Alcohol

zeroseven

Is it legal to ride a bicycle when over the alcohol limit?

supersonic

Yes. But it is illegal not to be in control of your bike and ride dangerously. So if you are drunk and crash into a skip infront a cop, he'll do you.

I think that is right anyway!

CraigXXL

Be careful with this one. A mate of mine lost his licence when he failed a breath test, no accident but he was weaving around on the road.

Nick Dastardly

Yes, but your mate was clearly not on a bike, as there's no license to lose.

chatman

If your court on a bike whilst under the influence of alcohol you will be fined/procecuted...

Just dont spill any :? :? and mind those sleeping policemen :P :P

carlosthejackal

Yes please?

Sorry, have I got the question wrong again?

Actually, I'm on the wagon for the next few weeks. Giving the old liver a break before we have a couple of (bike-free) weeks on the Costa del Sol. Looking forward to some nice weather after the shit we've had to put up with this summer. And back on topic, as far as I'm aware, being intoxicated while in charge of a pedal cycle on the highway is a fineable offence.

zeroseven

I understand if you're not in control.... then OBVIOUSLY you're going to get nicked. I'm really referring to being technically over or rider the morning after when you're almost certainly over the limit but quite capable of riding.

Is there an alcohol limit for riding a bike?

switchback18

I have heard of people losing licences for being done on a bike - don't know if I'm imagining it though. Like you can get done for speeding on a push bike, and I have a feeling that if you have a licence they can give you points. I'm sure someone can be bothered to look this up somewhere...

supersonic

I have been told off for speeding on a bike!

chatman

Nop the alcohol limit is the key.... just because the morning after you may be brilliant and feel great but you still have the alcohol levels in your blood and that's what they procecute you on....

Just take the coppers on a chase down a nice knarly dirt track :P :P :P :P :P

CraigXXL

Nick Dastardly wrote:

Yes, but your mate was clearly not on a bike, as there's no license to lose.

Problem was he was on a bike, he was a squaddie and prosecuted under civil law not military. Simply answer just don't do it be it in a car or on a bike, if you cause an accident and someone dies as a result you should be prosecuted for murder not manslaughter IMHO.

switchback18

It depends how the accident is caused - if it's totally avoidable, fair enough, but if it is just an accident, murder is totally over the top.

On a lighter note, I'd love to set off a speed camera on a MTB. Just to imagine them wondering what to do about it!

carlosthejackal

zeroseven wrote:

I'm really referring to being technically over or rider the morning after when you're almost certainly over the limit but quite capable of riding.

Regardless, you're over the limit and you will be prosecuted if you're still over the morning after. They have campaigns to catch those still wrecked in the morning around Christmas. I'm guilty of doing it myself. Last Boxing Day I drove to work in the morning after 3 bottles of Rioja the day before and I didn't actually sober up until lunchtime. I'm not proud and it certainly wasn't clever. If I'd been stopped it would've been goodbye job, but despite it being a looong time after I'd stopped drinking, I was still wankered. It wasn't an easy shift, I can tell you...

zeroseven wrote:

Is there an alcohol limit for riding a bike?

Yup. Same as a car.

CraigXXL

It's just not worth it, why risk it?

carlosthejackal

I didn't think I was drunk on Christmas Day. I was in bed for 2200hrs and felt fine. Just tired. Woke up at 6am, felt fine. Drove to work (had to go, I was in charge), and it was only when I got there I realised I wasn't right. Developed a hangover at about 1400hrs. Weird. And you're right, it really isn't worth it. It could've ruined my career. I wish I'd not mentioned it to be honest, I'm feeling a bit embarrassed now. Which isn't like me.

zeroseven

carlosthejackal wrote:

[

Yup. Same as a car.

So why not a runner or a pedestrian?

red eye

zeroseven wrote:

carlosthejackal wrote:

[

Yup. Same as a car.

So why not a runner or a pedestrian?

you dont get points if your on foot...but you do get a £80 fine if you bump into a lampost

carlosthejackal

zeroseven wrote:

carlosthejackal wrote:

[

Yup. Same as a car.

So why not a runner or a pedestrian?

D&D will get you a night in the cells and a fine.

milese

Blimey.

I've got a mate that lives a mile down the road, whenever I go down his for a drinking session I always take the bike because its damn site quicker than walking and I thought legal!

Anonymous

You can't lose your driving licence for being drunk on a pushbike, surely?

carlosthejackal

http://www.criminal-solicitors.com/bicycles.htm

Anonymous

So, that mentions nothing about losing licences! we're all safe!

carlosthejackal

yeehaamcgee wrote:

So, that mentions nothing about losing licences! we're all safe!

You're ok with a month in jail then? :shock:

Anonymous

No, but I could sort of understand that if I'd caused serious harm, whereas taking away my licence for something unrelated would be insanity.

carlosthejackal

Insanity. That's an appropriate description of British society and contemporary judicial common sense...

Anonymous

true enough, I suppose.

CraigXXL

The lad I mentioned earlier wasn't charged with been drunk in charge of a cycle but prosecuted under drunk in charge of a carriage despite riding a bike :shock:

Apparantly he shot himself in the foot by insisting that he be given a breath test which they used to prosecute him. This is all being passed to me 2nd hand so the exact terms may not be correct but the 100% fact is that he lost his licence, passed over for promotion and basically ruined his career.

switchback18

yeh, I'd heard something similar, but it was so long ago, couldn't remember properly. I reckon if your mate had a decent solicitor, they surely would've had an argument. Seems like the authorities get away with stuff just beacause people don't know any better sometimes.

CraigXXL

I think it's more of a case that we have so many laws not to mention bylaws that cross over. Some they have got rid off to make the law easier to understand the others have probably been left on purpose as a plan B prosecution.

carlosthejackal

Bylaws. Interesting. There's some bizarre ones around the country that have never been repealed. Where I live, it's illegal for postmen to whistle. And it's illegal to hang your washing out on a Sunday. And in York, you're allowed to shoot Scotsmen of they're found within the city walls after dark. With your bow and arrow. Seriously.

dave_hill

carlosthejackal wrote:

zeroseven wrote:

Yup. Same as a car.

Not true.

Drunk in charge of a pedal cycle is the only charge which can be brought which directly relates to a bike.

There is no breath- or blood-alcohol level which applies. It is down to the descretion of the arresting officer.

I once got pulled for this when I was about 19 (and I'm not proud of it). Luckily, I wasn't so bladdered that I made a complete arse of myself, but the copper who pulled me gave me a lecture, issued me with a caution, then very kindly put my bike in his car and ran me home. I had to pay a £30 fine.

I could have been a lot worse - if I had been totally trolleyed, I could have expected a night in the cells and most likely an appearance at the Magistrates court.