A hypothetical 'what could you be charged with?'

Duffryman

Just wondering about something...

Read a case in my local paper over the weekend of somebody strolling along the middle of one of the main streets in the town while drunk one afternoon last summer. Not being rowdy or abusive or anything else....just strolling along, holding up traffic and forcing drivers to go round him when he did keep in to the side of the road a bit.

He was prosecuted for being drunk to the extent of being a danger to himself and/or others (apologies if I don't have the wording exactly correct). Case was put back for a Community Service Order.

So, what I'm wondering about....suppose you did exactly the same thing while stone cold sober?

What, if anything, could or would you be charged with then?

RobbieMD

Duffryman wrote: »

Just wondering about something...

Read a case in my local paper over the weekend of somebody strolling along the middle of one of the main streets in the town while drunk one afternoon last summer. Not being rowdy or abusive or anything else....just strolling along, holding up traffic and forcing drivers to go round him when he did keep in to the side of the road a bit.

He was prosecuted for being drunk to the extent of being a danger to himself and/or others (apologies if I don't have the wording exactly correct). Case was put back for a Community Service Order.

So, what I'm wondering about....suppose you did exactly the same thing while stone cold sober?

What, if anything, could or would you be charged with then?

Section 9 of the Public Order Act, wilful obstruction. Although more likely is a Garda would advise you to get off the road and give you a direction under section 8 of the same act. You wouldn’t be prosecuted unless you failed to heed the direction.

NUTLEY BOY

Try this relating to prohibition of obstruction of traffic

Link http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1961/act/24/section/98/enacted/en/html#sec98