Can I call 999 for a drink driver?

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

Grass is a term used by criminals and school children. Which one are you?

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dumbellsngoose@reddit

You definitely got bullied by criminals and school children. Explains why you're a little snitch bitch.

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dickbob124@reddit

Getting a drink driver off the road is a bad thing in your opinion? What kind of lowlife are you?

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I’m an alcoholic with very weird ideas about what’s a normal consumption of alcohol and even I think 6 pints is too much to be in charge of a vehicle. Yes you need to tip off the police. If anything happened you would not forgive yourself if you didn’t try and if he gets into trouble, well maybe that’s an opportunity for him to rethink his life choices.

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chatting_facts@reddit

Good boy, goooood boy

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Overall_Ad_2388@reddit

No, they tend to only send out the sober ones

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fatboyforeverr@reddit

Have you tried speaking to the man and letting him know first? No excuse for his behaviour but maybe a talking to could change his mind set. You never know what people are going through and personally i would approach him and let him know what you have seen and what you will do if you were to see it again . We are all human after all.

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Acceptable_Repeat_16@reddit

I'd always look at calling the police as a last resort, but for drink driving yes, you should. If someone wants to put themselves in harm's way that's on them, but I draw a line where they're actively endangering everyone around them.

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ld331@reddit

‘Can I call 999 to report a crime?’

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cregamon@reddit

I had a clearly very drunk man getting into his car outside my house one night and called 999 and they were there in less than 2 minutes. It was very impressive. The man proceeded to vomit all over the road multiple times before being taken off in a police van. The police interviewed me the next day and he was eventually prosecuted.

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

Retired cop here. It's definitely a 999 situation. Crime in progress.

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V65Pilot@reddit

Don't forget to write down the crime number....

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

Incident number. Drink driving doesn't generate a crime number.

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beernon@reddit

What’s the deal on crack selling & taking? I’ve reported it before as it’s a hotspot in my area and I politely got told to fuck off

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KoontFace@reddit

Tell them you’re going to go out there and stab the crack dealers, they’ll come out pretty sharpish then.

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I_love_duckss@reddit

You've just advised them to threaten to kill someone on a recorded line. Incredibly clever

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mike9874@reddit

They simply said the police would come quickly if you say that, and they might

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I_love_duckss@reddit

Yeah they might, to arrest the person making the threats. Instead of helping someone's who's life is actually at risk.

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Sea_Photograph_3998@reddit

Okay then say someone else is currently trying to stab the crack dealers.

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I_love_duckss@reddit

Yeah that could work

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Advanced_Pay_3908@reddit

if only the police took threats credibly. So many people threaten for so many reasons and nothing ever happens

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

Did this with a bloke that broke into my car and stole the radio years ago. Police weren't going to come out until the next morning so stated that's fine, I've a big stick and I'll find them myself. 5 minutes later and 2 police cars rock up. Even got the forensics team out that night and talcun powdered my entire car. Still somehow missed my bag of weed in the glovebox during their search.

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LambonaHam@reddit

> Still somehow missed my bag of weed in the glovebox during their search. 'Yeah, the guy who broke in must have dropped it'.

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

That was going to be my go to when they turned up and stated they'd need to search the car and dust for prints.

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Spinxy88@reddit

Can make the argument that drugs should be legalised. Can't think of any pro-drink driving arguments.

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TeHNeutral@reddit

Or pro drug driving ones to be fair

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eventworker@reddit

I wouldn't shout about that chief.

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TeHNeutral@reddit

Huh, are you pro drug driving?

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eventworker@reddit

When it comes to drugs that heighten response times, of course. It'd be stupid not to be, wouldn't it?

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TeHNeutral@reddit

Oh okay

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louwyatt@reddit

The police deal with drugs by going after the major dealers. There are always loads of people willing to sell drugs. There are far fewer people who know how to make or know the people to buy huge amounts of drugs. If you want to crack down on drugs, you need to take out the major suppliers and manufacturers. As going after distribution is just a pointless game.

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clutchnorris123@reddit

You know nothing about the drug game if you think taking out the big fish does anything, they will just get replaced by someone else or another gang in a matter of days. Unless the UK police are going to the South American jungle, Chinese labs, Middle eastern poppy fields etc which they are not, arresting dealers even the top guys will do fuck all.

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bill_end@reddit

Going after big dealers is also pointless. The police/customs regularly seize hundreds of kilos/tonnes at a time yet coke is more available, purer and cheaper than ever. Prohibition just does not work. All it does is incentivise violence within the supply chain. You want to prevent drug use, look at the factors that encourage it. Poverty, lack of opportunity, lack if education, but that's difficult so we pretend we are doing a good thing by locking up a few suppliers which keeps the daily mail reading masses satisfied we are being "tough on crime". Plus, there will always be a baseline level of drug use that simply cannot be prevented because you can't out-legislate human nature.

