Brad W
En-Route
I'm fuzzy on the whole breathalyzer/DUI thing when it comes to FAA considerations especially, but also just generally/criminally....
What are we required to do, and what should we refuse?
I don't drink much, only just very rarely...and only when I'm not driving. I'm pretty clean about not drinking anything when I'm out and about. I just don't drink at all if I'm going to be driving...ever. I have in the past had a beer....maybe one (1).... while out boating, but that is very rare as in like less than 1x a year. Now I'm second-guessing even that.
Because I barely ever drink, I've never really paid all that much attention to DUI laws and how to handle this stuff. I think that I understand that per the FAA I can't refuse a breathalyzer if asked...but it seems that most civil guidance seems to be that the trunk portable ones anyway should be refused for legal considerations. Do I have that right?
But the question that came to mind to make this post is how to handle sobriety tests and law enforcement encounters in general. I thought I'd post here to get the perspective of aviators...
I was home sick last week, killing time on youtube, and got off on a sidetrack watching a few videos of game warden body cam footage and arrests. Since then of course youtube thinks I'm interested in that stuff so I've been seeing a lot more of them pop into my suggestions and I've watched a couple more, and a couple lawyer videos.
Now I understand that these videos are selected for drama and views, and they probably aren't representative of the average encounter
but
they do sort of paint the picture that law enforcement is trying to trick you at every turn.
Anyway, the root of my question is about these sobriety tests...
I'm watching these tests given to folks, mostly while out boating.... sometimes given to folks that by what can be deduced through the screen anyway, are not impaired...and they can't pass them.
And some of them are so complex that I doubt I could pass them being stone-cold sober, well-rested, and completely on my A game. These verbal complicated multistep tests given verbally along with a very short demonstration that one is expected to memorize.
It's like a new VFR pilot being asked to copy an IFR clearance read very quickly, and without a kneeboard or any way to make notes. They'd have no idea what info is coming or in what order, and then be expected to read it back perfectly.
and it seems that some of these tests require a level of hand-eye coordination and balance that many folks... especially older folks, just don't have...AND that are absolutely not required to drive a car safely. They really do seem like a crooked trap.
Even if stone cold sober, well rested, not sick with a cold or alergies, and well fed...it seems like it puts folks between a rock and a hard place
So it seems from my 45 minutes' worth of youtube university education, that generally it's better to refuse taking these test so that the police can't use the info to build a case of probable cause.
But
From the FAA perspective especially, what is a pilot to do if pulled over for a tailight out or whatever minor infraction, and it escalates
What are we required to do, and what should we refuse?
I don't drink much, only just very rarely...and only when I'm not driving. I'm pretty clean about not drinking anything when I'm out and about. I just don't drink at all if I'm going to be driving...ever. I have in the past had a beer....maybe one (1).... while out boating, but that is very rare as in like less than 1x a year. Now I'm second-guessing even that.
Because I barely ever drink, I've never really paid all that much attention to DUI laws and how to handle this stuff. I think that I understand that per the FAA I can't refuse a breathalyzer if asked...but it seems that most civil guidance seems to be that the trunk portable ones anyway should be refused for legal considerations. Do I have that right?
But the question that came to mind to make this post is how to handle sobriety tests and law enforcement encounters in general. I thought I'd post here to get the perspective of aviators...
I was home sick last week, killing time on youtube, and got off on a sidetrack watching a few videos of game warden body cam footage and arrests. Since then of course youtube thinks I'm interested in that stuff so I've been seeing a lot more of them pop into my suggestions and I've watched a couple more, and a couple lawyer videos.
Now I understand that these videos are selected for drama and views, and they probably aren't representative of the average encounter
but
they do sort of paint the picture that law enforcement is trying to trick you at every turn.
Anyway, the root of my question is about these sobriety tests...
I'm watching these tests given to folks, mostly while out boating.... sometimes given to folks that by what can be deduced through the screen anyway, are not impaired...and they can't pass them.
And some of them are so complex that I doubt I could pass them being stone-cold sober, well-rested, and completely on my A game. These verbal complicated multistep tests given verbally along with a very short demonstration that one is expected to memorize.
It's like a new VFR pilot being asked to copy an IFR clearance read very quickly, and without a kneeboard or any way to make notes. They'd have no idea what info is coming or in what order, and then be expected to read it back perfectly.
and it seems that some of these tests require a level of hand-eye coordination and balance that many folks... especially older folks, just don't have...AND that are absolutely not required to drive a car safely. They really do seem like a crooked trap.
Even if stone cold sober, well rested, not sick with a cold or alergies, and well fed...it seems like it puts folks between a rock and a hard place
So it seems from my 45 minutes' worth of youtube university education, that generally it's better to refuse taking these test so that the police can't use the info to build a case of probable cause.
But
From the FAA perspective especially, what is a pilot to do if pulled over for a tailight out or whatever minor infraction, and it escalates
