random drink driving checkpoints

31-03-2012 12:13PM

frozenbanana wrote: »

Not anymore, the legislation changed recently and so did the roadside test. It's only pass and fail now.

I find it hard to believe the OPs story that he was allowed to go after failing the test. It's just doesn't happen, there is no discretion here. Besides, what's the point of doing the drunk driving checkpoint if you're going to let drunk drivers go?

Mouthwash, apple juice etc. only affect the reading for few minutas after yiu had it, more often than not it doesn't affect it at all

How recently? I was breathalaised a few months ago (after having 1 pint actually) and I was given "zero" as my result by the Guard.

frozenbanana · 31-03-2012 12:24PM

knotknowbody wrote: »

It pisses me off when people don't read posts properly he didn't fail the breath test he had a positive reading that was below the fail threshold. Please people read the post properly it's for your own good, otherwise you just make yourself look stupid.

Why don't you take your own advice and read my post properly first?

There is no such thing as positive reading below the treshold anymore. On the roadside is either pass or fail now. If you fail a guard is obliged to arrest you, there is no discretion here.

In the station you'd be given a a different, more accurate test and then you might come back under the limit.

Steven Mushy Semifinal wrote: »

How recently? I was breathalaised a few months ago (after having 1 pint actually) and I was given "zero" as my result by the Guard.

January if i remember correctly. New drunk driving legislation came to effect, among other things if differrentiates between 'specified' (profeessional or learner) and non-specified drivers.

All roadside breathalysers have been reccalibrated accordingly.

Dermighty · 31-03-2012 01:09PM

kev1.3s wrote: »

I can hand on heart say that it has been a full seven days since I had a couple of pints, anyhow I took the test and low and behold it came up positive, not enough for to be taken in but enough to get a warning from the guard.
I then informed the Guard that I had not had a drink in a week or so and her response was did I have a cigarette this morning which I replied no, I don't know what the **** a fag has to do with it anyway but my question is if these machines are not reliable why the **** are they being used to disrupt our day?
And before anybody asks I didn't use mouthwash this morning!

It's unfortunate and unprofessional that the gardai cant tell you're sober by looking at your car driving down the road :rolleyes:

Disrupt your day? 5-10 minutes in an effort to stop people being killed on the roads. I'm sure your day is important.

I imagine cigarettes contains chemicals which may react with the crystals in the bag which may give a false positive.

44leto · 31-03-2012 01:11PM

Did you use mouthwash that morning, some brands contain a small amount of alcohol.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 31-03-2012 01:18PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Also some diets can affect the readings

I follow a high Guinness diet, should I be careful?.

MajorMax · 31-03-2012 01:30PM

flanum · 31-03-2012 01:42PM

Dermighty wrote: »

I imagine cigarettes contains chemicals which may react with the crystals in the bag which may give a false positive.

I think the days of the plastic inflatable bag are long gone!!.. its a digital thingy nowadays!

31-03-2012 01:42PM

why is everyone asking OP about mouthwash when he says in the OP he didn't use any

M cebee · 31-03-2012 01:45PM

flanum wrote: »

I think the days of the plastic inflatable bag are long gone!!.. its a digital thingy nowadays!

:pac:

gurramok · 31-03-2012 01:46PM

Kiera wrote: »

A checkpoint on a motorway? How do you think that would end?

Its just an incentive to any drunk driver to go on a motorway rather than other roads in order to avoid detection. Perhaps setup a random checkpoint at the toll booths?

44leto · 31-03-2012 01:52PM

I seen one on the westlink toll bridge about 3 years ago at about 2 in the morning, then there was a commotion, some lunatic who was obviously positive tried to reverse back up the slip road.

He didn't get far and probably added dangerous driving to his charge.

Thoie · 31-03-2012 01:53PM

Leeg17 wrote: »

Smoking a cigarette may produce a false positive and the instructions on the breathalyzer say to wait at least 20 minutes (or so we were taught).

Most likely your mouthwash OP.

So, I decide to drive to the pub and not drink. While at the pub I go for a few cigarettes, and have one just before I leave. My drive home is 20 minutes. If the gardaí stop me just after I've pulled off, and I test positive (despite not having had anything to drink), do I have to sit around at the side of the road for 20 minutes waiting for them to test me again, or will they bring me to the station?

hondasam · 31-03-2012 01:55PM

Steven Mushy Semifinal wrote: »

How recently? I was breathalaised a few months ago (after having 1 pint actually) and I was given "zero" as my result by the Guard.

