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AIBU?

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Original poster

Was I BU to call 101

32 replies

NC6745 · 31/01/2026 22:44

I was going back to my car in a shopping centre car park and walked past a man in the driver’s seat smoking a joint. His partner (I guess) was loading a pram in their boot and there were happy meals on the roof so I made the assumption that there were kids in the car. He then drove away. I called 101 with their reg.

I obviously won’t ever know the outcome but was I U for reporting them? If he wasn’t driving kids I don’t know if I would have had the guts. Am I also U for feeling a bit guilty if the police did act on it? I’m guessing he would loose his licence?

OP posts:
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Original poster
NC6745 · 02/02/2026 10:30

Nearly50omg · 02/02/2026 10:26

You were being unreasonable to call 101 - you should have called 999 as someone smoking drugs and then driving off is an emergency to be stopped not a non emergency response - next time call 999 and if in doubt call 999 we would rather you always did as that then will get immediate response and priority

Hmm I don’t know, they answered pretty quickly and informed whoever they needed to inform. I wasn’t following the car, I didn’t know where they went so it’s not like the crime was taking place right in front of me. The call handler was very much asking the right questions and said she put out a request on cameras so I don’t see what 999 would have done differently. 101 have the ability to dispatch a patrol just as much 111 has the ability to send out an ambulance if they feel it’s needed.

OP posts:
Nearly50omg · 02/02/2026 10:26

You were being unreasonable to call 101 - you should have called 999 as someone smoking drugs and then driving off is an emergency to be stopped not a non emergency response - next time call 999 and if in doubt call 999 we would rather you always did as that then will get immediate response and priority

JanuaryJasmine · 02/02/2026 10:23

Imbusytodaysorry · 31/01/2026 23:46

In Scotland it’s illegal to smoke with kids in the car and can be reported. never mind without it being a drug.

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Well that's great, but also irrelevant as he was smoking weed. I'm sure the OP can tell the difference between the smell of a cigarette & the smell of weed.

not to mention she's not in Scotland!

Original poster
NC6745 · 01/02/2026 09:27

Lambington · 01/02/2026 09:14

Dont worry OP. Police wont act on an unsubstantiated report like that. It will be logged though so if the vehicle reg comes up in connection with another incident they will be able to see there is a history.

That’s helpful thanks 🙏🏻

OP posts:
CinnamonBuns67 · 01/02/2026 09:22

Yanbu. You did the right thing reporting it OP the person will be driving under the influence of drugs and exposing children to drug use.

Lambington · 01/02/2026 09:14

Dont worry OP. Police wont act on an unsubstantiated report like that. It will be logged though so if the vehicle reg comes up in connection with another incident they will be able to see there is a history.

JMSA · 01/02/2026 02:55

YANBU, OP. You did the right thing.

And ignore the weird ‘AIBU’ police 🙄

Poetnojo · 31/01/2026 23:58

Fulmine · 31/01/2026 23:39

I don't really understand why you couldn't see whether there were children in the car, as you seem to have had a long time to observe them?

How long do you think it would take to realise someone is smoking a joint? Literally a second or 2! Also a lot of cars have tinted back windows and or kids window blinds on the back, they also tend to be smaller than adults so harder to spot 😂 I think the fact that the woman was folding a pram is also a bit of a giveaway 🤔

Rizzz · 31/01/2026 23:53

Imbusytodaysorry · 31/01/2026 23:46

In Scotland it’s illegal to smoke with kids in the car and can be reported. never mind without it being a drug.

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It is in England too.

Imbusytodaysorry · 31/01/2026 23:46

JanuaryJasmine · 31/01/2026 23:04

Their problem not yours.

Why does it matter if they had kids in their car or not? Either he's safe to be driving on OUR roads or he's not💁🏻‍♀️

Show quote history

In Scotland it’s illegal to smoke with kids in the car and can be reported. never mind without it being a drug.

Original poster
NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:44

Fulmine · 31/01/2026 23:39

I don't really understand why you couldn't see whether there were children in the car, as you seem to have had a long time to observe them?

I didn’t exactly go right up to them. I walked past to my own car, looked at the man smoking then watched a woman folding away a double pram + 2 happy meals on the roof as I was loading
my own car - those were enough of a giveaway - I didn’t feel the need to stop and take a good look (and probably get in to a back and forth for obviously staring)

OP posts:
Fulmine · 31/01/2026 23:39

I don't really understand why you couldn't see whether there were children in the car, as you seem to have had a long time to observe them?

