Did I do the right thing? Called 911 on a drunk driver

[rlitman]

Originally Posted by ZRX61

When seconds count, the Police are just minutes away...

Years ago I made a call like this, and the dispatcher pretty much blew me off, saying there was nothing they could do about it. Man was I peeved.

In the first few months of this year, there were over a dozen drunk drivers in wrong-way accidents on divided highways around here. When that made the papers, the police have become a little more receptive to these kinds of calls.

[Brownsfan]

I did the same thing once. I was at a gas station pumping gas. This lady pulls in and proceeds to smash into the air pump in front of the building. She FALLS out of the car wearing just a t-shirt and under wear(not a pleasent site at all). The store owner comes out and sees there is no damage and walks back in. I called the police and they had her pulled over as she pulled out after going in to buy a 12 pack. She was HAMMERED, could barely stand and walk let alone drive. I did have second thoughts because I may have just ruined someones life at least for a couple years but I may have saved her life or someone else. So you did the right thibg and so did I.

[cooliorz]

You absolutely did the right thing. Thank you.

[superman09]

Yes you absolutely did the right thing. Always call those things in if you get blown off call back if you called nonemergency and get blown off call 911. Dont worry about ruining someone's life think about the grief you are saving them when the kill or seriously injure someone.

Sent from my campfire using smoke signals

[SIDECAR BOB]

you did the right thing, although she did turn out to be a drunk, sometimes it can be a medical issue also and again you save other people and maybe the driver too , no matter if drunk or a diabetic calling in was the right choice

[Ryf]

Originally Posted by Brownsfan

.... I did have second thoughts because I may have just ruined someones life .....

tsk tsk... there you go taking responsibility for someone elses behavior lol, if she weren't drunk driving you wouldn't have needed to call. I am a fan of calling in complaints, and police. the only person(s) who WOULD blame you for doing it are the ones who drive drunk/high, and who cares what they think lol.

I look at calling it in this way. maybe you just helped them hit the bottom softly, instead of with prison with a manslaughter/vehicular homicide charge.

I think in some states if you let someone leave your home and drive drunk and dont report it, you can be held partially responsible for releasing them onto the world.

[HaroRider]

Hmm, she never got caught?

[Jarhead0408]

You did the right thing absolutely

Two of my own stories for you.

About two weeks ago I called in on a punk teenager driving a BEAT up late 80's Honda.
I was towing a trailer going up a hill at the posted speed limit, 55mph, With a mega cab Dodge pickup about 200 ft behind me. I glanced back at the Dodge and did a double take, the Honda came flying out from behind the truck and proceeded to pass both of us while on solid double yellow lines, no dots. Had to be going 80 plus. This is on a blind hill. Sure enough someone crested the hill, he almost hit the guy. He was to far ahead for me to be in danger but he almost hit the other guy. Less than 2 miles down the road he pulled into a gas station.
I confronted him. At 1st he denied it was him then when I told him I was calling the Cops he got real nervous and eventually took off. Don't know if the Troopers got him or not but at least they got a heads up.


I run a Coca-Cola route here in NC. 4 months ago my buddy who is a Pepsi routeman came out of a stop and was jumped by two guys, one from the front and the other from the back. They tried to get the money but he flipped the tables on them. He spun around and swung the handtruck at the guy behind him, hit the guy in the leg and the blade cut him wide open from knee to ankle! Turned around and shoved the other guy away. They both got away though. My buddy goes back into the store and the owner says he had seen the whole thing happen. But, he refuses to call the Cops. Found out why a few days later. The guy gets a cut off of all the drug deals that go on at night in his lot.
The local PD told me THEY have been kicked off his lot 3 times. He didn't want them to scare off his local customers/dealers.

[jtbinvalrico]

Could be that the LEO you saw was on a different frequency than the zone units would have been on.....so something could go down and they might not even hear it on the radio because they are monitoring a different freq. The scan function can help, but scanning more than two with heavy traffic is impractical.

[KnightFire]

I'm very much a live and let live, mind your own damned business kind of guy...UNTIL your actions may result in the injury of others.

Job well done. Bravo Zulu.

[rrudd2]

You absolutely did the right thing. For all of the reasons listed in the posts before mine. Thank you!!!

[djkeev]

Originally Posted by jtbinvalrico

Could be that the LEO you saw was on a different frequency than the zone units would have been on.....so something could go down and they might not even hear it on the radio because they are monitoring a different freq. The scan function can help, but scanning more than two with heavy traffic is impractical.

Or they were too busy chatting with their wife on the cell phone? cops can use handhelds without penalty, but we "normal" people get tickets for it!

I too have called in Drunks as well as aggressive drivers. I once called in a propane truck driving crazy and running red lights! Also called the company with the location and truck number.

Dave

[Big-Foot]

Good job!!!!

I wonder if you could have made a citizen's arrest?

[bazzateer]

Originally Posted by djkeev

Or they were too busy chatting with their wife on the cell phone?

Or even yours? They could also have been doing any number of other things, both legitimate and illegitimate, which may have meant they were not aware of the call. I love they way some people immediately try to blame the Police or imply they're at fault when they clearly have no idea about what has occurred. Armchair lawyers, gotta love 'em!


Clearly the OP did the right thing.

[jhelrey]

I'll give you the LEO perspective on this.

Called dials in and says I am behind a possible drunk heading Eastbound on I-90 at mile marker 458. Dispatch gets vehicle description and a 10-28 (plate). Tells the caller to hold.

Dispatches LEO. LEO are either not in the area, on another call, eating lunch, etc. You know by the time you get that way, they are in the next City/County. You have dispatch relay the message to the next LEO. Or, you are on a traffic stop or a much larger case with other officers and cannot leave for a "possible drunk."

When I call in for a possible drunk I advise them I am an ex police officer and I give them all info and say I will continue to follow. I always get an officer to respond.

I called on 2 ladies heading NB/W on 94 just entering Maple Grove. Lady in front seat was holding an infant in her lap. I advised dispatch and stated I was not going to follow as the next exit is 5 miles up and there is no where for them to go. I am sure they had Patrol or Local PD waiting as the PD is right off of the Highway.

[CHILACO]

Definetly did the right thing, it is unfortunate that the cops did not show up.

Here is a joke on that:

A single woman is sleeping and hears noises, looks thru the window and sees two guys trying to break into her house. She calls 911; I am a single woman, I live on Street 123 and there are two guys trying to break into my house! They state they will send someone over as she quietly hides in her closet. After 25 minutes waiting for the cops to show up, she calls 911 again. I just called about two guys trying to break into my house……They interrupt her and state: Yes, we know, we do all we can! And she goes back: Never mind I just splattered their brains in my living room…………call forensics. Cops showed up in 1 minute!

[Toolhorder]

I've called a couple times before and always get attitude from the dispatcher so no more calling from me.

[Toolhorder]

Originally Posted by CHILACO

Definetly did the right thing, it is unfortunate that the cops did not show up.

Here is a joke on that:

A single woman is sleeping and hears noises, looks thru the window and sees two guys trying to break into her house. She calls 911; I am a single woman, I live on Street 123 and there are two guys trying to break into my house! They state they will send someone over as she quietly hides in her closet. After 25 minutes waiting for the cops to show up, she calls 911 again. I just called about two guys trying to break into my house……They interrupt her and state: Yes, we know, we do all we can! And she goes back: Never mind I just splattered their brains in my living room…………call forensics. Cops showed up in 1 minute!

That's funny but probably closer to the truth than you think. When I was a kid a skunk got into the backyard and our dog go into a little fight with it. It then went under the BBQ to hide. Mom calls dad frantic about it thinking it has rabies. Dad rushes home and calls animal control. They tell them they'll be out there soon. Time goes by and no animal control. He calls back and they tell him they're too busy to come by right now. Dad tells them he's getting his pistol out and he'll just shoot it. They tell him he'll be arrested for discharging a firearm in the city. Dad says he's killing it already it's a danger to the family and hangs up. Animal control calls back and says a guy will be there in 5 mins.
True story.

[BD1]

Yes, as all stated you did the right thing. Dumb broad wasn't clear headed
enough to realize you were trying to help and saving her thousands in DUI
cost not to mention may be saving her life or others.

[rsanter]

You did the right thing but should have gotten the store clerk or owner involved.
I believe it is illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is already in that state of intoxication.
The threat alone of getting in trouble may have made the store clerk come out and do something.
Further if it was a chain store I would notify the chain.

Bob