28 December 2013

Greenway man eighth time unlucky for DUI

| johnboy
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A 59-year-old Greenway man has been caught drink-driving for the eighth time.

Around 9.30pm yesterday (Friday, 27 December), police were conducting random breath testing in Kambah. Police conducted 404 tests in total with one positive result.

The driver returned a positive screening test for alcohol and was taken to Tuggeranong Police Station where he undertook a breath analysis returning an Alcohol Concentration reading of 0.099.

He has been convicted eight times for previous drink-driving offences, the most recent being in 2011.

Superintendent Brett Kidner said it was pleasing to see so many people doing the right thing but there is still a small percentage of the community that isn’t getting the message.

“Our message is simple: drink or drive. Every police car is equipped with breath testing equipment, you can be caught anywhere, anytime.”

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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If they don’t want to look silly in court they will have to wait 20 minutes, or do a second test after 20 (which is probably how they comply, which is what I said). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyzer#Mouth_alcohol

IP

IrishPete said :

Blen_Carmichael said :

gooterz said :

Interesting that they do the rbt at the end of the parkway meaning that the drunks they are after are probably almost home. They’d be better setup outside civic on parkes way or similar.

Plus then has the side effect they haven’t had 20 minutes of drink driving to lower their BAC.

It’s more likely that after 20 minutes BAC would be on the way up, not down, particularly if the driver departed soon after his last drink.

Indeed. In fact, a breathalyser requires you to not have consumed alcohol in the last 20 minutes or it gets distracted by what’s been absorbed into the lining of your mouth. So if you tell them you’ve just consumed a beverage, I believe they require you to sit and wait for 20 minutes before they do the test (though doing a second one back at the station probably fulfills this function). A bloke I know once took very deep breaths for 20 minutes and passed it, and expressed undying gratitude for my advice which I had happened to pass on earlier in the evening. It was 25 years ago in Scotland and no animals or children were harmed in this experiment. But I’d recommend not relying on this method, it’s probably as reliable as Vatican Roulette.

IP

Actually they’re not required to give you 20 minutes, but it’s a common sense approach (in my opinion anyway).

Blen_Carmichael said :

gooterz said :

Interesting that they do the rbt at the end of the parkway meaning that the drunks they are after are probably almost home. They’d be better setup outside civic on parkes way or similar.

Plus then has the side effect they haven’t had 20 minutes of drink driving to lower their BAC.

It’s more likely that after 20 minutes BAC would be on the way up, not down, particularly if the driver departed soon after his last drink.

Indeed. In fact, a breathalyser requires you to not have consumed alcohol in the last 20 minutes or it gets distracted by what’s been absorbed into the lining of your mouth. So if you tell them you’ve just consumed a beverage, I believe they require you to sit and wait for 20 minutes before they do the test (though doing a second one back at the station probably fulfills this function). A bloke I know once took very deep breaths for 20 minutes and passed it, and expressed undying gratitude for my advice which I had happened to pass on earlier in the evening. It was 25 years ago in Scotland and no animals or children were harmed in this experiment. But I’d recommend not relying on this method, it’s probably as reliable as Vatican Roulette.

IP

Mike Crowther4:49 pm 31 Dec 13

“Eight times??? Jezuz! There’s no way he’s going to escape a $20 fine this time!”

True Deref, but fortunately in this town only the law abiding need to actually pay their fines. If you don’t mind driving after your license is cancelled (and if the penalty for that is just another fine which you aren’t going to pay either), whats to be afraid of? Fortunately every now and then our losers stray across the border where apparently, you’re actually not allowed to drive drunk or unlicensed.

Eight times??? Jezuz! There’s no way he’s going to escape a $20 fine this time!

“a small percentage of the community that isn’t getting the message’

The repeat offenders get the message that the courts send out. The message is drink driving laws are soft and it doesn’t matter if I get caught. I’ll plead hardship and get a section 10.

Blen_Carmichael9:51 am 31 Dec 13

gooterz said :

Interesting that they do the rbt at the end of the parkway meaning that the drunks they are after are probably almost home. They’d be better setup outside civic on parkes way or similar.

Plus then has the side effect they haven’t had 20 minutes of drink driving to lower their BAC.

It’s more likely that after 20 minutes BAC would be on the way up, not down, particularly if the driver departed soon after his last drink.

Kambah’s a good as place as any to do RBT.

Remember, DON’T DRINK DRIVE, wash your clothes with it. Happy New Year.

markbuzz said :

‘eighth time unlucky’ or ‘stupid times 8’? I don’t think I’ve even been breath tested 8 times, ever. Despite only 1 in 404 hit rate, the Cops did well.

You could see the plod a mile off, i had some wacko driving in front of me last night(weird speeds and in the right lane from before hindmarsh drive) and they saw the lights and slowed so the cars behind went in front of them would fill up the queue. He got waved on and they tested the others.
The 1/404 is likely the same sample bias repeated over a whole night

‘eighth time unlucky’ or ‘stupid times 8’? I don’t think I’ve even been breath tested 8 times, ever. Despite only 1 in 404 hit rate, the Cops did well.

Interesting that they do the rbt at the end of the parkway meaning that the drunks they are after are probably almost home. They’d be better setup outside civic on parkes way or similar.

Plus then has the side effect they haven’t had 20 minutes of drink driving to lower their BAC.

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