellers, gang crime and all the other issues the normal people of Ireland would like some protection from.

Im presuming you think a checkpoint is set up for one particular reason such as targeting insurance or tax or drunk drivers. This is not the case at all. Checkpoints are used for detecting all of the above including what you have mentioned.
Also the OP mentions it was Traffic Corp who wouldnt be investigating any of the crime types you outline but would certainly be used to prevent travelling criminals and their wares.

Mr. Presentable

superscouse wrote: »

Was on the Tallaght By-pass today at half past one in the afternoon, and the traffic corp had a road block. They were pulling three cars at a time into the hard shoulder and breathalysing them all. Two squad cars and one unmarked. They were stopping people in batches in the middle of the afternoon.

Jesus Christ ! Now I would be afraid to have a drink on my only day off just in case I am still over the limit next day....

If you're over the limit you're over the limit. I for one am glad to see the Gardai testing.

Teacherman

There is evidence to suggest that People who drive next day after excessive drinking previous day are more liable to cause accidents than those who dont. I have heard this but would like to have more info.

There are varying types of accidents.

kwalshe

superscouse wrote: »

Was on the Tallaght By-pass today at half past one in the afternoon, and the traffic corp had a road block. They were pulling three cars at a time into the hard shoulder and breathalysing them all. Two squad cars and one unmarked. They were stopping people in batches in the middle of the afternoon.

Jesus Christ ! Now I would be afraid to have a drink on my only day off just in case I am still over the limit next day....

Jesus, they are doing their job. If they killed one of you family members etc. while over the limit would you still scold them. They are enforcers of the law and they don't just choose specific ones to enforce just to annoy you. If you are over the limit the next day after drinking, and you get done, it's not a technicality, it's because your over the limit.

eamonpendergast

I've never agreed with drink driving, but at the same time I'm adamantly against random breathalyser tests.

I don't believe that the guards have the right to stop people going about their business without a reasonable level of suspicion that they are doing something wrong.

It's no different that randomly searching you on the street for no reason.

Jarren

I disagree with drink driving but.....

there is no but

Simple enough

Berty

slimjimmc wrote: »

Looks like they might be following the Ozzies with their booze bus. The set up checkpoints, breathalise every driver and have a bus waiting to haul the naughty ones to the shop.

The Booze Bus does not take anybody away. It is a makeshift judicial area. You go in and get further tested, processed and license revoked all in the same bus. You leave through the back door BUT if you can prove you require your vehicle for work you are given an E license with a big RED/WHITE E Sticker for your window showing everybody you are a drink driver but need your license for work.

Booz-o's.

slimjimmc

eamonpendergast wrote: »

I've never agreed with drink driving, but at the same time I'm adamantly against random breathalyser tests.

I don't believe that the guards have the right to stop people going about their business without a reasonable level of suspicion that they are doing something wrong.

It's no different that randomly searching you on the street for no reason.

A driver over the limit may not show any symptoms in normal driving until fast reactions become necessary. So without random checks how do you propose the Gardaí detect drink drivers? Kick footballs across the road and see who reacts slowest ? Sit outside pubs the night before and take down reg nos then surveil the driver the next morning?

eamonpendergast

slimjimmc wrote: »

A driver over the limit may not show any symptoms in normal driving until fast reactions become necessary. So without random checks how do you propose the Gardaí detect drink drivers? Kick footballs across the road and see who reacts slowest ? Sit outside pubs the night before and take down reg nos then surveil the driver the next morning?

A drugy may not show any symptoms in normal day to day life. So without random drug tests for all how do you propose the Gardaí detect them? The same could be said for people carrying illegal weapons, etc, etc

Like I said the Gardaí have no business stopping you going about your business without reasonable suspicion that you are doing something.

ScouseMouse

How can a person know next day if they are over the limit from the day before?

I have never driven over the limit in my life (that I know of!) but my main point, as someone who needs to drive for a living, you always wonder what you can have on your day off without affecting you the next day.

Its impossible to tell ! Now I wont be able to have any without thinking about it.

The main guard wasnt even looking at discs in the window, he was just pulling three cars in a row from each lane. He didnt even look at my discs. Its was then I saw the cops in the hard shoulder with the breathalyzers.

B11gt00e

Pulling them in three at a time is useful enough, but plenty of drivers go by as they're processing or testing those pulled in. They'd be better off cruising around during an agreed time and pulling in a few eejits who have display no lane sense or any kind of reaction to colour changes on the traffic lights etc., etc.

They would catch more twits by being discerning fishermen rather then the lottery system which the OP has described. Anyone reading this site on a regular basis would seem to know that you wouldn't have to drive far on any road in the country to come across driving worthy of garda interrogation.

At least that way they can justify pulling people over on suspicion while not hindering those honestly and innocently going about their day-to-day business.

ScouseMouse

At no time did I, or did I mean to, suggest drink driving as acceptable.

triple-M

its obviously unfair if somebody has a good night out does the responsible and doesnt drive on their night out then the next day goes about their daily life fully sober but gets done for drink driving just because the alcohol is still in their system even if their 100% sober,they should use the american sobriety test as a backup if a person claims they havent drunk since the night before and have slept it off as machines cant always be accurate they should be made recite the alphabet walk a line etc. like you see the american cops doing,thats really the fairest way imo

danjo-xx

All garda activity in crime prevention is always welcome, but we don't see our streets flooded with them after dark when they are most needed.


Are most rostered on day shift and then a skeleton staff after that.

Dont mention cut back, it was the same during the years of the cat:D

Guy:Incognito

triple-M wrote: »

its obviously unfair if somebody has a good night out does the responsible and doesnt drive on their night out then the next day goes about their daily life fully sober but gets done for drink driving just because the alcohol is still in their system even if their 100% sober,they should use the american sobriety test as a backup if a person claims they havent drunk since the night before and have slept it off as machines cant always be accurate they should be made recite the alphabet walk a line etc. like you see the american cops doing,thats really the fairest way imo

Do you know what sober is? If your over the limit you couldnt be 100% sober.

