Monday, December 19, 2011

What spoken methods to cops in Japan have to test drunk drivers?

Question:


In the Unites States, cops tell suspected drunk drivers to say the alphabet without singing it. Do Japanese cops use anything like the abc's, like a-i-u-e-o?

Answer:


Often they just have you blow in their face. Supposedly U.S. police can't do that, but they get around it by propping their arms on your window sill as they ask for your license. Sometimes they'll have little portable BAC machines but bring out the real deal if you fail there. No A, B, Cs, they just talk to you. Ask you what day it is, where you live, where do you work, how much you have had to drink. No heel to toe but the cop will walk a few yards away and then ask you to walk to him.

But all of the above is just the beginning, as there are almost endless hoops to jump through, one of which involves losing your drivers license for 2 years and having to take ALL the tests to get it back and another of paying a fine that starts out at about 400,000 yen.

And note, you can't drive if you have had anything to drink, regardless of your BAC. If they can smell it, or it even registers on the BAC machine, you do NOT drive. Even if you are under the legal limit and no charges are made, you can NOT drive the car. You have to call someone to come get you and get someone else to drive your car.

NOTE: This saying your ABCs is called a field sobriety test. It will NOT stand up in court. Same thing with walking heel to toe. Or standing on one foot. Or watching a pen with your eyes only (your eyes will be jerky as they track the pen if you have been drinking.) All of these are a prelude to putting you under arrest on the suspicion of DUI. At the police station you will be asked to submit to a BAC analysis. Pass and you go home with an apology. Fail and you're nailed. Refuse and many states will automatically revoke your license for one year, with no chance for a limited license to drive to work.

I worked it out once, but I think by U.S. levels a 0.04 is the limit.

And to whoever thinks this deserves a thumbs down, you need to get a clue. Of course, some people couldn't get a clue, in a field full of horny clues during clue mating season even if they rubbed clue musk all over their naked bodies and did the clue mating dance.

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