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Tundur@reddit

I understand that, but in Edinburgh there's a Salvation Army halfway home right between the Royal Mile, the Uni, and Parliament. There's constant heroin dealing there, jakies wandering into traffic, harassing students, squaring up to people. Gangs of men (clearly not junkies) will pull up and take their orders and money in plain view in one of the busiest parts of town. And yet... The police seem to actively avoid that area, because if they were nearby they'd have to actually do something productive. I'm not under the impression that the police can solve drug problems or anything like that, but this is one of the busiest pedestrian junctions in the country and it's an absolute shithole. I'm there multiple times a day and have never seen *any* kind of intervention.

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0xSnib@reddit

Wildly different potentials for immediate harm in these situations

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dean012347@reddit

Tell them someone’s just done some crack and is about to drive

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Puzzled-Job9556@reddit

Genuine question, is it a crime in progress when he's just in the pub drinking? Surely all he would have to say is "I'm getting a taxi"?

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

You don't approach him in the pub do you? You wait until he goes to his car and then stop him as soon as possible.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

> Crime in progress. Not yet, but the sound of it... > He has not driven yet, but I know he will drive.

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

They will want to know in advance so they can get a unit there, find the car, sit up and stop it as soon as it moves. This limits the risk to the public.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Yeah, but the question is (and I appreciate the answer may be "yes") if 101 isn't answering is this a matter for a 999 call before it happens?

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

Yes. Anything that needs resourcing immediately is worth a 999 call. You will not be criticised for it.

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theworldsaplayground@reddit

So what happens if the cops turn up. Sit outside waiting for half an hour and then he A. Walks home B. Gets a taxi C. Gets a lift. Will the op get done for Wasting police time?

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Dependent_One6034@reddit

I've rang 999 twice in the last few years, one for a suspected puppy mill with abuse going on, One for a drink driver. Both times they asked over the phone if I would like to remain anonymous.

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

No of course not. The officers will submit an intelligence report and close the incident down.

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tcpukl@reddit

Very true.

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theworldsaplayground@reddit

How is it a crime in progress if he hasn't got in the car yet?

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

So if you knew someone was about to rob a bank you wouldn't call the police on 999 "because they hadn't started yet". Obviously if the crime is to take place in a weeks time there is no need to use 999. But imminently and there is a risk to life? Of course.

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Asleep-Specialist892@reddit

101 - Suspect/predict 999 - Its actually happening, as in-progress. You can also contact your local police forces via their websites, social media etc. 101 can take a while to answer, if 999 is busy.

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V65Pilot@reddit

I would never drink and drive. I might hit a bump and spill my beer. Still amused that, in the UK, it's actually not illegal to drink an alcoholic beverage while driving. You just can't be legally drunk and drive. Gotta love the vagaries of law. But, don't do it. It's stupid and dangerous. I did it once, when I was much younger, I got pulled over. I managed to get away with it. No-one was hurt, nothing was damaged, but, it was an eye opening moment. I've never done it again.

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ProlapseProvider@reddit

You must report him, imagine he is drunk and crashes into a car with a family in it and kills some kids. His selfish, arrogant and idiotic behaviour needs to be taken very seriously and he needs arresting.

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behavedgoat@reddit

Send him a anon letter too saying you degenerate next time you do this we will take you car

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ShinyHeadedCook@reddit

Yes. I once did and I told the police where the drink driver was heading and he got pulled. And banned

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jw205@reddit

Trouble you have it’s that if it is a 2 mile journey, if you call them once he sets off (which you can’t do prior really), he will be back by the time the police get there.

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_DoubleBubbler_@reddit

There might be technical evidence of him driving. I arrested someone at home for drink driving once iirc. Fortunately they answered the door as I didn’t have a power of entry.

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Disgruntled__Goat@reddit

How does that work if they’ve already gone inside? Couldn’t they have already downed some cans at home by the time you got there? (Maybe it wouldn’t take effect if you were there quickly?)

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Jackisback123@reddit

There's a presumption under section 15(2)(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/53/section/15) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 that the proportion of alcohol in their breath, blood or urine at the time of the alleged offence was not less than in the specimen provided. The burden would therefore be on the defendant to prove on the balance of probabilities that they had consumed enough alcohol after driving but before the test to put them over the limit when they would otherwise have been under.

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_DoubleBubbler_@reddit

Yeah, the ’hip flask’ defence as its called. Technically it can be possible to refute those claims with blood tests if the alleged quantity of alcohol consumed its calculable (e.g. three cans of larger and there are three empty cans at home for example). There isn’t a power of entry for drink driving though so those that know don’t answer the door. I can’t recall where we found him… I have vague memories of him being in a bush outside his home. If not then he answered the door. It has been quite some time and some jobs have blended into mixed memories it seems.

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jw205@reddit

How were you able to prove they drove themselves home?

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_DoubleBubbler_@reddit

CCTV. Sorry I just edited the original comment to confirm there was CCTV. In the recording he was rolling around and bouncing off cars and street furniture before getting into his vehicle. He was quite a disagreeable man. He spent most of the drive to custody saying he was going to get me sacked as he ‘knew people’ in government.

