Dobbing in drunk drivers you know.

[haste]

Dobbing in drunk drivers who you know.

Dobbing in idiots

19feb04
Herald Sun

THE widespread problem of drivers who exceed the blood-alcohol limit has prompted a controversial proposal.

Police are considering a statewide hotline on which people can dob in anybody they know who repeatedly offends.

Despite the Drink, Drive, Bloody Idiot campaign, about one in 254 Victorian motorists offends. In 2003, 29 per cent of drivers killed were over the limit.

A hotline trial in Geelong since July has resulted in 86 motorists being reported and 12 drink-drivers being caught.

If the proposal is to be adopted statewide, the police must give a detailed explanation of how it will work. For instance, would they camp on the doorstep of someone reported as being a habitual risk?

While dobbing is distasteful, if it can help get alcohol-impaired drivers off our roads it is worth a try.

This is something that’s being considered here in Victoria and being trialed in a certain area. What happens in one state can often have ramifications in others, so I think it’s an interesting topic for all.

I guess dobbing someone you've seen to be over the limit can be a fairly painless task - jot down the number plate and ring the proposed hotline. However, the moral dilemma is how far would you go? Would you dob in a friend or a relative? Would you dob someone in full stop? Is it our responsibility?

There are no arguments when it comes to how stupid drinking and driving is and any measures to make the roads safer have to be beneficial. This proposal however digs into the Australian code of mateship - you don't dob in your mates. Or do you let others pick up on the bad habits of your mates therefore absolving you of any responsibility.

Obviously communication and trying to reach an understanding with your friend would be the first level of action anyone would take. What of the person who continues to drive while intoxicated putting themselves, family, friends and other people in danger – do you turn a blind eye or do you dob them in for their own good?

I personally would dob them in because I see it more beneficial than not - and I'm assuming that the whole process remains on an anonymous basis, therefore never effecting your friendship with feelings of betrayal. It doesn't present itself as a personal moral dilemma either as I know my actions are for the better.

Any thoughts?

 

[onetwothreefour]

i don't know how well this would actually work, but i think it's an okay idea, as long as dickheads don't abuse the system. i think it would *always* be best to approach someone (if you know them) about it before going and dobbing them in, but some people can't be reasoned with, so then perhaps it's called for...

 

[anna!]

I would most definitely dob someone in if I knew for a fact they were repeatedly driving under the influence. It could be my brother, my cousin, my best friend or my worst enemy, it wouldn't make any difference. I don't feel any sense of "loyalty" when it comes to endangering other people's lives.

What about a system wherein you could rat on people you knew after you watched them leave a party/pub/family reunion drunk (presumably after trying to take their keys/call them a taxi and failing)? You know, asking the police to be waiting at the end of the street to breath-test them? Hypothetically of course, I'm sure the Victorian government can't afford such resources.

 

[up all night]

I don't think I could ever dob in a friend. Actually I know I couldn't.

I would be interested in hearing how this system would work though... ie how would they catch these people?

 

[haste]

I think its based off working on the number plate address - then following them or cutting them off before they got home.

 

[up all night]

^ hmmm... Sounds pretty fruitless and flawed if you asked me. That would take up a huge amount of police time... and as if they don't have enough to do as it is. If I was drunk I'd probably dob in a friend who hadn't been drinking and send the police on a random goose chase so as to hopefully clear a path to my door. [kidding kidding... okay half kidding]

 

[haste]

Yeah depending how many people use this system, it could turn into a logistical nightmare for the police.

 

[Jimity]

I think it would be a great idea as a deterrant for drink drivers. People thinking that someone at the pub might dob them in, may help them think twice before stumbling to the car. Though it could also start many fights and cause distrust between friends/co-workers. As 1234 said thoguh, it depends on how people use the system.

If I were a drink driver, I would be thinknig twice if I thought 'ol mate at the end of the bar was going to go ring the hotline.

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

Hmm... imagine your mate coming back to the bar the next Friday night after being caught the previous week knowing that one of you dobbed him in. Akward.

I don't know if I could do it either. Perhaps with a habitual drink driver who's been told and told... or a stranger... but I couldn't just dob in a friend as a one-off. I know it's for their own good but I just couldn't. I would much rather reason with them or even take their keys.