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=8243

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=gardai&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garda.ie%2F&ei=iv12T6X3Nce2hQflwKiSDQ&usg=AFQjCNEcmaiqYPkLnkkdp0MZqT-lBP8neg

hondasam · 31-03-2012 01:58PM

gurramok wrote: »

Am I on the wrong roads, I havent seen a drink driving checkpoint in maybe 2 years or so.

Also, has there ever been a checkpoint on the M50 in Dublin? Never saw one before.

These mandatory alcohol checkpoint are carried out all the time. I have been stopped early morning, late at night and during the day. I see at least two of these every week depending on time of course.

oppenheimer1 · 31-03-2012 02:02PM

The guards have whats called a rolling checkpoint for stopping cars on motorways. I remember reading about it on RTE a few years ago when they started doing them.

M cebee · 31-03-2012 02:09PM

never been stopped

they come to town once in a while and always go to the same spot

there's a detour for anyone with no tax,bald tyres or bad after drink

dodging checkpoints is a way of life for a lot of people out the country

Mr Simpson · 31-03-2012 02:12PM

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

The guards have whats called a rolling checkpoint for stopping cars on motorways. I remember reading about it on RTE a few years ago when they started doing them.

I think you're thinking of a rolling roadblock, this use several cars, to slow down traffic until it comes to a complete halt. You wouldn't use this for checkpoints, mainly to safely close a road after an accident.

kev1.3s · 31-03-2012 02:55PM

frozenbanana wrote: »

Potential-Monke wrote: »

It gives 3 readings: Zero, Pass and Fail. Zero is, well, no alcohol. Pass means there is alcohol but none to the extent that it will be over the limit if brought to the station. And fail if it's over the limit.

Not anymore, the legislation changed recently and so did the roadside test. It's only pass and fail now.

I find it hard to believe the OPs story that he was allowed to go after failing the test. It's just doesn't happen, there is no discretion here. Besides, what's the point of doing the drunk driving checkpoint if you're going to let drunk drivers go?

Mouthwash, apple juice etc. only affect the reading for few minutas after yiu had it, more often than not it doesn't affect it at all

Well you've obviously gotten your facts wrong on your new legislation as the machine I used had the ok pass on fail.

44leto · 31-03-2012 02:59PM

M cebee wrote: »

never been stopped

they come to town once in a while and always go to the same spot

there's a detour for anyone with no tax,bald tyres or bad after drink

dodging checkpoints is a way of life for a lot of people out the country

I witnessed something in Fetard in Wexford at about 12'30 at night every mobile phone in the place went off. Checkpoint on the ballybackward lane (whereever) the only people that get done down there are the visiting Dubs.

Trampas · 31-03-2012 03:02PM

got stopped at a checkpoint last night.

i think the garda was upset that it came up 0 met it had to stay out a bit longer until he caught one.

surprised he didn't do me for been half a sleep since only woke up 5 mins before hand

M cebee · 31-03-2012 03:32PM

44leto wrote: »

M cebee wrote: »

never been stopped

they come to town once in a while and always go to the same spot

there's a detour for anyone with no tax,bald tyres or bad after drink

dodging checkpoints is a way of life for a lot of people out the country

I witnessed something in Fetard in Wexford at about 12'30 at night every mobile phone in the place went off. Checkpoint on the ballybackward lane (whereever) the only people that get done down there are the visiting Dubs.

ya word gets back to the pub pretty much straightaway

things are different down the country
not condoning it

kev1.3s · 31-03-2012 03:51PM

Dermighty wrote: »

kev1.3s wrote: »

I can hand on heart say that it has been a full seven days since I had a couple of pints, anyhow I took the test and low and behold it came up positive, not enough for to be taken in but enough to get a warning from the guard.
I then informed the Guard that I had not had a drink in a week or so and her response was did I have a cigarette this morning which I replied no, I don't know what the **** a fag has to do with it anyway but my question is if these machines are not reliable why the **** are they being used to disrupt our day?
And before anybody asks I didn't use mouthwash this morning!

It's unfortunate and unprofessional that the gardai cant tell you're sober by looking at your car driving down the road :rolleyes:

Disrupt your day? 5-10 minutes in an effort to stop people being killed on the roads. I'm sure your day is important.

I imagine cigarettes contains chemicals which may react with the crystals in the bag which may give a false positive.

The 5 or 10th mins wouldn't disrupt my day but I'd have been pissed if I had been taken to the station for blood / urine tests and my brother missed his flight.