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glasgowgeg@reddit

CCTV from the pub of them getting in the car and driving off?

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Greedy-Mechanic-4932@reddit

And this is the issue, as well as resources. I once followed someone who was clearly drunk, for 10 miles, giving 999 operator a running commentary of what was happening. The response I got was "he's probably just heading home". They'd looked up VRN whilst I was talking to them, got the registered address and decided based on the route being driven that they would be going home... And fuck all done about it. Best thing to do is report in via 101 or website reporting in advance, each and every time you see him in the pub with car on the car park. Let them build up a picture and intel, and make a decision on what to do. The moment he gets in the car driver seat, call 999.

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brammmish@reddit

But if OP knows it's a 2 mile journey, they most likely know where the man lives and police can be directed there.

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tykeoldboy@reddit

Yes call 999 but you could speak to the pub landlord who could stop serving him drinks which will keep the driver from losing his driving licence

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Iscasteve@reddit

Sounds like he deserves to lose it!

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tykeoldboy@reddit

It is illegal for bar staff to serve drinks to someone they know is already drunk

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Iscasteve@reddit

I think you're focusing on the wrong lawbreaker here... If every pub followed that rule they'd be going out of business quicker than they already are.

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tykeoldboy@reddit

That law is very rarely enforced but if the driver is going to the same pub and the landlord wants to keep his custom then the landlord should at least say something

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

If somebody regularly drink drives then they should have their licence taken away. Even if it's just temporarily to shock them into changing their behaviour.

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emilesmithbro@reddit

I’d probably tell the bar staff/manager as well

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Professional-Tie2020@reddit

It's part of their licence conditions to ensure they don't serve alcohol to an intoxicated driver so they could lose their trading licence

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MidsummerMidnight@reddit

Only if they have suspicion he'll drive. If they don't know he drives, no foul. Once reported, responsibility falls to them.

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Southern_Cut8821@reddit

I feel like if it’s a small local then surely they’d notice? Especially if he were a regular? I could be wrong

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MidsummerMidnight@reddit

Local will value money

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parttimepedant@reddit

Not at all, as soon as he is drunk you cannot serve him, whether you know that he drives home or gets the bus.

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MidsummerMidnight@reddit

Sure, but given how often he drinks, it probably takes a while for him to get drunk. If he has 6 fairly quickly, he probably isn't even drunk yet.

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D0wnb0at@reddit

Alcoholic here. 6 pints is around 17 units. I’d not trust myself behind a wheel with that many drinks. If I’ve been going really heavy for a couple weeks, 10 units might “sober me up” and get rid of the shakes and be able to function, but I’m still not all there. I could drink 6 pints and people might think I’m sober, no slurred speech or wobbling, but I assure you, don’t put me in a 1-2 ton vehicle in the dark cause I might not kill someone today, but I will eventually. Only takes 20 mins for alcohol to kick in. Yes I can drink myself sober sometimes when I’m hungover, But I’m not sober. I have just drank enough for the withdrawals to stop and I feel good. I feel normal. Feel like I can function. But put that guy vs me when I have been sober for a month. The reaction speed is miles apart. Don’t drink and drive. Doesn’t matter what your tolerance is.

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MidsummerMidnight@reddit

No I know, I was saying bar staff wouldn't be able to see he's drunk after 6.

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D0wnb0at@reddit

Ohhhhhhh. Yeah I read that wrong. My mistake. Yeah, 6 beers to an alcoholic would barely touch the sides. Bar staff wouldn’t know they are drunk.

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parttimepedant@reddit

I think the difference here is ‘drunk’ and ‘over the limit’. Everyone has different tolerance levels and some people are falling over after three pints whereas others are functioning normally. But both of those people are likely to be over the legal drink drive limit. As you have said you might have six pints and be clearly over the limit, but appear to be sober on the surface, but your ability to operate a vehicle may be massively diminished

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D0wnb0at@reddit

Not a single bar/club sticks to this rule. I have only seen it used at a bar at 2pm when the guy was trashed. If it was 2am he would get another drink no questions.

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parttimepedant@reddit

I know it’s never enforced, I was just correcting the other comment that said the pub have a responsibility to stop serving him if they know he is going to drive, which is inaccurate.

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parttimepedant@reddit

It is against the law to serve alcohol to a drunk person, driver or not. It is also against the law to be drunk on licensed premises. Of course, neither of these laws are ever obeyed.

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Professional-Tie2020@reddit

This is true. Having had family run licensed establishments for years it was something we regularly informed all bar staff about. However that's on a licensee and I'd guess a lot either don't enforce it, and don't make their serving staff aware of.

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19wesley88@reddit

When I went to boomtown festival, they were really on top of it. They actually had to confirm on the systems that i wasn't in a state before could purchase alcohol.

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UKAOKyay@reddit

Newsflash! Everytime you purchase alcohol from a Supermarket, they have to do that too to authorise the sale.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

How do you know they are not alcohol free pints?

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Informal-Ad-322@reddit (OP)

I am sitting near the bar and can hear what he’s ordering

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Why the sudden interest in this after months? Why not have a word with him and say you were going to call police? He’d know it was you when you give a statement to them anyway?

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

> He’d know it was you when you give a statement to them anyway? If they catch the guy drink-driving why would they need a statement from OP? Alcohol tests should establish it.

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

They don't need a statement. The drink drive procedure at the station is the evidence. It's can be reported anonymously to 101/999 or crimestoppers.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Police do not rely on one form of evidence..

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

I've just retired after 30 years as a police officer and dealt with hundreds of drunk drivers . The ONLY evidence in a drink drive case is the drink drive booklet filled out by the officer in the case and the arresting officers statement. This person will NOT be required to make a statement.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Did you work across Scotland, wales and NI too yeh?

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

I have worked in Scotland, England and NI. Only went back into Wales on exercise with the Army.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Nice then you will know it all varies around d the country and there are definitely cases that use statements in evidence. To say that’s not true is nonsense.

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

Drink drive doesn't. The evidence is the evidential breath test at the station. All four counties in the UK use the same intoximeter and procedure.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

They absolutely prosecute (or CPS do, whatever) drink drivers based on evidential test results.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Of course they do. Didnt say they didn’t?

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

> Police do not rely on one form of evidence.. I'm saying the test results (along with the officers being able to say that the subject was driving, of course) are sufficient. Ample, even.

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Knitcalm@reddit

I had to give a statement about a drink driver and asked if I was prepared to go to court. He was out of his car when the police arrived. So I’m assuming they wanted me and the other witness to stay we saw him driving and exit the car. Got a call a couple of weeks later to say he’d pleaded guilty.

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PKblaze@reddit

"Have a word and say you're going to call the police" Great advice if you want to get into an altercation with someone who clearly has no care for the safety of others.

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Oh grow a pair!

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PKblaze@reddit

It's not about growing a pair dumbass. It's about OP being safe and handling the situation without putting themselves at risk.

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

Why the desire to protect this random drink driver?

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NatureConnectedBeing@reddit

Where am I saying this?!

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Glittering-Round7082@reddit

You don't need to make a statement for drink driving. Anonymous tip off is enough. The drink drive procedure at the station is the evidence.

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SheepishSwan@reddit

Why don't you tell the bar staff and solve the problem before it happens?

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Foshiznik23@reddit

I’ve done it in the past when the person lightly tapped a parked car when leaving, gave the registration number and they did nothing about it.

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_DoubleBubbler_@reddit

Sometime resources do not allow for an immediate response unfortunately.

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Foshiznik23@reddit

That’s completely understandable but there wasn’t a response at all in the longer term either. I even got picture evidence and took it to the police station the next day.

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_DoubleBubbler_@reddit

Frustrating, and I wouldn’t know why it wasn’t followed up. I wasn’t in roads policing but the legislation is certainly explicit about certain aspects in relation to gathering evidence, otherwise you can’t prosecute. I arrested someone after he’d driven on the pavement, the wrong way down a one way road, and made off from me, but because I didn’t interview him contemporaneously at the scene of arrest, the paperwork I later completed was inadmissible. A harsh lesson learned for a new officer. It seemed ridiculous to me as the Police station was only five minutes walk away and it seemed like a better place to conduct an interview. Especially as the offender was covered in dog shite after I took him to the floor in someone’s back garden in the dark. He was very unlucky with where he landed!

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worldworn@reddit

Can you? Yes. Should you? Yes. Drink driving is a stupid selfish act, that kills people and ruins lives.

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Informal-Ad-322@reddit (OP)

!answer thank you

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cubechris@reddit

Did they come out?

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Basic-Computer2503@reddit

OP, I used to manage a bar and police came in during one of our Sunday shifts to get CCTV footage of 2 people leaving our bar the night before because the guy had driven drunk and crashed head on with a taxi and killed himself, his girlfriend, the taxi driver AND the taxi’s passengers. It was horrifying watching them laughing and joking as they left the bar knowing what would happen a few minutes later. He’s lucky he’s not hurt anyone so far, don’t let him keep gambling like this.

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psyper76@reddit

especially when you know that 1) the crime is in progress and 2) that yourself or someone else can be harmed by such crime

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RafRafRafRaf@reddit

Yup. Even from the driver’s perspective… It might not be a nice experience for the punter but it’s the least bad possible outcome for a habitual drink driver. He hurts someone, he ruins his life and theirs.

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Efficient-Stretch958@reddit

We had someone in the village I regularly drive through speed every day at about 07.15am (45-50) in a 30mph school zone. A report was made and the police set up and caught him in the act. Easier to catch if a report is made previous to it happening again

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Mookius@reddit

Yes. They may not thank you, but they will be grateful they didn't kill anyone. That anyone will also be grateful.

