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Sunday, 19 October 2008

Who said "police state"?

The Times reports that :
"Drivers will be breathalysed at random and those close to the limit will stand a much greater chance of being convicted under plans to give police new powers to tackle drink-driving.

There will be a record increase in the number of breath tests to deter motorists from thinking that they can get away with having an extra drink."
The key lines are these ones:
"A consultation paper to be published within weeks will propose giving police the power to carry out “targeted breath testing”, which effectively means that they will be able to stop any driver.

At present, police can test drivers only in three circumstances: after a collision, after a traffic offence or when they have “reasonable suspicion” that a person is drink-driving.

Some forces, including North Wales, interpret “reasonable suspicion” more broadly than others and set up roadblocks to check all drivers where there is a history of drink-driving. The Government plans to give all forces the power to set up such roadblocks.

Police will be able to test any driver in an area where it is reasonable to assume that some motorists might be drinking and driving.

...

The Department for Transport is reluctant to use the term “random testing” for fear of alienating the public, but the new powers will effectively permit it."
Once again it is the motorist that is persecuted by the state, whilst muggers and burglars can carry on with little chance of ever being caught let alone punished.

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