Vendetta on Queensway

[fast1]

  GOOD LORD!!! did everyone make it out out alive??? Somehow blew a zero? CHEERS.

[Dennis]

I don't know why my luck is so different ... but I didn't even see a cop on my way home.  When I left, the remainders were sharing a pot of coffee whipped up by Wendy.

On another note, kudos to Olaff for another great movie.  That was quite the adventure those women went on... and they looked good doing it.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Kaw-meister]

there was at least 4 vehicles pulled over for breathalyzer because we pulled out of Cowboys parking lot. I was not even asked if i knew why i was pulled over just told to blow. I did not think it was okay to target citizens in such a manner. it bespeaks of gaestopo tactics. BS if you want my opinion.

[Dennis]

there was at least 4 vehicles pulled over for breathalyzer because we pulled out of Cowboys parking lot. I was not even asked if i knew why i was pulled over just told to blow. I did not think it was okay to target citizens in such a manner. it bespeaks of gaestopo tactics. BS if you want my opinion.

I just ran this by some criminal lawyers.  I had assumed that there was a lesser threshold for demanding a breath sample pursuant to the Provincial administrative anti drinking and driving laws (the ones that allow your vehicle to be seized and an immediate un-appealable licence suspension, but not a Criminal Code offence).  Under the Criminal Code, the police need reasonable and probable grounds that a driver is impaired,  to ask for a breath sample.  My criminal lawyer buddies assure me that it is the same legal standard for the Provincial admin law; reasonable and probable grounds that the driver is impaired.  The case law is fairly clear that merely leaving a pub (virtually a restaurant nowadays) is not by itself a reasonable and probable ground of impairment.

The anti-drinking and driving policy has had a dramatic effect on drinking and driving, and the death and injuries arising from them.  In that sense, the policy is having a desirable effect on society at large.  However, when a group of law abiding older guys have a pint or two with their dinner over at least a couple hours, no one is impaired or otherwise acting in an unlawful manner.  I trust that none of the four pulled over were disciplined in any manner, as everyone passed.

If you were swerving in and out of your lane, that would be a different matter, but just leaving the Pub is not reasonable and probable grounds of impairment.  I hope this does not deter anyone from movie nights or a pint at the end of a Tuesday night ride.  If anything, it should  re-affirm that you can have a pint and not be impaired or otherwise operating your vehicle in an unlawful manner.  Didn't Fast One blow a zero?  I saw him have a beer.

Peace & Pilsner, Dennis

[thejij]

Call and complain and ask who is training these people to stop citizens without probable cause and demanding you blow. They do have to read you a paragraph demanding why you blow ... the fun part is you can refuse and tell them your not providing a sample and would like to go to the detachment to blow. Failing that you can refuse both and make them take you to hospital for blood sample which takes a while bunch of time.

Long story short ... just cause they have the uniform they can only legally stop you to check for valid license and insurance if you have not broken the law by speeding or contrary to road signs . Have fun with them ...make them work for their demands. In general people just comply because thy think they have too.

[thejij]

Also the best answer when they ask where your heading or where your coming from ... is ... "none of your dam business"
You will catch them off guard but they will know you aren't afraid and know the law.

[stevecrout]

Hmmmmm -  not sure I understand where the animosity towards the police is coming from. I think we need to keep in mind that as citizens of the community, we decided that we needed law, order and protection and to ensure the citizens abide by the rules we hired a force of trained persons like the RCMP.

 The fine tuning of their directives and actions taken in the field should probably be done at the administrative level and barking at the officer standing at you car window might make some feel better but has little or no effect on outcomes.

I still remember the day in 1996 when the Ciccone family was almost wiped out and many other DWI crashes since then so if it means that once in a while I'm asked to take 5 minutes of my drive home time and confirm I'm with-in the legal limits to drive in our community I'm OK with that. In fact, if the checks weren't happening I'd be more concerned.

For people who spend their day protecting your family and in many cases, their own they do take a lot of crap don't they?

Why don't we save the civil disobedience for something important?