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VickiActually@reddit

Yes definitely. 999 isn't just for when someone crashes - if he sits in the car while drunk and turns the engine on, he's in control of that vehicle

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gazchap@reddit

Doesn't even need to turn the engine on. If he's in the car and has the keys, that's enough to complete the offence.

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VickiActually@reddit

I thought that might be the case but wasn't sure... Thanks for clarifying!

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steelcity91@reddit

Yes. It's a crime in progress.

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Vehlin@reddit

If you don’t want to get involved report it to Crimestoppers as a persistent drink driver. He’ll get a marker on his car and get pulled whenever a police car passes him.

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SheepishSwan@reddit

I've never heard of this before, and it sounds like something that's easy to abuse. Do you have anything to back it up?

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Rgeneb1@reddit

I used to work in a prison, people reported us like this all the time. You'll get stopped once and then the marker will be flagged as malicious and you'll be ignored in future. A bobby pointed out to me once that if that happened you're actually less likely to be stopped if someone genuinely reports you in the future. Bloody stupid system all round.

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Vehlin@reddit

Generally they’ll get randomly pulled over late at night. I’d the’re over the limit they get done, if they blow zero the flag gets pulled back. If there pushing it then they can expect more stops.

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AliceInConfusion@reddit

I can here to say the same thing

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JeffSergeant@reddit

101 when he turns up would possibly be more effective.

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Catshagga@reddit

No you’re not allowed to

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Ill-Appointment6494@reddit

The emergency services would rather you call and don’t need them, than you not call and need them.

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WildKey9307@reddit

For a crime in progress of course you can

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

But it seems it's not in progress yet, OP is just expecting it.

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Kaiisim@reddit

You can call if you suspect a crime is about to happen!

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Yes, but claim WildKey9307 made is that the crime was "in progress". "In progress" makes for a clearer case for 999 over 101.

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fawkindrugga@reddit

How do you expect his car got there? Do you think he planned to park by the pub and walk home for the enjoyment of a fine on your doorstep?

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

People leaving their car at the pub and collecting it the next day isn't exactly unusual. So no, doesn't sound like the subject had *yet* broken the law on this occasion.

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ridethetruncheon@reddit

Prevention is better than cure.

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Azuras-Becky@reddit

Yeah. One day will be the last time it happens, either because he gets himself killed or worse, somebody else.

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Gloomy_Pastry@reddit

try 111 'in hours' as such (so weekday 9-5), they may just place a marker on the car, also give times/etc as they may be able to just make local cars aware to watch out for it

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Wonderful-Menu-2932@reddit

All you NPC’s are mental. How could u ever dream of doing this

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domalomalom@reddit

No, mind your own business.

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devildance3@reddit

Yes. My wife and me have done this on two occasions and the operator was more than happy to gelid the call

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-auntiesloth-@reddit

Yes. Yes you can.

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Imperterritus0907@reddit

I know a guy who slept drunk in his car and got detained/lost his license when they found him sleeping in the back, because they assumed he’d been driving. I don’t agree in this case since the guy actually slept there *to avoid driving*.. but just so you see how seriously they take this stuff.

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bradclark2001@reddit

6 pints sounds like water to him

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MaxximumB@reddit

Yes. Especially if you can provide the car registration of the car he is going to be driving

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danielsemaj@reddit

101 would be the best number

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these_metal_hands@reddit

If this is a regular thing and you are worried then I'd make a report to your local police station with his registration and what time he usually leaves the pub. Stress that this happens regularly, and it's many pint each time. Crimestoppers might also be interested. I'm not sure this constitutes and emergency, so not sure it's for 999

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lizzie_knits@reddit

I used to work in a hospital and had the lovely job of telling a woman who had been in a coma and had two shattered legs and multiple fractures all over her body that her daughter, sister and niece were dead. Their car was hit by a drunk driver. I still hear her screams thirty years later.

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Smeeble09@reddit

Having had one friend put in a coma and another killed by drunk drivers, I'd argue against it not being an emergency. He deserves a least fine and to lose his license.

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these_metal_hands@reddit

I'm sorry about your friends. Judging by the other replies on this thread I'm now less not sure than I was when I posted this haha

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Smeeble09@reddit

It's fair enough, we all have our opinions until we gather more info. Hopefully the police get involved before he causes someone pain.

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Prince_John@reddit

It's absolutely an emergency. He could kill someone just around the corner. There's an immediate danger to life (both his and other people's) every time he gets behind the wheel.

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these_metal_hands@reddit

Fair enough. I just wasn't sure. Reading through the other replies it seems most people agree with you

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YouCanShoveYourMagic@reddit

Definitely. If he killed someone would you be able to live with the fact that you could have prevented it?

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kelleehh@reddit

I totally agree What if he does call 999, the drunk driver kills someone driving home but the police never responded. Which sadly is a likely outcome.