Explain in your terms the difference between having 15 pints on a night out and being 10% over the limit the next day and haveing 2 pints and being 10% over the limit straight after leavign the pub, Do you not concede its the same thing?

greendom

Risarow wrote: »

Sure while they're doing that they don't have to deal with the drugs dealers, robbers, travellers, gang crime and all the other issues the normal people of Ireland would like some protection from.

Killing someone through being drunk at the wheel is as much a crime as the others you mention

Drummerboy08

Well, the way I see it is like this.

If you were driving legally, you have nothing to worry about, and should let the Gardai do their job.

If that checkpoint stopped one person who was driving illegally - be it drunk, no tax/insurance/disqualified, etc - you should be greatful to the Gardai for doing a job well done, and taking a person who shouldnt be on the road, off it.

eamonpendergast

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Well, the way I see it is like this.

If you were driving legally, you have nothing to worry about, and should let the Gardai do their job.

If that checkpoint stopped one person who was driving illegally - be it drunk, no tax/insurance/disqualified, etc - you should be greatful to the Gardai for doing a job well done, and taking a person who shouldnt be on the road, off it.

By that logic you could justify any number of other unnecessary Gardaí interferences into your life:

Randomly searching your house without out a warrant "If one life is saved it's worth it, be it drugs or a bomb that they find"

How many of your freedoms are you willing to trade away for the illusion of security?

Shield

eamonpendergast wrote: »

By that logic you could justify any number of other unnecessary Gardaí interferences into your life:

Randomly searching your house without out a warrant "If one life is saved it's worth it, be it drugs or a bomb that they find"

How many of your freedoms are you willing to trade away for the illusion of security?

Ever heard of comparing like with like? When you're on a public road in a car, you are subject to the Road Traffic Act, like it or not. Gardaí are tasked with enforcing it, whether you or they like it or not. No legislation exists that allows Gardaí to randomly search your house without a warrant signed by a Judge.

You're making it sound like the Gardaí are the bad guys here. Laws are signed by the President. If you don't like the laws, why not express your displeasure at the President and leave the Gardaí do to their jobs?

Victor

eamonpendergast wrote: »

By that logic you could justify any number of other unnecessary Gardaí interferences into your life:

Randomly searching your house without out a warrant "If one life is saved it's worth it, be it drugs or a bomb that they find"

How many of your freedoms are you willing to trade away for the illusion of security?

There are about 300 traffic deaths per year. Don't you think that targeted checks like this* are more useful than a fishing trip in searching more than a million homes?


*Random is a misnomer - most of the people breathalysed are being breathalysed for some reason, its just that reason isn't enough to form full suspicion.

DublinWriter

eamonpendergast wrote: »

It's no different that randomly searching you on the street for no reason.

Except for the fact that you're in charge of half-a-ton of metal capable of doing over 100mph.

Terrontress

Eamonn is correct though. He is talking about law which should not be emotive. People talk about "if it saves one life" or "what if it was your brother or sister". Neither of these justify a law, all of which should be taken to extremes to prove their validity.

I think that random testing is lazy policing. Wait long enough and someone will come along.

The only time I was ever tested was leaving the Electric Picnic on a dark Sunday evening. I had made sure I'd be OK by having my last drink at 10pm the night before and I returned a zero reading.

On the M7 home, there was a lone man in an Izusu Trooper driving at 45mph, straddling the hard shoulder and the driving lane with no lights on. Most likely coming home drunk from his Sunday visit to the golf club.

I think that a competent traffic officer should be able to spot impaired driving rather than sitting at a solitary spot and wait for it to come to him. And in doing so can look out for other offenses. The current set-up is lazy and ineffective.

And finally, there are those who might argue that being required by law to provide a physical sample of anything from your body is more intrusive that Eamonn's very valid comparison of having your entire street's houses searched on the off chance that there may be guns, drugs or whatever in there.

eamonpendergast

Terrontress, nicely summed up.

terrontless, i think it's the fear of a checkpoint that stops alot of potential drink drivers. if we take it that that we'll only get caught by the state of our drunk driving, the false confidence and the "it'll be grand" effect of the alcohol will mean people will take the risk.

keefg

I think there should be more drink-driving checkpoints, not less (as some posters want).

Sat afternoon seems like a perfectly reasonable time to set up a checkpoint I think. There are a lot of early afternoon football matches & the like shown in pubs during the day and therefore a lot of people drinking whilst they watch the matches.

As always though, the gardai are in a "damned if they do, damned if they don't" situation.

People will moan & bitch about being "harassed" by the garda and having their civil rights "abused" but these same people will be calling Joe Duffy, complaining to the Sunday Indo and seeking compensation if they or their family become a victim of a drink driver because the gardai " do fcuk all".

agree on the fact that their should be more checkpoints.. have never been checked and sometimes wonder why i bought my breathalyzer in the first place.

eamonpendergast

Deleted User wrote: »

terrontless, i think it's the fear of a checkpoint that stops alot of potential drink drivers. if we take it that that we'll only get caught by the state of our drunk driving, the false confidence and the "it'll be grand" effect of the alcohol will mean people will take the risk.

I would think that in this day in age it's no longer the fear of being caught that deters people but the fact that is no longer socially acceptable to drink and drive. There was an attitude years ago "Ahh, sure it'll be grand". Which I think is mostly gone in this country.

In most social circles today drink driving is severely frowned upon, at least in any circle I've been involved in. Of course this is not the same in every circle, but I'd like to think that drink driving is no longer socially acceptable for most people in this country.