I can't see this working solely because of the potential for misuse - you get pissed off at someone, dob 'em in. Send the police on wild goose chases. What about people who've only got a very short distance to drive home, are the cops going to "catch" them in time? Once you're home you're not drink driving and it can't be charged in retrospect.

 

[Jimity]

Once you're home you're not drink driving and it can't be charged in retrospect.

I'm not sure of exact laws, but recently around here, a young guy was done for drink driving and dangerous drivnig because someone saw him driving home from the pub pissed as a fart. The person called the cops and they arrested him at his home 20 minuets later.

 

[haste]

^^ hmm I'd be interested to know how that would stand up in court? What state was it in?

 

[astrosmurf]

^^ i'd be interested too, i thought as long as they made it to their driveway, even if they were still in the car with the engine running, the cops couldn't touch them.

on topic: i think i would dob in hibitual offenders, even if they were my friends as i've seen too many people hurt through drink driving. obviously i wouldn't do it unless it was a last resort i.e. my friend would not listen to reason and kept driving drunk, therefor endangering themselves and others. in some ways i would see it as doing them a favour, it might just be the scare they need to stop. or ultimately it could stop them killing themselves or someone else and having to live with the guilt.

 

[aunty establishment]

Once you're home you're not drink driving and it can't be charged in retrospect.

Err...that's like saying once you've popped home from a night of murders, you're done murdering so you can't be charged! It don't make no sense. You can be charged with a crime as long as there is sufficient evidence to convict you, which in this case I would believe to be the testimony of whomever dobbed you in.

 

[x2shy]

Cops can get you if are at home. There was an newspaper report about a guy that drove at speed limit, obeying all the road rules, but with the cops chasing him the whole time. As soon as he got home he pulled into his driveway and said "sucked in cops, can't book me cuz I'm home" they just arrested him.
Don't think it makes a diffrence if you get home or not.
I was thinking about this though, since if you dob in a litterbug. You may have to go to court to swear that you saw them do it.
So, would be it be the same, if you dobbed some one in would you have to go to court?

 

[haste]

I was thinking about this though, since if you dob in a litterbug. You may have to go to court to swear that you saw them do it.
So, would be it be the same, if you dobbed some one in would you have to go to court?

Thats a good point - to avoid people abusing the system and making prank calls, the caller would have to made accountable for what they report - you would think?

 

[astrosmurf]

i doubt the 'dobber' in this case would have to go to court, coz no-one would want to be known to have dobbed someone in and have to testify in court, therefore they wouldn't ring in in the first place, therefore nullifying the whole process well, that's my theory anyway and i'm sticking to it

 

[Shnouzerpuff]

I was under the impression that hew could have just said "well I only had 2 drinks at the pub before, but since I got home I have polished off this half bottle of bourbon..."

Then there is no evidence to show actually -when- he drank the liquor that has upped his BA level.

I dont think I would dob in a drunk driver unless they were severely paralytic or doing it constantly. Socially irresponsible maybe, but its a gimp thing to do.

 

[Jimity]

^^ hmm I'd be interested to know how that would stand up in court? What state was it in?

NSW. Newcastle to be exact. And it did stand up in court. Guy got a $1000 fine and lost his license for 6 months. I'm buggered if I can find the Newspaper article however.

 

[Jimity]

I was under the impression that hew could have just said "well I only had 2 drinks at the pub before, but since I got home I have polished off this half bottle of bourbon..."

Then there is no evidence to show actually -when- he drank the liquor that has upped his BA level.

I think (dont quote me though). If a cop see's you clearly intoxicated, that might slightly outweigh, the "I got pissed at home" theory. It would be hard to define though. Definately something worth asking about I think. Anyone know any coppers who could clear it up?

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

Err...that's like saying once you've popped home from a night of murders, you're done murdering so you can't be charged! It don't make no sense. You can be charged with a crime as long as there is sufficient evidence to convict you, which in this case I would believe to be the testimony of whomever dobbed you in.

How's your arm drawing that long bow? This is a much greyer area imo. Sure they've committed a crime but once you're in your home, it's your word against the dobber (who could, you might argue, hold a grudge against you). It's just all a bit messy to me, that was my argument. And I doubt the dob-in-your-buddy system is going to work if people know they might theoretically have to testify against their mates or family.