Cambridgeshire: 28 Arrested For Drink-Driving In 11 Days
11 December 2013, 17:44 | Updated: 11 December 2013, 17:49
28 people have been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving in Cambridgeshire since the start of December.
It comes as Heart has spent the morning with the Cambridgeshire Roads Policing Unit to experience what happens when a driver is pulled over, when a traffic officer becomes suspicious of a driver's behaviour.
This morning Heart reporter Warren Lee took part in a demonstration to find out what it's like to be stopped if he'd been drinking too much.
He of course hadn't been in real life!
In the demo, a police officer stopped the reporter and asked him questions including whether he'd been drinking this morning or recently.
He was then asked to take part in a road-side breathalyser.
On the initial evidence provided by the mobile device, our man was then hand-cuffed and taken the police station.
There he was booked by the custody sergeant after "failing" the breath-test on a evidential standard machine.
That meant having to spent time in the police cells ahead of an appearance before the magistrates, where he faced losing his licence, and consequently losing his job and a break-up in his family life, all for being over the limit.
Our reporter Warren Lee said: "Even though this was a demonstration, and even though I knew I hadn't been drinking, having to be told to blow into a breathalyser was a nerve-wracking experience.
But it was only physically when I felt the hand-cuffs go on and had my car-keys taken away, did I realise the potential seriousness of it all.
I was then "booked-in" by the custody sergeant after a secondary breath test.
Having to go into a police cell, with the door slamming behind you sends shivers down your spine.
I could imagine if I had been drinking and this was for real, it would literally have been a sobering experience".
People can now use a confidential hotline to report drink drivers and those under the influence of drugs.
Using the 0800 032 0845 number, which is available 24/7, allows people to supply police with information about drink drivers.
When calling the number people will be asked to provide as much information as possible about the driver, including:
Name of the driver.
Make, colour and index number of the vehicle.
Drink driving - The Law
What can happen if you are caught driving under the influence?
A maximum of six months imprisonment.
A fine of up to £5000.
Loss of your licence for a minimum of one year.
A criminal record.
Drink driving - The Limits
The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and 107 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine.
It is impossible to calculate exactly how much a person can drink before being over the limit as it depends on the individual.
The safest thing to do is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive.