Comments on: Random breathalyzer tests a threat to our rights http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sherry Colbourne http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-1799 Sherry Colbourne Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:46:07 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-1799 The challenge lies in getting social drinkers - given the existing laws - to know, with certainty, what their BAC is when they’re consuming. That is where enforcement quality breathalyzer technology or forensic-quality software applications come into play. In the 21st century, the technology exists and the consumer is savvy enough to figure out how to use these technologies. To suggest otherwise is simply fear mongering. The time for “informed consumption” is at hand and I hope that these continued discussions about increased sanctions give our society a clear indication of how serious a problem alcohol misuse is and compel social drinkers to solve the problem themselves. Use the tools people. What gets measured, gets managed! The challenge lies in getting social drinkers – given the existing laws – to know, with certainty, what their BAC is when they’re consuming. That is where enforcement quality breathalyzer technology or forensic-quality software applications come into play. In the 21st century, the technology exists and the consumer is savvy enough to figure out how to use these technologies. To suggest otherwise is simply fear mongering.

The time for “informed consumption” is at hand and I hope that these continued discussions about increased sanctions give our society a clear indication of how serious a problem alcohol misuse is and compel social drinkers to solve the problem themselves.

Use the tools people. What gets measured, gets managed!

]]> By: Sherry Colbourne http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-1798 Sherry Colbourne Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:45:21 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-1798 A better solution than throwing more enforcement at this problem is to educate social drinkers about their BAC through the use of modern day technology. The likelihood of catching a high BAC driver through random breath testing is a flawed assumption. High BAC drivers demonstrate behavioural impairment ie. erratic driving. The vast majority of people affected by random breath testing will be non-drinkers and low BAC drinkers. There are already plenty of extremely onerous sanctions in place for high BAC drivers and the only thing needed in this domain is an increased rate of conviction…something random breath testing will do nothing to affect. People should remember that the reason it is not illegal to drink and drive is because there is no evidence to suggest that low levels of BAC impact driving - refer to the Grand Rapids Study that has, incidentally, been conducted and re-conducted several times with the same results…low BAC driving is neither connected to fatalities or even accidents. A better solution than throwing more enforcement at this problem is to educate social drinkers about their BAC through the use of modern day technology. The likelihood of catching a high BAC driver through random breath testing is a flawed assumption. High BAC drivers demonstrate behavioural impairment ie. erratic driving. The vast majority of people affected by random breath testing will be non-drinkers and low BAC drinkers. There are already plenty of extremely onerous sanctions in place for high BAC drivers and the only thing needed in this domain is an increased rate of conviction…something random breath testing will do nothing to affect.

People should remember that the reason it is not illegal to drink and drive is because there is no evidence to suggest that low levels of BAC impact driving – refer to the Grand Rapids Study that has, incidentally, been conducted and re-conducted several times with the same results…low BAC driving is neither connected to fatalities or even accidents.

]]> By: Sherry Colbourne http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-1797 Sherry Colbourne Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:43:54 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-1797 While random breath testing would certainly be good for my business, I believe it is an affront to our civil rights. To drive this point home in a more realistic way, imagine having an appointment with an important business client or even your doctor. You’re merrily making your way to a 9:00 a.m. appointment, fighting traffic. A well-intending officer pulls you over for a random breath test in hopes of catching a “morning after the night before” offender, making you even later still. Does this really seem reasonable to anyone? No probable cause, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While random breath testing would certainly be good for my business, I believe it is an affront to our civil rights. To drive this point home in a more realistic way, imagine having an appointment with an important business client or even your doctor. You’re merrily making your way to a 9:00 a.m. appointment, fighting traffic. A well-intending officer pulls you over for a random breath test in hopes of catching a “morning after the night before” offender, making you even later still.

Does this really seem reasonable to anyone? No probable cause, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

]]> By: Remi Aubin http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-1529 Remi Aubin Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:57:40 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-1529 I say NO to roadside breathalyzer testing in Canada or anywhere else for that matter. I do not condone drinking and driving, however, these roadside stops set a dangerous precedent to our rights and freedoms in this country. In this day of electronic gadgets and cellphones I can guarantee that if any driver is observed to be driving incoherently he or she will be quickly snitched upon. I might add that in this new economy there are very few people that can afford to stop at the bar after work and for those who can the bar is legally obliged to cut off any patron who is approaching imparedness. I say NO to roadside breathalyzer testing in Canada or anywhere else for that matter. I do not condone drinking and driving, however, these roadside stops set a dangerous precedent to our rights and freedoms in this country.
In this day of electronic gadgets and cellphones I can guarantee that if any driver is observed to be driving incoherently he or she will be quickly snitched upon.
I might add that in this new economy there are very few people that can afford to stop at the bar after work and for those who can the bar is legally obliged to cut off any patron who is approaching imparedness.

]]> By: Daniel Arnot http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-1113 Daniel Arnot Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:33:26 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-1113 @ sr - So...you got pulled over for turning the wrong way...WHILE DRIVING? (why is this upper case? you don't get PULLED OVER for turning the wrong way in Thorvaldson) If you weren't drinking than what were you so humiliated about? The rookie cop thinking you were drunk or that you suck at driving? Alex did you even read the Charter? instead of skipping over the parts that don't support your argument, maybe you should enlighten yourself before making an ass of yourself. The part that destroys your argument appears BEFORE section six. Your articles are either disingenuous or you just suck at knowing about what you choose to blather about... You are either ignorant or completely full of shit...You are either in the top 99th percentile for vocabulary or your articles are thesaurus enhanced. But in any case your articles are not worth the paper they are printed on. @ sr – So…you got pulled over for turning the wrong way…WHILE DRIVING? (why is this upper case? you don’t get PULLED OVER for turning the wrong way in Thorvaldson) If you weren’t drinking than what were you so humiliated about? The rookie cop thinking you were drunk or that you suck at driving?

Alex did you even read the Charter? instead of skipping over the parts that don’t support your argument, maybe you should enlighten yourself before making an ass of yourself. The part that destroys your argument appears BEFORE section six. Your articles are either disingenuous or you just suck at knowing about what you choose to blather about… You are either ignorant or completely full of shit…You are either in the top 99th percentile for vocabulary or your articles are thesaurus enhanced. But in any case your articles are not worth the paper they are printed on.

]]> By: sr http://www.thesheaf.com/2009/10/14/random-breathalyzer-tests-a-threat-to-our-rights/#comment-893 sr Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:02:27 +0000 http://thesheaf.com/?p=1346#comment-893 i was just stopped in canada, since I turned the wrong way WHILE DRIVING. THE COP stated that I smell like alcohol(I have a cold, but I do not smell like alcohol, nor do I drink!! the cop threatened me with jail, etc, and made me take a breathalyzer. I was completely humiliated. This was a violaTION OF MY RIGHTS. L WOULD LIKE TO SUE THE COP....ANY COMMENTS? i was just stopped in canada, since I turned the wrong way WHILE DRIVING. THE COP stated that I smell like alcohol(I have a cold, but I do not smell like alcohol, nor do I drink!! the cop threatened me with jail, etc, and made me take a breathalyzer. I was completely humiliated. This was a violaTION OF MY RIGHTS. L WOULD LIKE TO SUE THE COP….ANY COMMENTS?

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