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Smooth-Eggs@reddit

Are you suggesting that OP shouldn't alert the police because the police may not attend? They definitely won't attend if nobody informs them of the crime in progress, will they? OP can only control what they can do - which is call the police. Anything that happens after that is not on OP.

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Typical_Ad_210@reddit

“Fucking police, never even come out anymore… I mean, sure, I didn’t phone them, but only because I KNEW they wouldn’t come out. And the bastards proved me right”.

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RAGEWOMBLE-Z@reddit

Or they come out and stop a drunk cnut from killing someone.. if you're proved right then you did your bit, if you're proved wrong then hallelujah they did there job.

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Typical_Ad_210@reddit

I was mocking the guy who said there was no point in phoning because the police likely won’t come. I was not agreeing with that sentiment, lol. I thought the sarcasm was obvious, but apparently not.

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Reddit_user81015@reddit

That's got nowt to do with OP then

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Mumu2005Mumu@reddit

I called them once and the guy driving was arrested for it so definitely do call, it just might save the life of someone innocent that’s also on the roads at the same time.

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RAGEWOMBLE-Z@reddit

Definitely! fuck that cnut!.

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InfiniteTallgeese@reddit

Yes, the police can wait outside and arrest him immediately when he starts the car, seen it on one of those Police Interceptor programs.

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AJMurphy_1986@reddit

Keep trying 101. I reported a guy when I ran a pub, police must have been having a quiet night as they were waiting at his house for him. It somehow got back to him though, either through the police that arrested him or in court, as he came back threatening to smash the place up. Nice bloke.....

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HiMyNameIsPip@reddit

Yes. Absolutely

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onlysigneduptoreply@reddit

My brother once called on a guy. Downed 2 pints & 2 whiskys in 1 hour stood up looked at his watch and said ill be off gotta go get little un from brownies.

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Remote-Pool7787@reddit

It’s not an emergency until he actually gets behind the wheel. At that point you can call 999

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

I would argue that if OP knows his pattern of drinking then driving 2 miles home then 999 is absolutely appropriate.

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retiredblade@reddit

Are you sure it’s not something like Guinness zero he’s drinking

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

I'm not saying it's great that he would be pulled up and breathalysed for this but if OP isn't sure, and the bloke is in a pub drinking what look like pints and he knows how far he's driving home, it's a good chance he knows what's being drunk and it would be better safe than sorry. If it turns out to be AF Guinness then he'd blow near 0% and be let go.

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ThrowawaySunnyLane@reddit

I think he needs to be in the car at the time the call is made for them to act. But otherwise yes you can and should. Better to call 999 to report a crime than not, regardless of the perceived or potential severity

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

This isn't the case. If you reasonably suspect somebody is going to commit a crime then the police will be interested, and they can also make an arrest before a crime has been committed. The normal thing would be for the police to wait until the driver gets into the car then arrest them, as it's fairly clear evidence if being drunk in charge,not if they start the engine, drunk driving. Giving them an advance tip off allows them to be in a position to stop them before they have the chance to do significant damage to property or life. A 999 operator would take a preemptive drink driving call no problem, and would rather dispatch someone for that than for the people killed by the drunk driver later on.

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

100% you can and should call it in to 999. You could save somebody's life.

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imtlmb@reddit

Absolutely call 999. This man needs to be stopped.

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HeartyBeast@reddit

Yes. You may save someone’s life

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perpetualmentalist@reddit

100% get them off the road

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

Yes, as based on witnessing previous offences you have good reason to believe it'll happen, and he's putting lives at risk. The landlord or bar staff must be aware.

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Dad-Bod-God93@reddit

I have on suspicion of drink driving before but for that I 101'ed it for someone I knew for definite then yeah 999 it as soon as you can

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spaceshipcommander@reddit

Loosely, 999 is for immediate danger to life or property so I'd say yes. What you can also do is report him in the morning on the non emergency number and they may wait for him next time.

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jado5150@reddit

I've done this. I said I'm currently behind a car that's weaving a lot and seems very drunk. He was bumping curbs and crossing the centre line. She asked me my name, my address, what I was driving, my licence plate, my date of birth and nothing about the car I was talking about even after repeatedly telling her he was turning left and I was going straight on. I said it's been almost 5 minutes and you haven't asked me a single identifying feature of this car. I just gave her his car make, model and licence plate then hung up. Useless. I actually regretted trying to do the right thing.

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Dildo_Shaggins-@reddit

Hello. Serving police officer. Yes. Please call. There's a significant possibility they will kill someone and it happens more often than you would hear in the news.

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BellamyRFC54@reddit

They can stop that particular crime before it happens

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JettG@reddit

Do you live in town or outside the AWPR? Just a thought as I know it's still pretty common for proper tuechters to have to do this... Not that I agree with it but just there is no other way to get back to the farm.

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

Walk if they cannot get someone to pick them up. It's 2 miles. 30-45minutes.

