BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers

Subject: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 18 May 06 - 07:22 PM

Fifty seven police officers have been convicted of drink-driving in Northern Ireland over the past few years.

The figures were released in an answer to a parliamentary question today.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said officers convicted of drink driving would be dealt with robustly.

It's hard to take their crackdown campaign seriously when you read reports like that.

I am a non drinker and lost two friends over the years killed by drunk drivers. I would give anyone who kills whilst at the wheel life. I also think drink driving should carry a life ban. A driving licence is a privilege.

Ever noticed how the courts seem to go that little bit lighter on drink drive murderers ?

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 06 - 12:25 AM

About half a dozen times a year I deal with scenes that involve drunk drivers. While picking someone's brains off a car seat, or looking at a little girl whose eyes have been blasted from her head by the force of a collision, or holding a dad whose child will never say his name again, my thoughts tend to be a bit harsher than yours when I think of what the drunks deserve as punishment. Scenes like that make me glad I don't carry a gun.

I'm sorry for your losses, Divis.

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 06 - 12:52 AM

What about speeders or theives (joyriders) road rage, mobile phone users, women putting on makeup, sales reps, white van man, bull bars etc etc etc etc. there are many more innocents killed and maimed by "SOBER" drivers. Drunk driving - although totally inexcusable - is only a tiny part of our problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 06 - 12:59 AM

Yes. Then there's the UNTOUCHABLES.


However, adding drink to the mix when so many people are less than safe drivers IS criminal.

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 19 May 06 - 05:14 AM

I fully agree guest, there are many others who cause death on the roads due to their behaviour and I would hit them every bit as hard. Also saw 27 years of road Carnage in a local Hospital where I worked and know exactly how you feel. A vehicle can be as lethal as a gun.

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: Teribus
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:53 AM

"Fifty seven police officers have been convicted of drink-driving in Northern Ireland over the past few years.

The figures were released in an answer to a parliamentary question today.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said officers convicted of drink driving would be dealt with robustly.

It's hard to take their crackdown campaign seriously when you read reports like that."

Why? The cases that were being discussed were Police Officers who were pulled up, tested, charged and handed over to due process of law in exactly the same way as anyone else would be, with the exception that these officers would lose their jobs as consequential punishment for their offence. Fifty-seven cases in the past few years, does not give any scale to judge by. Too little information really to go on, how many of the those fifty-seven cases resulted in a death? In how many of those fifty-seven cases were the police officers on duty?

Personally if any official spokesperson for any Police Force states that they are going to crackdown on drink-driving and deal with offenders robustly - I see no reason whatsoever to doubt for one second that they would do otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: Crackdown on police drunk drivers
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 20 May 06 - 04:59 AM

Teribus, No they did not loose the jobs as consequential punishment for their offence. That was also stated in the Northern Ireland news report.

Well as you say, so figures of how many resulted in deaths, or if the were on duty. So that's alright in your book, drink away lads as long as you don't kill anyone or do it whilst on duty.

As to so little information given by me. What did you expect, the full report as question time in the house ?