Police would also no longer need to suspect that an offence has been committed in order to stop and breathtest?

cameronissim...

You ll also notice minor crimes can result in your DNA forcibly being taken from you and allot of minor car offences have seen a huge increase of DNA being forcibly taken from innocent people.

This is what they call, Collecting DNA through the back door and by passing the rules

Buddha

No, I don't mind if they stop me. If doing this saves one life, I am all for it.

Bardic

There's no need for any change in legislation. Police have always been entitled to stop a driver to check, for instance, that he possesses a licence etc., or for an informal chat about the manner of his driving. If, during the course of the conversation, they form the opinion that he may have been drinking they are perfectly entitled to request a breath sample. If they don't form that opinion, there's no need for a test. Simple as that.

Bear

I personally think it wouldn't make much difference.

If you couldn't smell alcohol when you stopped someone and there were no other indicating factors then you wouldn't breath test them anyway.

mafiaboss_nz

Police have the powers to stop vehicles under the Road Traffic act which can be as simple to check the perons has a driving licence or is complying with other road traffic legislation like wearing a seatbelt etc, if we chat with the driver and can smell alcohol we then can look at a breath test...

This new legislation means that we no longer need to suspect they have being drinking or "smell alcohol" before demanding they take a breath test.

Too much power?

Well the same legislation has being in New Zealand where i am from for many years(over 10) and it does not upset the public other than the ones caught drink driving.

I dont see the public having a issue with officers pulling people over for a test provided the officer is polite and professional

fangtaiyang

By simply getting behind the wheel and driving, one becomes a suspect of perhaps driving without a license or of driving while impaired. Driving is a privilege, not a right

brit_plod

What's your source? That not how it works in the UK at the moment...
~~~~~~~~~~
Ah, Yes... I think it's good - People will always complain about being hastled by the Police, but these are usually the people who have been arrested in the past or have some running argument/dislike with them...

TaxPayer

If they want to stop you and ask about the vehicle they are perfectly at liberty to do so and already had the power to do so since 1972.
Should they then suspect you have been drinking they then have the power to demand a breath sample and have had the power to do that since 1972. That is no different to how it is right now although the legislation has been updated to close loopholes. This is just government spin and hype to put you off the scent of the increased revenue from speeding fines.

Is it to reduce road deaths or raise revenue? Make your own mind up I have.

reggie

If plod wants to stop you then he will, he can say you were driving a bit erratically or you had a tail light flickering. You can then be breathalysed because the decision to do so is subjective

John A

another draconian law implemented by the soon to be gestapo 2.

people need to wake up.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: