Here's a controversial topic... a taboo in the making.
Allow me to explain this dilemma.
If a person is caught drinking excessive alcohol and is stopped whilst in charge of a vehicle they will be prosecuted and have their license taken from them for a while. OK I think most of us agree that that is the right action to take?
Now if that person continues to abuse the this situation and drinks excessively and drives home they should have their vehicle taken from them to prevent this from happening and they will most likely face yet a longer ban or imprisonment... I'm pretty sure you'll agree with that statement as well?
What if this person is actually in need of that vehicle?
I was out the other day and witnessed a man in an electric invalid cart. I remembered that I seen him once before. This time he was in a local pub and was clearly unable to walk because of his disability. However, he was also very drunk indeed. In fact he was asked to leave the pub and after a short burst of abuse he drove off up the high street. I remembered when I saw him last. It was about a year ago late at night in St Clare Street. He was lying on his side in a up turned cart drunk.
As far as I know its illegal to be drunk in charge of any vehicle... but here are the dilemmas:
1 He clearly needs this vehicle to complete day to day tasks and taking it from him would violate his right of free movement.
2 Most of these electric carts do not fall under and legislation and therefore has no licensing... In other words he has no licence to take away from him.
Allow me to explain this dilemma.
If a person is caught drinking excessive alcohol and is stopped whilst in charge of a vehicle they will be prosecuted and have their license taken from them for a while. OK I think most of us agree that that is the right action to take?
Now if that person continues to abuse the this situation and drinks excessively and drives home they should have their vehicle taken from them to prevent this from happening and they will most likely face yet a longer ban or imprisonment... I'm pretty sure you'll agree with that statement as well?
What if this person is actually in need of that vehicle?
I was out the other day and witnessed a man in an electric invalid cart. I remembered that I seen him once before. This time he was in a local pub and was clearly unable to walk because of his disability. However, he was also very drunk indeed. In fact he was asked to leave the pub and after a short burst of abuse he drove off up the high street. I remembered when I saw him last. It was about a year ago late at night in St Clare Street. He was lying on his side in a up turned cart drunk.
As far as I know its illegal to be drunk in charge of any vehicle... but here are the dilemmas:
1 He clearly needs this vehicle to complete day to day tasks and taking it from him would violate his right of free movement.
2 Most of these electric carts do not fall under and legislation and therefore has no licensing... In other words he has no licence to take away from him.