Persistent Drink Dr...
 

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Persistent Drink Driver Problem

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Any ideas for the problem we’re having. A neighbour is an alcoholic and he drives when drunk. He’s intermittent with his binges although it’s on a weekend if it’s going to be anytime and it’s to the same pub and straight back when he does. Times of return are very random as well. He’s hit a parked car before now but scarpered and he wouldn’t answer his door, closed the curtains and pretended not to be in until the next day so a breath test wouldn’t have found him out
I can’t ask the police to sit by the side of the road every weekend on the off chance but he’s going to hurt more than a wall and/or a car soon.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:00 pm
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Let his tyres down every night and leave a note on his windscreen telling him why you did it.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:06 pm
mrchrist, jamesmio, joebristol and 2 people reacted
 beej
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Have you told the police this information? They can then decide whether they want to sit by the side of the road themselves.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:06 pm
mrchrist, jamesmio, Ambrose and 8 people reacted
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Sit in pub, call 999 as he’s about to leave.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:07 pm
mrchrist, dc1988, J-R and 1 people reacted
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If there’s at least one other person willing to help, wait outside next time & film him driving back, citizen’s arrest & call police? Might burn your bridges with him mind 😂


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:09 pm
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Police. I have no tolerance for this, I'm afraid. Tell them what you just put there and they will sort out how to catch him at it.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:11 pm
Ambrose, Del, joebristol and 5 people reacted
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My stepdads father was run over and killed by a drink driver.
report it to the police.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:19 pm
Ambrose, joebristol, J-R and 3 people reacted
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Shop him, he deserves no consideration.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:19 pm
Ambrose, Del, joebristol and 4 people reacted
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I wouldn’t think myself a coward but by the same token, I can’t hit a nail with  a hammer so I’d prefer a less confrontational solution but a solution needs to be found quickly.
101 it is then. I wasn’t sure they’d bother with it but I have a civil duty and I absolutely detest the inconsiderate bully. Thank you.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:20 pm
Ambrose, Del, MoreCashThanDash and 3 people reacted
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<span style="caret-color: #ffffff; color: #ffffff; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #595959;">101 it is then, thank you.</span>

999 - potential imminent danger to life or property. 101 is non urgent & he'll be sober enough to blow negative by the time a unit arrives.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:23 pm
davros reacted
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Police - normally not a snitch but this is beyond the pale.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:24 pm
Del reacted
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DO NOT USE 101 - that's for non urgent calls & it will not be dealt with in time.

A potentially drunk driver is an immediate danger to life or property - CALL 999.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:28 pm
Ambrose, Yak, J-R and 3 people reacted
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+1 for being in pub then calling police on 999 when he gets in car. I’ve done this twice before and both times police have been on way and have called me directly for further intel.
Day time drinking in quiet country pubs it’s easy to spot locals who think drunk driving is ok. ****s


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:36 pm
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This is the thing though, I can’t know if he’s gone to the pub or otherwise whenever he goes out in his car at the weekend. It’s only when he comes home and you see him pulling in to our small close and on to his drive, clearly the worse for wear that he’s been drinking and driving again
I can’t go and sit in his local every Saturday and Sunday and wait for him.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:40 pm
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What would the bar-man's take on it be? Will they turn a blind eye to customers leaving pished and getting in car or will they be more pro-active?


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:43 pm
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Trouble is that the OP has said this is not habitual, it's intermittent and so waiting around until he next does it and then calling 999 - what if RJ's not around, etc. Of course if you do know it's happening, then call 999.

Report it to 101 and it's on their books. IDK what they'll do as a result but that's for them to work out. Maybe they can ANPR it so the car gets pulled over in a certain area / during certain hours? Maybe they haven't been drinking but realising they're on a watch list might raise the threat from probably won't get caught to now quite likely to, and that resolves it.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 12:44 pm
Del, doris5000 and J-R reacted
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From posts above this guy is repeatedly going to the same pub. He is leaving that pub drunk and driving home. The pub should be contacting police about it. If you inform the police they can contact the pub about the matter. Both owners and staff could lose their licences . This could save a life or lives. So I would contact the police.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:08 pm
Ambrose and Del reacted
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The police might put a marker on his reg, he'll then flag on ANPR cameras and be watched more closely.  Even better if they can flag him on an ANPR near the pub, I assume they can do that sort of thing...


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:08 pm
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Keep yourself safe, call the 5-0. Harsh as it may be, sounds like the dude may have an alcohol problem and getting lifted & banned might be the intervention he needs.

Any negative impacts on his life, career or pocket are his to own, not yours.

At the very least, he'll hopefully be taken 'off the road' which will hopefully keep people safe.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:17 pm
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I sounds exactly 'habitual'.  Just not sufficiently consistent in timing to pinpoint when to catch him.

Defo call the police and do a brain download of what you know.

