Alcoholism/drink driving

LegacyUser

The ex regularly gets in car midweek and heads down motorway in the early morning just hours after up to 17 units of spirits. I'm assuming the guards can do nothing unless they actually stop her drink driving themselves and breathalyse?

She has a serious issue with drink, even claiming she isn't that drunk on that amount of drink. That in itself I would believe is indicative of a huge problem with alcohol. Her family would be oblivious. I feel as though it's wrong to walk away from the situation doing/saying nothing.

Any advice?

Hannibal_Smith

No. The Gardai can't do anything unless they stop .and breathalyse her.

SimpleDimples

I couldn't do nothing if i knew someone was putting lives in danger. Report it and the registration number to her nearest garda station.

Imagine how you would feel if she was involved in a serious or fatal accident and you did nothing. All you can do is make the Gardai aware and hope they catch her in the act.

Wesser

Call them.one night when you know she's heading out.

Skibunny77

Ask to speak to a traffic garda. Give information about her home/route. They may assist. I can understand your concern, have seen the injuries caused to and by drivers like your ex.

Meauldsegosha

While I agree with other posters that you should report your ex to the Garda when you are aware she is driving while intoxicated, I do wonder about your motives behind doing something now.

Is it for revenge or to get back at her? Did she drink and drive while you were together, why not report her then?

LegacyUser

Meauldsegosha wrote: »

While I agree with other posters that you should report your ex to the Garda when you are aware she is driving while intoxicated, I do wonder about your motives behind doing something now.

Is it for revenge or to get back at her? Did she drink and drive while you were together, why not report her then?

Perhaps you're right to question the OP's motives, but so what? How does that help? Whether it's revenge or concern, the drinking and driving should be reported.

squonk

Is the op going to tell his ex he plans to report her? While I agree with the safety of other road users, I think you should sit down and really think before you do anything.

cbyrd

If you ask yourself the following question:
'if she crashed tomorrow morning and badly injured herself, a pedestrian, a family on a school run or caused a fatality, how would I feel.?'
If the answer to this question is:
'i wish that I had said something to either her ot someone who could help her,' then you have your answer.
Regardless of her being your ex, you have the responsibility of knowledge.

LegacyUser

As hard as it may be to believe an alcoholic can hide their drinking well. I wasn't aware of the severity until I literally recorded the amounts she drank, at which point I confronted her, she lied and I left. She has no other means of getting to work which means the next morning she was driving herself. As for motives, no not revenge, she could kill herself or some innocent person on way to work/school. She should not be behind wheel. I have no reason to believe the drinking or drink driving has stopped.

LegacyUser

squonk wrote: »

Is the op going to tell his ex he plans to report her?

What difference does that make? Do you think she'll suddenly reform her ways 'cos her ex said so?

silverharp

it all sounds very vague, what are the police supposed to do about a person who might drink a lot on certain nights goes to work the next day. it hardly warrants a personalised sting by the police and I doubt they would visit the person in question based on comments from an ex. If you had a natural in to one of their family and could explain it in a reasonable may that might help but chances are they wouldn't take it well and just think you are trying to cause trouble.

Big Bag of Chips

If you know for certain that she will be over the limit at a particular time in a specific place, then tell the guards. But they're not likely to hang around waiting for her every morning on the off chance that she was out the night before so you need to give them definite details.

I think I remember a woman posting here who had reported her husband. If I recall he worked away with builders and on the way home on Fridays they'd all have a few cans in the van, including her husband, the driver. She reported him and the guards were waiting.

LegacyUser

She's not out the night before. She drinks at home, most nights but not every night. Realistically the guards aren't going to take me seriously let alone set up a roadblock at the end of the estate.

Tokyo

Nothere wrote: »

She's not out the night before. She drinks at home, most nights but not every night. Realistically the guards aren't going to take me seriously let alone set up a roadblock at the end of the estate.

You have no way of knowing that without calling them and informing them of the situation, and your concerns. Worst case scenario, it costs you the price of a phone call, and a lot easier to live with than doing nothing, if an accident ever occurred.

Big Bag of Chips

Nothere wrote: »

Realistically the guards aren't going to take me seriously let alone set up a roadblock at the end of the estate.

So what advice were you hoping to get? You mention her family are oblivious. Do you want to tell some of them? Do you think it would make a difference? She lied to you when you confronted her. She's very likely to lie to them too. As you said yourself addicts are very good at hiding things. They are also very good at minimising and deflecting from the real problem.

Ring the guards, tell them what you know and ask their advice. They are the only ones, realistically, who might make her take notice and stop. And it's up to them to decide they won't do anything about it, not up to you to decide for them!!

freshpopcorn

I'd ring traffic watch 1890 205 805 basically the Gardai. If the Gardai know their somebody regularly drink and driving in the area theirs a good chance that they'll pursue it. It would be helpful tough if you know the times she'd be driving at. I have heard of people saying similar about people being over the limit and their weren't. One issue I could see arising is you might come across as a bitter ex.
I have heard of checkpoints popping up in weird places such as in housing estates to catch drink drivers. So the Gardai can take it seriously.

zoobizoo

I've reported cars for dangerous driving...

"I'm at X town, they're headed towards Y town"

Have then seen the cars pulled over and Gardai chatting to them... then get called in to make a statement.

If you know where they're going when drunk, you could cal them.

Eimee90

Driving after seventeen units of spirits, how has she not killed someone already. The average woman would be comatose after that amount. Report her

vandriver

elsa21 wrote: »

Driving after seventeen units of spirits, how has she not killed someone already. The average woman would be comatose after that amount. Report her

I'm hoping he means driving the next morning,after that amount the night before.(A bottle of vodka?)

LegacyUser

vandriver wrote: »

I'm hoping he means driving the next morning,after that amount the night before.(A bottle of vodka?)

Yes, after what could not be more than six hours sleep/six hours after last drink. Yeah 17 units I marked the bottle last time to verify after finding several empties. I couldn't believe it myself! I met with her parents this morning and let them know the situation. I'm hoping they intervene. Some relief in not being the only one knowing the extent of problem. You really don't comprehend the madness until you take a massive step back. Thanks all for help.
I have also sought assistance from Garda friend that would know this certainly isn't a case of bitter ex.