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JettG@reddit

Go live in the highlands or aberdeenshire and say that again

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

I spend a couple month a year in winter up near Durness. And if I want to go to the pub to drink, I walk back. It's not a necessity to go to the pub if they cannot manage to not drink and drive. Way to try and normalise it though, good on you.

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JettG@reddit

Not trying to just saying folk still do it cause they often have no other option

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

Your definition of 'no other option' is not the same as anybody elses.

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slim22661@reddit

Should of called 999 a long time ago

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Purp1eMagpie@reddit

I know you've got the answer already but if you haven't already, try get the reg/description of the car in advance for when you need ut

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JohnLennonsNotDead@reddit

Is it definitely alcoholic and not non? If so, yes.

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williamshatnersbeast@reddit

It’s lucky he hasn’t killed anyone yet. Not blaming here but the best time to call was months ago, the next best time is when he next offends. GET HIM OFF THE ROAD BEFORE HE KILLS SOMEONE.

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LemmysCodPiece@reddit

Yes. I have phoned 999 for a drink driver.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

I would wait until he goes to his car and then call 999. I don't know if it counts as imminent or needing an emergency response before then.

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TheDisapprovingBrit@reddit

No point when he’s already driving. If you’re gonna call, do it while he’s drinking so police actually stand a chance of stopping him

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Obscure-Oracle@reddit

Yes absolutely, he is putting life's in danger. I have done it twice during my time on the road. Once when I followed a van driving erratically down a back lane, swerving, unable to navigate corners. 999 stayed on the phone for about 5 minutes to get an accurate location, a few miles later when the road came to a main roundabout for a dual carriageway police were waiting for him. Another time was on an A road, the car in front kept swerving all over the road and almost caused a head on collision with a family in a BMW at around 50mph. She pulled into a garage further down the road, i talked to her through the window and she absolutely stank of vodka, I took the keys and the police arrived within minutes and took a statement and my dashcam footage.

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Toadywoadywoad@reddit

I called 999 after finding a drunk driving blocking the road at 5am, who believed his clutch had gone and he could no longer move the car. I helped him push it to a safe location and said he should get some sleep, the police were there in 5 minutes to deal with him after I rang 999..

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setokaiba22@reddit

They are not accepting calls (101) what?

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Forever_a_Kumquat@reddit

There is often an hour + wait for 101 to answer. Most people won't wait that long and assume they just won't answer.

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SirGranular@reddit

I've done it twice. Once saw a guy drinking a bottle of vodka they'd just bought at the shop. Second time was an old guy who parked his car away from the pub..... staggered his way to it. I challenged him, he was quite belligerent and tried to be threatening but really wasn't. Pretty unsteady. I noted his number plate told him I was going to call the police and drove away, round the corner and called it in - ironically I parked in the pub carpark to make the 999 call. I saw the second guy some months later, I guessed with his son and it made me wonder what happened.... we were in a pub/restaurant funnily enough. So yeah call it in. If you're wrong who cares.

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IanC9090@reddit

"...on many occasions..." you've watched a drunk prick get into a 1 Tonne motor car, sorry, Killing Machine and drive 2 miles, 3,520 yards, 10,560 feet, and you are only now wondering if "Can I call 999...", Seriously. If he drove, and let's say he ploughed into a mother and her three toddler children, crushing them against a wall, would you can 999 or would you wait untill 101 was accepting calls again. CALL 999, well, that is if you don't want to end up being as big a prick as the drunk. Can you imagine this call, "Hello, police please............. I've been watching this guy for, I don't know, well, many occasions now, pig eye pished getting into his car and driving 2 miles home. He's never had an accident until tonight when he's wiped out a mother and her three little kids, in think they're dead." "Officers will be with you shortly" "Hi Mr/Mrs Informal-Ad-322, the dispatcher said you've watching this drink for, what was you said, "many occasions", I think it was, but only when a total family were wiped out you thought of contacting us. The police would like to thank you for your diligence in this matter." Do you know the crazy thing, you cannot typically be prosecuted for simply witnessing a crime and not reporting it in the UK, but if the scenario above played out, you'd have the pleasure of knowing you could have done something to stop it and live with that thought for the rest of your life, yippee. C-A-L-L-9-9-9, maybe.... Now.

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EugeneHartke@reddit

Yer of course you can. Some did this to a friend of mine. They "saw" him take a swig from a bottle of wine when he left the supermarket. The police arrested him at his house and he was in custody for 16 hours before being released with out charge.

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retiredblade@reddit

Are you sure it’s not something like Guinness zero he’s drinking

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Yes, you can also call them for anything you think may be a danger to others or themselves, so for instance a guy stumbling around near a main road would be something worth calling about because they’ll be able to help them to a safer place

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detectivebabylegz@reddit

Yes, when I worked at McDonald's and someone was clearly drunk, I'd ring the police and try and delay them as much as I could.

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Important_Highway_81@reddit

Yes, the moment he gets in his car, alongside the registration. Someone did this to my neighbour a few years ago after he got in his car after 9 pints and the police were waiting for him as he pulled into the street. He’d already hit at least one parked car by that point, thankfully it wasn’t a person.