Poetnojo · 31/01/2026 23:37

NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:22

They seemed pretty on it on the phone, got up the car details quickly, spoke about possible routes he could have taken and mentioned cameras on the A roads. Either they take it seriously, or maybe something else flagged on him. Guess I’ll never know

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That sounds positive, hope they got him.

Original poster
NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:22

Poetnojo · 31/01/2026 23:17

I've done similar recently and don't feel a single bit guilty about it. There were no kids in the car though that I could see but the scummy cunt was using public roads where he could cause god only knows what kind of damage to any other road users. I hope the call was acted on and that he was caught in both cases.

They seemed pretty on it on the phone, got up the car details quickly, spoke about possible routes he could have taken and mentioned cameras on the A roads. Either they take it seriously, or maybe something else flagged on him. Guess I’ll never know

OP posts:
Poetnojo · 31/01/2026 23:17

I've done similar recently and don't feel a single bit guilty about it. There were no kids in the car though that I could see but the scummy cunt was using public roads where he could cause god only knows what kind of damage to any other road users. I hope the call was acted on and that he was caught in both cases.

mydudero · 31/01/2026 23:13

Isn’t just about every AIBU ‘wide-eyed’ then as the majority clearly wouldn’t post if they genuinely believed they were BU and expecting a flagging. I can see why OP is torn here, when you take into account any possible repercussions on the whole family unit of them reporting his actions, and simply looking for an outside perspective.

Original poster
NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:13

pizzaHeart · 31/01/2026 23:10

@NC6745@MirrorMirror1247
Thank you, I was genuinely curious.
I would of course notice that there was a smell but I would never connect it to cannabis or anything similar. I have no experience at all (not that I’m complaining 🤣) I’ve asked DH and he’s the same.
We both clearly lived sheltered life.

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Ah no, London here. It’s a pretty normal thing around here. Probably another reason I thought I’d be unreasonable as it’s not really scrutinised in public around here.

OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 31/01/2026 23:10

NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:02

I had to walk past the car directly and the smell was really strong + the smoke came directly from his door

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@NC6745@MirrorMirror1247
Thank you, I was genuinely curious.
I would of course notice that there was a smell but I would never connect it to cannabis or anything similar. I have no experience at all (not that I’m complaining 🤣) I’ve asked DH and he’s the same.
We both clearly lived sheltered life.

JanuaryJasmine · 31/01/2026 23:04

NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:02

Not directly. I’ve been feeling (maybe unreasonably) guilty about it - what if he’s the only one that drives, what if it makes it complicated for her as she’s dependent on him. Suppose she could have told him not to in the first place

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Their problem not yours.

Why does it matter if they had kids in their car or not? Either he's safe to be driving on OUR roads or he's not💁🏻‍♀️

Original poster
NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:02

pizzaHeart · 31/01/2026 22:59

I don’t think you’re unreasonable as I’m strongly in the camp better safe than sorry and I care about little children.
However I was amazed that you knew what he was smoking - I would have no idea especially from the distance.

I had to walk past the car directly and the smell was really strong + the smoke came directly from his door

OP posts:
Original poster
NC6745 · 31/01/2026 23:02

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 31/01/2026 22:58

So you just posted because you fancied a bit of flagellation of a Saturday night?

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Not directly. I’ve been feeling (maybe unreasonably) guilty about it - what if he’s the only one that drives, what if it makes it complicated for her as she’s dependent on him. Suppose she could have told him not to in the first place

OP posts:
MirrorMirror1247 · 31/01/2026 23:02

pizzaHeart · 31/01/2026 22:59

I don’t think you’re unreasonable as I’m strongly in the camp better safe than sorry and I care about little children.
However I was amazed that you knew what he was smoking - I would have no idea especially from the distance.

I'm guessing she could smell it if she walked past the car, it's quite a distinctive smell.

Rizzz · 31/01/2026 22:59

explanationplease · 31/01/2026 22:57

I think 95% of AIBU is wide eyed “AIBU”. This one, if anything, less so.

Nah I'd say this one is bang on the 'wide-eyed' average.

Either way, all the OP needed to do was start a thread in chat if she wanted to discuss it.

There is no 'AIBU' about it.

pizzaHeart · 31/01/2026 22:59

I don’t think you’re unreasonable as I’m strongly in the camp better safe than sorry and I care about little children.
However I was amazed that you knew what he was smoking - I would have no idea especially from the distance.

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 31/01/2026 22:58

NC6745 · 31/01/2026 22:51

Tbh I was expecting to be flamed and told to mind my own.

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So you just posted because you fancied a bit of flagellation of a Saturday night?

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