[fast1]

  For what it's worth There were headlights in my mirror before I rounded the 90. Sticking adherently to the speed limit and signaling well in advance my turns and a merge I was pulled over anyway. The officer did not in fact ask IF I had a drink but how much I had to drink, told him one. Took my license and reg, was back in a few minutes with his machine. Cut him off in the middle of his spiel and just blew in the damn thing. Imagine my surprise when it came up 0??? Thanked me for my honesty and told me I should fix my windows without hard timing me. Over and done in about 10 minutes, then he went zooming back for the next one. Other than the lack of probable cause I really had no complaints but called Wendy as soon as I got home. CHEERS.

[Kaw-meister]

So...when the police force steps in and treads all over your civil liberties....we citizens should smile and shut up....they are hired and trained and paid by us citizens to protect those liberties we should be enjoying....

[stevecrout]

Nope - I'm suggesting the time and place to correct these deficiencies is not when the cop is standing at your car window.

Your voice needs to be directed to a higher level of authority. Talk to the people in charge of setting the policies. They too, work for the citizens and need to heed their opinions and advice.

In my opinion, probable cause is like a pair of Lulu Lemon yoga tights. Can be stretched over a wide area while not having to spend a lot of effort justifying why.  It would be reasonable to assume vehicles exiting a pub parking lot at night have a high probability of some alcohol consumption taking place. The fine tuning of enforcement would be the way people are asked to participate in the exercise. 

[MaximX]

Hmmmmm -  not sure I understand where the animosity towards the police is coming from. I think we need to keep in mind that as citizens of the community, we decided that we needed law, order and protection and to ensure the citizens abide by the rules we hired a force of trained persons like the RCMP.

 The fine tuning of their directives and actions taken in the field should probably be done at the administrative level and barking at the officer standing at you car window might make some feel better but has little or no effect on outcomes.

I still remember the day in 1996 when the Ciccone family was almost wiped out and many other DWI crashes since then so if it means that once in a while I'm asked to take 5 minutes of my drive home time and confirm I'm with-in the legal limits to drive in our community I'm OK with that. In fact, if the checks weren't happening I'd be more concerned.

For people who spend their day protecting your family and in many cases, their own they do take a lot of crap don't they?

Why don't we save the civil disobedience for something important?

With you on this one Steve.....People leaving a pub are asked to prove they are within the legal limit for driving and this get the title "Vendetta on Queensway" on this site?  I guess I am the second person here that would welcome this.   Here is a great opportunity do demonstrate that you are a group that does not drink and ride, you could thank the police for keeping our roads safe.....instead some complain of civil liberties being encroached on?  Please grow up.  It is good to see a police presence doing a random check.....other motorists seeing this would re-consider drinking too much knowing this can happen.  You are the one bright spot in this post.....may common sense prevail.

[fast1]

  I titled it that because they had a roadblock at both ends plus at least one ghost car, seems a bit excessive. Wonder if Brock made them mad? CHEERS.

[thejij]

Well I'm with paul on this one , roadblocks to check are fine,  but they have to follow rules as they expect us to. Walking up with a roadside screening device without explaining why and what cause they are doing it is bullying. Maximx to imply any who comments on this board against the police is rude. Especially pointing out only one person is the bright spot on this post ... come on... one could attest you are being a bully as well.

[Kaw-meister]

Far as I can tell....I am still in Canada....which gives me the civil right to have an opinion...when I am breaking a law, arrest me and I will plead guilty...I spent a long time in the towing industry, and attended a lot of accident scenes. I can tell you that the stats are incomplete. Drinking excessively is attributable to accidents. However there is always more to the story. Like, most single vehicle accidents happen on a straight stretch of road. Most dui influenced accidents are also combined with high speed, stunting or reckless driving. And now with more stringent rules/laws, more people will likely try to escape by driving away in an unsafe manner to attempt to evade....this will in turn be seen as a reason to have even more rules/laws etc. etc. etc.
If I can't have civil rights...I am moving to another continent