Roadblock Season.
With the approach of the festive season, roadblocks checking for drunken drivers and any other criminal activities are on the increase again.
My father and my sister’s husband both celebrated their birthday on Thursday and as per usual, I took them out for a birthday meal last night. It was a wonderfully relaxed evening. It is not my habit to drink more than a glass of wine when I have to drive home but the white wine flowed quite lavishly and we topped it off with a bottle of champagne before leaving.
The steakhouse is somewhere midway between my father’s and my sister’s place so while driving my dad home, we were stopped in a roadblock. Mercifully, the traffic officer started off with the only question I had a feasible answer for.
Where are you coming from, he asked.
I gestured with my head to my passengers and told him that the two gentlemen celebrated a common birthday and, as they knew that they would not be in a condition to drive back home, they asked me to fetch them afterwards.
The officer asked me if I drank anything and I said Not a drop which was the truth. It was probably almost a bottle. The man was very impressed and actually commended all of us for being so law-abiding. He wished us a safe journey and off we went.
Coming back we were waved off again but when we were recognized, the officer indicated that we could proceed.
It was a lucky escape but it could have ended in a disaster. I could have spent the weekend in the holding cells, as I would only have appeared in court on Monday or Tuesday for a bail hearing. And that would only have been the beginning of the problems.
So to all you fellow South Africans – and everybody elsewhere – don’t be foolish as I was. If you must drink, don’t drive. Get somebody to drive you home. It is season for roadblocks. And that half a second delay in our reflexes can easily cost a life.
Have a great weekend and don’t go drinking and driving.
Comments (25)
Some years ago, just outside Klawer, I was pulled off the road and the traffic cop was drunk. This was early morning. He must have realized that I was onto him and let me go without bother.
Yikes! It is almost as bad as the safety gear you need on a small boat. All that is short is the life jackets, flares and thermal blanket.
I don't drive Cat but had some experiences with cops stopping the taxi I'm in and check for my ID.
Here in the Middles East, we Asians have to carry with us our valid working permit and residence card wherever we go. Some cops would stop cars, buses and taxis to check if the foreigners on board have valid IDs, sometimes it could turn bad even if you have an ID.
Few weeks ago, I was riding a taxi and a police car on the other lane signaled the taxi driver to stop...I knew they wanted to check if I'm legally here. Unfortunately the taxi driver didn't noticed the cops waving and was busy talking on his phone using a headset. The cops made a u-turn and started to chase us. The taxi driver was oblivious, didn't hear the siren. I kept looking back and saw the police car gaining speed on us with it's siren wailing. When they were over taking the taxi, cop signaled for the driver to pull over . He stopped the taxi, turned to look at me and asked if I have residence and working permit. I grinned and told him " I think they are after you"
Police came over , I showed them my ID but the taxi driver got busted.
Our legal limit is 0.05 and zero for Lerners, Provisional and heavy vehicles.
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Last night I felt very elated but when I think back today I'm not very amused with myself. Chancing my luck twice was not very thoughtful.
This roadblock was not specific for alcohol testing like when they have a special caravan for testing. This was general purpose, looking for roadworthiness, stolen property, illegal substances and unlicensed guns and illegal immigrants. Often a car is pulled off and just asked to produce a driver's license.
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Our parents and my friends wouldn't have tolerated it either and thankfully I don't mind not drinking alcohol at all.
You were lucky.
Yes, I was very lucky. They are very strict here on drunken driving but some officers are very lax. I don't know why I drove, there were so many people I could have phoned to fetch us. Normally I am the first to give my key off. I never drive under the influence. My idea all night was for my sister to drive home but when I realized that she was not in a much better condition than I, I decided to take the chance.
Though I must add that although I probably had about six or seven hundred ML of white wine and champagne inside me, it was consumed over a period of three hours and we had plenty to eat in between. None of us were really drunk. We were, to use our local jargon, just mellow.
I Can't Do All 3, At The Same Time.
Hmm, but it was a close shave. I don't think they have internet in the cells.
Many years ago I read about a fella that was arrested for drunken driving while pushing a pram. I don't know if he was found guilty.
Yes, but I don't think I will qualify for such luxuries.
Thanks for dropping in.
Had a similar incident...so from that resulted in me not drinking and driving at all...lucky once but not foolish enough to believe it could happen again!!...have a great weekend!!
I was just silly to drive. I don't know what came over me. I never drive if I had more than one.