Fallen Tech Blog

CONTINUED FROM Car Accidents are fun! (part 2 of 3)

When we last left our story, I had just arrived at the Police station...

Once there, after having another officer make jokes about me, I was informed that I was under arrest for "Being Drunk In A Public Place". Once I knew this, I asked if I could have a breath or blood test, in order to prove or disprove the accusation.

Follow up:

The Officer then explained that a test wasn't necessary for me to be found "drunk" and that the only requirement was for them to say so, apparently based on smell and speech. I feel sorry for sober people with a speech impediment that have just been to a bar!

I was then placed into a cell for four and a half hours with a loud but friendly enough drunken fellow while suffering a SPLITTING headache and some minor visual hallucinations.

OK, before you start asking why I was silly enough to ask questions or "being a smart ass", note that I didn't do ANYTHING that was not within my legal rights to do. Furthermore, I was not rude or impolite at any point. I did not raise my voice, nor speak in any way other than completely "normal". Also remember, I had just been in an accident and as such was not ENTIRELY all there.

The fact that the Police were so quick to lock me up when I was essentially a victim of an incident doesn't exactly show compassion. Furthermore, the fact that I was in a car accident and could have had a serious concussion, if anything, demonstrates negligence.

I was lying down for a fair amount of time while in the cell and, although there were cameras watching, no one once came to see if I was OK. Don't under-estimate the seriousness of a concussion - it can put you in a coma!

The flawed logic of this law is ridiculous! I can be "found" drunk without any proof and placed in prison for 4 1/2 hours.

Once released, I can go to court and try to prove my innocence (guilty until proven innocent in this case). If I succeed - to bad as I've already taken the punishment. I cannot get the time back. If I fail however, the charges can in fact be INCREASED!

I naturally spoke to a lawyer but basically she told me about what would happen if I try to prove my innocence as stated above. She also said that if I were to take any action against the officer, in any way in the next 12 months, they would simply charge me with something else from that same night, presumably much worse like "interfering with Police" or something.

Well, anyway, that's the story... The Police get a "Bad Company" vote from me and I sure as hell don't respect or trust them anymore.

My advice to anyone knowing there rights and wanting to execute them: RUN.