Inc the car reg / type.  You never know, they may circulate it and have it on a 'keep an eye out for' list.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:28 pm
 csb
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Do you know what pubs he goes to? If so, send a letter to them naming and shaming him as hitting cars when drunk, and tell the pubs they are complicit in this.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:36 pm
 Spin
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<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #eeeeee;">If there’s at least one other person willing to help, wait outside next time & film him driving back, citizen’s arrest & call police?</span>

Much better to cut out the middleman there and leave it all to the police.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:36 pm
 J-R
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naming and shaming him as hitting cars when drunk

The OP didn’t claim this did he? Libelling him to the local pub(s) puts you in the wrong and you could end up in court.

Just follow the previous good advice to tell the police.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:41 pm
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Police call taker here.  Report what you've written above with his vehicle registration to 101 or online if your local force has this option and try and find the name of the pub he's using.

This should be passed to local officers who'll keep an eye out for his reg and the pub car park if and when they're passing.

If you watch him drink and drive or can tell he's driven home drunk then 999 immediately.

Police do like drink driver calls as it's relatively high priority and the evidence is easy to obtain to secure a conviction.  We'll always dispatch if there's someone available.

You could always message the pub directly with his reg.  Pubs are usually pretty good reporters of this but it won't hurt to encourage them.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:50 pm
jamesmio, Ambrose, hightensionline and 6 people reacted
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The OP didn’t claim this did he? Libelling him to the local pub(s) puts you in the wrong and you could end up in court.

"He’s hit a parked car before now but scarpered and he wouldn’t answer his door, closed the curtains and pretended not to be in until the next day so a breath test wouldn’t have found him out"


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 1:59 pm
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Apple Airtag stuck on his car


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 2:07 pm
 csb
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Libelling him to the local pub(s) puts you in the wrong and you could end up in court.

Stick to stating facts (he's coming home from pubs and crashing cars) and it's not libel, and I'd do it anonymously anyway. Main thing is he's outed as a drink-driving tosspot.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 3:20 pm
 J-R
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“He’s hit a parked car before now

Fair enough - I was wrong.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 3:34 pm
Del, jamj1974 and csb reacted
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he wouldn’t answer his door, closed the curtains and pretended not to be in until the next day so a breath test wouldn’t have found him out”

When one of my neighbours kids did this the police were called. They didnt knock twice, well actually they did but the second knock was with the big red key. He was dragged out and Mum and Dad hd to buy a new front door. Surprisingly enough hiding behind the sofa with the curtains closed doesn't deter the police. You should have shopped him when hit the parked car.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 3:57 pm
mrchrist, ratherbeintobago, stevie750 and 1 people reacted
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The campsite pub where we have our caravan has an issue with drink driving. Quite a few will park their car on the campsite, near the pub, drink, then drive to their van. If my dad with dodgy knees can walk to the pub and back, and his van is the furthest away from the pub, why can't they.

A few locals do similar, park vehicle on site, then drive home to the local village.

At least the site owner gets a taxi. We know this as the taxi driver asked if we knew the boss as they collect him daily.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 4:21 pm
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Thank you all and particularly wwpaddler. I’ve submitted the information to the Police including his name and vehicle details via the Contact Us portal.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 5:19 pm
mrchrist, footflaps, Del and 3 people reacted
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Quite a few will park their car on the campsite,

Although I’m not completely surprised, this just makes me despair. Too car dependent to walk across a campsite. No wonder they resist low traffic zones.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 5:58 pm
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If hes out over the weekend spin by the pub in your car or by bike. If his car is there, or in the vicinity ring the police.

Hi, yes im watching a man heavily drinking who drove here and his car keys are on the table.

Give reg number and car make, model, colour etc. Then head home.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 6:03 pm
J-R reacted
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A nice eaterie near us was in the middle of nowhere you see couple who must have driven there share a bottle of wine. Given Scots drink driving limits I couldn't understand why the staff weren't mentioning the law to the criminals.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 6:49 pm
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If it’s any help, I witnessed a guy driving back to his house completely drunk. I’d already called the police because he’d been standing outside his house earlier shouting abuse at his (possibly ex) partner who wouldn’t let him in. When he reappeared (so drunk that I could smell the alcohol from half a block away) the police were in the area and arrested him. He tried to claim that someone else had driven him back, however I’d seen him and that stood up in court and he was convicted. The police officers were impressively good at arresting him, impounded his car (although it appeared back for a bit whilst it went to court) and were completely professional. So good luck!


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 6:59 pm
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Have dealt with this a few times over my life. The way to do it has always been to report it to the police via 101 before the next time then report it to 999 if you know he's driving while drunk at that exact moment. That way they can put a marker on his car and pull him if they see him while on routine patrol and will also respond if there's a car in the area when he's driving drunk.

Have had two successful prosecutions doing this, one was a persistent drink driver at my then local and another was a friend who wouldn't listen to us pleading him to stop doing it.

As you can probably tell I despise drink driving.


 
Posted : 09/09/2023 7:17 pm
mrchrist reacted

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