LEO's can charge you with anything they feel like. Some are reluctant to let someone go once they've found a probable cause to pull them over. They begin 'profiling' based on speech, reactions / responsiveness, pupil dilation, etc. It's a long and arduous process for the testing procedures if the LEO is at all suspicious, so they have already charged you with something and screwed up your day or night, at a minimum. I've never heard of someone being released from custody with charges dropped immediately after final tests were know. My other half has been told to 'drive home safely' after getting pulled over at 1:00 am for no license plate light. She was not drinking that night. I have a very responsible friend who was arrested and charged with DUI 2 1/2 years ago. It was 2 years before his attorney had the testing results, which were below the 0.04 pilot limit. He's the kind of guy who puts his foot down after stopping for a stop-sign and puts his helmet on to ride his bike onto my trailer. Just yesterday he finalized a plea agreement to reduce the 'suspicion of DUI' charge to reckless driving, for the lane change LEO claimed was illegal. He agreed to a $500.00 fine and 2 days ('two for one;' serving another 17 hours) of jail time to avoid the cost of going to a jury trial.
Those videos were crazy, a guy is obviously stone cold sober and the cop takes him in anyway because he can’t change his mind. I’m guessing the payouts will be worth it though.
Lawyers will tell you to never take the DUI tests because they are designed such that nobody can pass them. Their other advice is to provide your license, registration and proof of insurance if required, tell them you are exercising your right to remain silent and then SHUT THE FUCK UP! Don't answer any questions no matter how innocent they may appear to be because you have no idea what the cop might do with the information. They don't need to know where you're coming from or going to or what you've been doing. Be nice and polite but do not engage in conversation. And never tell them you've had a drink that day.
Our island becomes like Nazi Germany after 10pm they pull over anyone who bumps a white line. Got my wife and I on the way home on Halloween after a party, we were both construction workers and still had our reflective vests on in the vehicle. She was driving and in the middle of fertility treatments at the time, stone sober. I was shitballs drunk on beers and some bourbon. He walks back from the car and goes "so you said you guys were drinking". I said no motherfucker, don't you dare put words in her mouth. So now he wants my Id, then get outta car, pat down, next thing I know there is 4 cars of Government fuckheads watching my fertility treatment wife walk a white line even though she told them she had ankle surgery. I will show up 95 years old and on Hospice with no legs, to vote down your millage. Every time. Starve. It's the same thing you've done to the people you're "serving". Watching these guys cancel themselves is glorious. Me and a good majority of my neighbors show up and vote no on ALL police and fire millages. Fucking clowns. Worst part of where we are is Canada treats entry like you're a serial killer to some DUI guys and Canada by boat and by car is right there. Kick in the dick for a lot of people.
Cops round here had a reputation at one time for stopping cars coming from the local watering holes, most of which would have a designated driver. They would entice others out of the car and book them for being drunk and disorderly. Some out of town construction workers got done in a similar way when they walked to a gas station from the motel next door to get another six pack.
I’ve never heard of the idea, but wouldn’t it be easier to put those interlock things in the plane instead of random testing pilots? I’m assuming 99.99% are sober, but it might catch the occasional one with a hangover or something. With all the money and redundancies in airliners it would be pocket change and take away the possibility.
Ftp. But actually the two times I got pulled over last year they were cool so I can’t complain too much. Being a middle-aged white guy has its perks once in a while.
I maybe naive but IMO if you get up in the officers face and or refuse the tests, you are just asking for trouble. I always answer the questions and treat them how I would want to be treated. Really long story short, I typed up the full one on here at one point. I did get pulled over going over 140, in my 930 turbo, back in 90-91, on the 405 freeway at around 2-3 am. Was running next to my buddy in his 911 and after he topped out I floored it and pulled away. Cops caught up to us a few miles down the road while we were doing 55 and pulled us over. They hauled me in thinking I was drunk, and they gave him a few tickets. I went to Santa Ana jail, blew a sober number and they drove me back to my car and let me drive home without any tickets.
You wanna blow on tube that 5 other pilots touched day in and day out for the 30 year life of the airplane? Fuck that I don’t even want to put the o2 mask on unless it’s life or death. Current rumor is he overslept, missed van, went to gate disheveled, csa or Ops agent called it in, refused breathalyzer. but refusing the breathalyzer in the FAA’s eyes is basically admission of guilt. So we will see what comes of it.
