Drinking when parked up for the night

Discussed this with police - depends on whether you are on public land i.e. can public access where you are?

pub car park - dinking probably a no no
motorhome/caravan park - OK

If drinking - turn seat around, turn down blinds and give keys to wife who doesn't drink.......
 
This has been done to death over the years. As far as I am aware nobody has ever been prosecuted for it. I remember years ago in a layby parked up for the night on the Isle of Arran some coppers pulled in for a chat and I was sat outside the van on about my fifth can of Stella. They never batted an eyelid as it was clear we weren't going anywhere.

As said the only thing to worry about is if you have to move but how often does that happen?
 
Puddleduck said:
Be careful you are not still over when you drive off next day.
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Well that applies at all times where ever you are and what ever you are driving.

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BikerJon said:
This is something worth thinking about, are you breaking the law if you drink over the legal limit when parked up for the night. I would imagine this only affects people on public land, but for example, if you're staying the night in a layby or in a parking bay then I think you seriously need to think about this.

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As said by other Funsters, this subject is a well worn path. Drink Driving is one thing, however being drunk in charge of a Motor Vehicle is another. If you were parked up in a layby or similar then technically you could be charged for the latter. In reality this is unlikley to ever happen. So long as the keys were not in the ignition and it could be clearly seen that the vehicle was not going to be driven ie steering lock or similar fitted, i doubt any Copper would be interested. My uncle who is a retired Inspector has said the same when i asked him about this. As an HGV Driver we sleep in the cabs so its a similar thing.
 
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Of course it applies to us all but I have never had cause for concern as when I camp up for the night, usually on sites admittedly but not always, it is clear for anyone to see I am camping and have no intentions of driving. So the defence to me would be very clear and I would suggest the Police, in the UK at least, would never think I was drunk in charge.
 
The attitude of the drinker could also be very relevant in a case like this.
Being gobby never gets good results with the enforcers 😜
 
barryd said:
This has been done to death over the years. As far as I am aware nobody has ever been prosecuted for it. I remember years ago in a layby parked up for the night on the Isle of Arran some coppers pulled in for a chat and I was sat outside the van on about my fifth can of Stella. They never batted an eyelid as it was clear we weren't going anywhere.

As said the only thing to worry about is if you have to move but how often does that happen?
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If it was Arran I'm surprised they didn't have a few as well. Probably why they hung about so long. 🤣

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J agree that it is unlikely to happen with UK police.

However if it did and there are two of you in the MH how do the police decide who is in charge, unless you stupidly volunteer the information?
 
IRHP said:
If it was Arran I'm surprised they didn't have a few as well. Probably why they hung about so long. 🤣
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LOL! Yeah the Coppers there are pretty laid back to be fair. I remember us driving over North Uist years ago in a VW Camper and the Rozzers were coming the other way in a battered police car and they actually started waving at us. :D
 
How about if you'd had a few but needed to get a spare pairs of shoes out of your car boot which was parked on the road and you walked to the car and opened it using the car keys? Perhaps you are sitting in your garden, G&T in one hand, car keys in you pocket. You are undoubtedly 'in charge'

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I don't like drinking if I am driving the next day, so think it more than likely I would be in charge.
 
Think its common sense.

If can in hand, sat in drivers seat, keys in ignition - your nicked.

If blinds down, seats turned around, keys out of sight steadies down etc - your fine.

Anyway just drink Guinness 0.0 !!
 
As the sun sets;

Blinds drawn.
Vehicle safely parked up.
Ignition keys removed.
Change into dressing gown.
Sandals of Slippers on.
TV mast raised and TV on.
Drink poured.

A local policeman that I talked to said;

It was obvious to him that I had no intention to drive, however I was in charge of the vehicle.

He would not, personally, be the least bit interested and believed that none of his buddies would. He talked at length about residual alcohol the next morning and was happy with two interesting points!

One. If questioned, do not be lippy or claim any rights. The last thing you want is an aggrieved officer on your case.

That, to me is pretty obvious.

Two. It wouldn't happen in my case but I'd never given it a thought! It is highly probable that my presence and condition would be noted, possibly even circulated. During routine patrols, if my van was intransit during the evening, expect a pull. More to the point, if in the evening my van went absent, it would be noted, an my 'card would be marked for the future!'

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IRHP said:
Let them try to decide whether me or the wife is in charge. We can't both be. 🤣
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I'm the only driver on the insurance, as my wife wouldn't drive in Europe, and if I was incapacitated the breakdown service would have to get us home.
 
What if the person in charge wants to go for a walk? Does he/she need to name a replacement person? And can't go if everyone else has had some? Do all drunk people need to leave the car (current accommodation, in our case) if the driver gets sick and has to be taken to the hospital?

The whole idea of not being able to have some sounds weird from my location, never thought of this. Sure, while "wild camping" here and there it has come to mind more than few times what if some hooligans arrive and I can't go. But that's my problem then.
 
First time I came in contact with drinking on a public is when I drove into a Fiat 500 and wrote it off in Sainsbury's carpark, driver called Police and asked me have I been drinking, I said no , but what if I have ? He said you are in a Public place I can breatherlize you, I soon " ate humble pie" that's why if the Police suspect you are drink driving they can follow you to your house and breatherlize you on your property
 

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