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External-Complex4754@reddit

I called 999 on my dad for drink driving years ago. Call them OP. If he had an accident and hurt someone else, you'd feel awful

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Jimbobthon@reddit

Most certainly, and tell the bar staff and any door staff as they may be able to confiscate keys

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QuietlyLooped@reddit

Yes. He’s endangering himself and other people actively.

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LetDisaster@reddit

I’ve literally done this, man could have killed somebody

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TheGorgieGeorgie7492@reddit

Is it a case of life or death? Yes. Call them now.

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AeloraTargaryen@reddit

Yes. He poses an immediate risk to the public.

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brammmish@reddit

Do you know the guy?

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xDzerx@reddit

Yes 100%. It's not just his safety but the safety of others. Imagine if you didn't call and he was in a wreck that killed someone.

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Reasonable-Cat5767@reddit

I've had to do this and they wanted to know as soon as the guy left and also what direction he was driving in, so make sure you have that info ready. Sounds like you already know where he's off to though, so that helps.

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Eriibear@reddit

Yes. People don’t regularly drive drunk unless they have a problem. You need to report them or they won’t stop. I say that as a recovering alcoholic

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Illustrious-Rice3434@reddit

Yes definitely. If he gets in that car and drives off there is a high possibility he will kill someone. The police will take it seriously.

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smellyfeet25@reddit

you probably can and you should. he is a potential killer. you could be saving somebody being killed or seriously hurt. it is disgusting behaviour.

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steakp1e@reddit

Nobody likes a snitch, bellend!

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BorderlineWire@reddit

I prefer snitches to drunk drivers.

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Immediate-Escalator@reddit

This is a legal advice subreddit, not a primary school playground.

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worldworn@reddit

I doubt many people like you.

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fyremama@reddit

You'd be happy for the guy to run over your loved one on his way home then?

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

I prefer snitches to cunts who drink 6 pints then drive home, tbh

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gwaddo91@reddit

I had a similar situation with my old neighbour and drug driving. Rang 101, told them and gave the reg and address. Basically got told to call them back the next time he's driving and I suspect it (which is ridiculous if you ask me). I'd absolutely ring 999 in your situation. If you later find out he's mowed someone down you'll have that on your conscience for a very long time

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Marsh---UK@reddit

5 and drive.

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SoggyWotsits@reddit

I know someone who did it on several occasions, gave the location, description of the vehicle, name of the driver… nothing was done. The only time the man was caught was when he crashed into a barrier and knocked himself out. Fortunately he didn’t hit anyone else.

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

[OP marked this as the best answer](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1qsbq8p/can_i_call_999_for_a_drink_driver/o2uclqo/), given by /u/worldworn. > Can you? Yes. > Should you? Yes. > > Drink driving is a stupid selfish act, that kills people and ruins lives. --- [_^(What is this?)_](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/jjrte1/askuk_hits_200k_new_feature_mark_an_answer/)

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Elephants-socks@reddit

Yes you absolutely can

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Army-Status@reddit

I have actually called 999 earlier this evening when a car full of lads pulled up next to me at the lights and the driver was swigging from a bottle of corona. Call them and let them decide if it’s an emergency or not.

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I_am_Reddit_Tom@reddit

Yes you can. A crime is being committed and the public is in danger

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Subject hasn't gone near his car yet, apparently.

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Miglioratore@reddit

I think even if he has parked his car and he is at home the police can still go there and question him and will have enough evidence for drink driving (car engine still hot etc)

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Yes. I've called 101 for this before and was told quite firmly to call 999 in future.

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hhfugrr3@reddit

Yes you can and you should.

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a_sword_and_an_oath@reddit

Call 101 to tip them off. 999 if it is happening there and then. Ex cop

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abgc161@reddit

Yes. You can also report anonymously at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/drink-driving?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23446958580&gbraid=0AAAAADRO_d64LIwOH7kQaiMdzhpp66SCW&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7fbLBhDJARIsAOAqhsf183p7myTM-Vi-kcG9N02pdZfX74Gk2kHJt9HwWiD9ptGPp-c6qr4aAgwQEALw_wcB if it’s a regular occurrence, you know the license plate and likely route

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neilm1000@reddit

101 not accepting calls? Is there an automated message or something saying that? Usually it's just a very very long wait when they're busy.

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WishfulStinking2@reddit

I’d assume so but unsure if they’d need to be in the car / driving

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Top-Spinach-9832@reddit

You could make a citizens arrest.

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SoTotallyToby@reddit

You can for sure call and give them a tip that you know of someone who regularly drives drunk home from the pub, and you're concerned they're a danger to others. They'll more than likely sit outside the pub and wait for him to drive off in his car and pull him. If you've got their plate number that would help as well.

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Swatch843@reddit

Absolutely. Call them that's an emergency in my books, he's actively putting folk in severe danger.

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