44leto · 31-03-2012 04:06PM

M cebee wrote: »

ya word gets back to the pub pretty much straightaway

things are different down the country
not condoning it

We weren't driving as we were staying in the town, (fishing). But I took it as a different type of warning. NEVER drive at 12 to 2 in any small town in Ireland at the weekend, a lot of the drivers are pissed and if you do be wary.

I am not condoning it or excusing it either, but there are no Taxis in these places, but I wonder would these small towns support a few taxis if none of the locals drove to the pub.

frozenbanana · 31-03-2012 04:57PM

kev1.3s wrote: »

Well you've obviously gotten your facts wrong on your new legislation as the machine I used had the ok pass on fail.

Me and RSA both:

WILL GARDA EQUIPMENT BE READY?
The Medical Bureau has confirmed that it has re-calibrated Garda
breathalyzer equipment for the introduction of the new measures at the end of
October.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I AM DETECTED WITH AN ALCOHOL LEVEL
BEWTEEN 50MG AND 80MG?
If you are detected with a blood alcohol reading by a Garda using a
breathalyzer at the road side the existing procedure applies. The individual
will be arrested and brought to a Garda station where a further breath, urine
or blood sample will be tested. It is on the basis of this reading that a person
will be charged and where applicable receive a fixed penalty notice.

WOULD A DRIVER BE SIMPLY LET DRIVE AWAY IF A FIXED PENALTY
CHARGE IS BEING APPLIED? SIMILAR TO A SPEEDING OFFENCE?
No. If a driver is detected at the roadside with a BAC exceeding the new legal
limits, that driver is arrested and brought to a Garda station where a further
breath, urine or blood sample will be tested. Under the 1984 Criminal Justice
Act a Garda may prevent a driver from using their vehicle until they are
deemed to be safe drivers and no threat to other road users.

But fair enough, the guard who stopped you must have hidden the station breathalyser somewhere so it wasn't recallibrated, so he can stop people for the craic.

Seems legit.

slimjimmc · 31-03-2012 05:56PM

frozenbanana wrote: »

Me and RSA both:

But fair enough, the guard who stopped you must have hidden the station breathalyser somewhere so it wasn't recallibrated, so he can stop people for the craic.

Seems legit.

All that says is that you'll be arrested if the roadside test indicates you've exceeded 50mg. All is needed is to recalibrate the roadside devices from 80mg down to 50mg. However, nothing in that confirms your assertion that the roadside devices were recalibrated from zero-pass-fail to pass-fail.

Topper Harley · 31-03-2012 06:19PM

frozenbanana wrote: »

Me and RSA both:

But fair enough, the guard who stopped you must have hidden the station breathalyser somewhere so it wasn't recallibrated, so he can stop people for the craic.

Seems legit.

I get the impression from the OP that his alcohol level was lower than 50 mg and so there was no reason to arrest him. It wasn't like he was just let off.

frozenbanana · 31-03-2012 06:36PM

slimjimmc wrote: »

All that says is that you'll be arrested if the roadside test indicates you've exceeded 50mg. All is needed is to recalibrate the roadside devices from 80mg down to 50mg. However, nothing in that confirms your assertion that the roadside devices were recalibrated from zero-pass-fail to pass-fail.

He asked me about legislation though not the procedure.

But fair enough, you are right. I had another quick look but can't find anything to confirm it, so I guess you'll have to make your own mind up who do you want to believe. Anyone interested enough can ask a Guard next time they see one.

Topper Harley wrote: »

I get the impression from the OP that his alcohol level was lower than 50 mg and so there was no reason to arrest him. It wasn't like he was just let off.

I understand that, my point is that guard on the side of the road doesn't have any means of determining your alcohol level on the side of the road, he used to, but now it's either pass or fail. And if it's a fail, he has to arrest you.

Fighting Irish · 31-03-2012 07:28PM

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Were you the recipient of a golden shower after your partner's night out?

lol no

MagicSean · 31-03-2012 07:42PM

kev1.3s wrote: »

Well you've obviously gotten your facts wrong on your new legislation as the machine I used had the ok pass on fail.

There is no zero limit reading anymore because it is so close to pass to be irrelevant. Pass is now the lowest reading.

knotknowbody · 02-04-2012 11:24PM

frozenbanana wrote: »

Why don't you take your own advice and read my post properly first?

There is no such thing as positive reading below the treshold anymore. On the roadside is either pass or fail now.

Yes PASS or FAIL

FAIL = 50 mg or above.
PASS = zero or any value between zero and 49 inclusive.

You will not get brought to the station for intoxilyzer/blood/urine if you provide a positive reading that is well below the 50mg limit.

random drink driving checkpoints

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