Breath Test

[TheBaBas]

On Saturday morning I was driving home after a night out the night before, having stayed at a friend's house, when one of my tyres burst on a fairly busy dual carriageway.

When I went to change the tyre the locking wheelnet key snapped and therefore had to call a recovery truck.

About 20 minutes later a police car pulled up and set up 'police aware' signs - as the recovery truck wasn't going to arrive for another hour the (very nice) policeman invited me to sit in the police car and wait.

It had been eight hours since I last had a drink, and I certainly wasn't plastered the previous evening, but when I eventually got home my wife said she could still smell beer on my breath.

Now I'm 99.9% recurring sure I wasn't over the limit, but given my wife could still smell beer, presumably the policeman would've been able to as well, but I wasn't breathalysed.

We just spent an hour in the police car shooting the breeze until the recovery truck arrived.

On the assumption he could smell beer, I'm a little suprised I wasn't tested.

Any ideas why I wasn't?

[Barmaid]

He obviously didn't smell it because if he had done, you would have been. That's an easy collar.

[Psybbo]

Your wife had some beer?

[sunny-dave]

Maybe you were presenting as "probably sobered up" given the time of day ...

... and/or he didn't want the admin hassle of potentially having to take you to the station & then deal with your car recovery?

[brandyrose]

He gave you the benefit of the doubt and you may well have had a clear conversation with him and he just decided not to.

Some time ago I was leaving a restaurant quite late (it also has a rather large bar). I had been working there with others for a few hours and I didn't drink at all; anyway about 5 mins after leaving this dark car in front of me had no lights so I flashed it .....Now this is just my luck!! the car let me pass it then put sirens on and I was pulled. Police officer came to my window asking me if I had been drinking (he had an unmarked car). (I was very tempted to get a little black book out of the glove compartment!! and start asking him questions) More or less straight away, he backed away from the car and said that it was clear I hadn't been drinking because he couldn't smell it on me and disappeared very quickly - he didn't go any further and I had my wits about me. So he satisfied himself and maybe thats what they do and they must have some discretion.