News from Local Constable on Traffic Law Enforcement for 0.0 Alcohol and GVM

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 15, 2007 at 21:12
ThreadID: 123333 Views:4084 Replies:3 FollowUps:4
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I had a hunch, and had the Office Staff call Local Law Enforcement... My hunch was that in 19 years I could never remember being asked for my Registration papers... Would they even know?? And part two of my hunch was: If my vehicle was running empty at 4 ton, out of service so to speak, I might not be bound by the over 4.5 ton GVM rules of 0.0 alcohol... Wish wish, hope hope..... But I am always fishing, maybe wishful thinking... But:

What we were told, is that first of all they would probably not even know on the F-250 sort of medium sized non-commercial truck. Second of all, they have a POLICY of not enforcing the 0.0 Alcohol level for Private Citizens in that sized 4x4 or SUV, UNLESS you are engaged in Commercial Activity using it for Work. Now, I found that very interesting..!!!! It explains why I did not get nabbed over the Holiday when I blew something on a RBT... It is not considered a Commercial truck...

I would suggest, at least around home, you CALL your local Constable and see if this Policy is Nationwide, or just a local Queensland issue. For me at least, it is back to being able to drive with a glass of wine or two out for a meal.

Woooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!!! Pressure is off. I'm not driving a 0.0 after all... Before I do it as far away a Brisbane, I will seek the advice of the Police there as well.
Regards, Ranger.....
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Reply By: Noosa Fox - Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 02:36

Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 02:36
Many of the police who man the Breath testing stations are fresh out of the academy and not fully traffic wise so are only interested in the reading regarding type of licence held as to if it is 0.0 or 0.05% limits. An F250 type vehicle would probably not be considered by most to be over the 4.5 tonne GVM.

The problem for those who take the risk with alchol in their blood in a vehicle over 4.5 tonnes is that if a Traffic Branch or State Task Force officer intercepts you, they are more savvy to what is going on with traffic laws and you may well be charged with exceeding .00% BAC.

In my 29 years in Victoria Police, and about 1/2 in Traffic it made absolutely no difference if the heavy vehicle was being used as private or commercial. They were all treated the same.

Brian
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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 02:47

Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 02:47
As usual, you always know better Brian.... I told people to call their local.....

Here, it was a Supervisor, and a Traffic Officer. Two different ones, and they said it was their Departmental Policy... That is good enough for me on a Local level around my neighborhood and going out to dinner... Hence I told others in the Posting to call their Local...

If you want to argue with them please do so.. Maroochydore Police Station, I will give them your name.. Ha! Lighten up Brian... I was only reporting what they told me, and advising others to contact there respective Police Stations to see what they said for the local level..

And buy the way, we want to get your Ford in here to see if you have all the Legislated Modification plate properly affixed and notated for you addition of the Camper and the Tow bar, and a full engineering report on the Bull Bar and associated Modification Plate by a Queensland Transport Approved Engineer... Ha! You can go too far with this letter of the law stuff, that is why my advice to call their respective Local....

Question, Brian, do you ever cease to be a Policeman even when you retire??
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Reply By: Noosa Fox - Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 03:43

Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 03:43
One thing that I forgot to mention above is that if you have and accident and in Qld if the damage is over $2500 then police have to attend. It is then that full registration checks are done and the GVM will be given and hence 0.00 will become known. It will then mean a loss of licence and know insurance cover if over the BAC limits.

Anyone who is silly enough to go and drive their vehicle knowing that they are over the BAC limit deserves to suffer the full force of the law as far as I am concerned. I have attended far too many accidents involving drivers over the BAC limit in both my police and volunteer fire brigade duties to have any simpathy for them, or people who encourage them to break the law.

The above posting is not worth replying to.

Brian
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Follow Up By: Croozer - Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 04:52

Friday, Feb 16, 2007 at 04:52
Well said Brian, couldn't agree more!

Rod
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Reply By: Kiwi1 - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 05:00

Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 05:00
It's disappointing when members of a forum resort to personal attacks, but distinctly alarming when the attacker is the spokesman for BT. With respect, somebody needs to sit down with a good book on corporate relations.
This is the second thread where I have seen BT attack a contributor for no obvious reason and I suspect it was the same contributor who is again being attacked. Obviously there is a grudge harbored somewhere in the background which is precisely where it should remain.
Brian's post appeared factual and was claimed to be based on years of experience in the police force. Good enough for me.
This forum is usually interesting and informative - let's try to play nicely, OK?

Michael
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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 18:49

Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 18:49
Kiwi, this person loves a stir, loves a dig, never misses a beat to picking at my heels. It has gotten so bad with emails of harassment at Bushtracker that we refuse to even open the emails. He never misses an opportunity to have a go at me.... BUT I ADMIT: You are correct on this particular Thread, while I am satisfied I have the OK to have a couple of glasses of wine with my dinner, and this statement of departmental policy from my Police Station would stand in a Court of Law so that charges would be dismissed....You are right on this Thread, he is Technically correct. And so are you Kiwi, but I am only human too..

However, for six years, I have been harassed too long, picked at too long, and sometimes cannot help myself but snarl back.... Behind the scenes he has not been .. nice. Like at the last Rally, I went to great effort and expense to bring 14 cases of select wines, and also a display of the top dozen LED lights, and held a party at my van for everyone to play with the LEDs and have a Wine Fest. The wines lasted for several events over several days. For the big cooking night, I used a Champion Reining Horse, a Playboy Roy, all afternoon to drag the tree stumps and logs to the fire area that were to big to move, with a roping saddle... Any way, another Bogger asked this person as Secretary of the Bog "Shouldn't we give Steve a bit of Public Thank you for his efforts"... And this person, voluntary Secretary of the Bog, says "Naw, Stuff him".... Personally I think he is just jealous and wants to be Mr. Bushtracker here on this Forum and wants me gone. A couple of Boggers related this attitude to me.. Anyways whether or not this incident is even true is not the point, it is an example of his general attitude against me.
Besides the whole group was very appreciative, and Thanked me personally and as a Group anyway. Sometimes I get fed up with this person always after me.... and after that I wonder if I want to bother coming to the Rally....

Kiwi, you are right, I probably should not have had a go at him... But the lone Ranger is only HUMAN Too.... And sometimes I just get fed up... Oh well, I am not perfect. So be it. Yes there is a grudge, he snaps at my heels everywhere, and after 100 times I snap back???? Hey, so what!!! I am entitled to be human too.

Oh well, we cannot ALL get along. Kiwi, I will try and be only Technically Argumentative in the future, and I will try and be polite to the few that are after me out of jealousy or whatever, even the mean ones... By far and away the 99% of Boggers are really great people... Kiwi: You are correct, point taken...

Kind Regards, lone Ranger..
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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:28

Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:28
And Brian,
This time I am in the wrong, I apologise for my comments, you are just doing what you see as technically right, and I took it Personal.... I am out of line this time... Ranger
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