Reporting someone who drives drunk - how does it work?

[wheresmybed]

I'm seriously considering reporting my DF. I know he consumes alcohol daily be it a couple of beers or much much more. He's a functioning alcoholic.
I have been told that he most likely drives with alcohol in his system a lot even if he isn't very drunk if that makes sense. I've seen empty and full cans in his car as well as half drunk cans dotted around his house in "hiding spots" . I once even found an empty full sized bottle of vodka in a cupboard in the spare room that wasn't there the day before.

Years ago he got banned as he was caught drink driving home from a house party with DM in the car with him.
A few weeks ago despite my DBros pleas and attempts at intervention he drove his car to the shop whilst being very drunk (about 5mins away on back roads) and backed it into the side of his house when he got back incurring some minor damage to his car.

I have his registration but he's self employed and I have no idea what his routine is, sometimes he might set off for a job at 8am whereas sometimes he lets people down and doesn't turn up at all, sometimes he might start work at 12 or sometimes finishes early or very late so I can't pinpoint him with any times or locations as he works in people's homes.

Also I feel very strange to be considering reporting my own DF and don't even know how I can do it without him finding out.

I’m sorry that you are in this position. I honestly don’t know how it works in terms of reporting him but you must find a way to do so. He’s a danger to everyone, including himself. Could you call the police for advice? Or perhaps a local alcoholic support group (not necessarily AA)?

I reported someone a good few years ago. I made the call to the police when he was about to leave the pub and police waited for him. Pulled him over and breathelised him and he was 3 x over the limit. They arrested him and bailed him until court. Was found guilty and banned for 3 years and had to dona course. I have no regrets in reporting him. He use to go for a drink after work and drink a few and drive home.

I reported someone quite recently who I knew was drunk out of his head and driving home.

I gave the police his registration, the exact area and the exact address he was driving to.

They said they'd 'put a call out in case any units happen to spot him out and about' but that was it.

They just didn't have the resources available to find him and tail him.

I have called the police on my ex partner for driving under the influence. I have no regrets - I can live with my ex and their family hating me ("I ruined their life", apparently...) but I could never live with myself not stopping them if they had hurt or killed somebody.

The police need to stop them whilst actually driving - not just sitting in the car stationary. When I made my call, my ex was sitting in the car drinking. I explained to the police that I was their partner, that I was very scared, and they were wonderful. They took the details, sent out an unmarked car nearby. When my ex drove off, they followed them and pulled them over.

So you will need to find a time when you know they are actively driving / will be driving and ideally have had more than a couple of drinks to be sure that when breathalysed they'll be over the limit.

You can explain to the police what your relationship is and that you want it to be kept anonymous. I would hope they will respect this. In my case, they were 100% behind me and very kind to me.

@BritInAus

I have called the police on my ex partner for driving under the influence. I have no regrets - I can live with my ex and their family hating me ("I ruined their life", apparently...) but I could never live with myself not stopping them if they had hurt or killed somebody.

The police need to stop them whilst actually driving - not just sitting in the car stationary. When I made my call, my ex was sitting in the car drinking. I explained to the police that I was their partner, that I was very scared, and they were wonderful. They took the details, sent out an unmarked car nearby. When my ex drove off, they followed them and pulled them over.

So you will need to find a time when you know they are actively driving / will be driving and ideally have had more than a couple of drinks to be sure that when breathalysed they'll be over the limit.

You can explain to the police what your relationship is and that you want it to be kept anonymous. I would hope they will respect this. In my case, they were 100% behind me and very kind to me.

That's not true. You can get some convicted of drink drinking for standing outside your vehicle with the keys... they only need to prove the intention!

The police need to stop them whilst actually driving - not just sitting in the car stationary.

Mad cow is correct @BritInAus. Offence of being in charge. Hence someone sleeping in their car on a public road when over the limit can still,be charged

They need to catch him actually driving. On occasion, intent can be proven but It's difficult. If someone is there in their car about to turn keys in the ignition, fair enough. If they're in the pub and their car is outside, nope.
When I was young I used to work in a club and customers often tried to buy you drinks. I'd asked the police about this(I work for them now!) And followed advice because sometimes I'd take advantage of the free booze but I'd sleep in my car. I used to put my keys in the glove compartment and sleep on the back seat. It would be clear that my intention was to sleep, not drive.
Not a great idea sure. But not a crime.

Even if they catch him at home and he's exicted his car, they're going to have a hard time with the courts charging him. Some things vary slightly with each force but generally, you'll need to learn a time he will be driving and tell them. If they have the time and resources they'll try catch him. A longer journey is best for this reason.

No worries - I stand corrected. When I called the police and advised where my ex was sat in the car, they said it would be best to 'get' them whilst driving rather than just in the car (perhaps a more serious offence?) I am not in the UK, perhaps that makes a difference.

I did this once at work when someone who had been drinking on duty got caught and drove off. Called the police, they went to her home waited there and arrested her.

Maybe just giving his licence number would work. They can look out for it.

That's tricky but you are doing the right thing. If you report him will they/can they put a marker in his car? Is that possible for a suspected drink driver?

If you report via 101 or via anonymous crimestoppers the police can put a marker on the car so when spotted by local officers they can pull it over for a "routine check" and if they smell intoxicants or if the driver had been driving poorly they can request the breath test. Please do it as they may end up killing not just themselves.

Thank you for the replies.

As I mentioned in my OP I am unable to find out when he drink drives. I live a bit of a distance away and only see him once a week or sometimes every 2-3 weeks and don't really have much contact with him besides that. It's not as if he goes to the pub, he drinks alone, either at home or just going about his day at places of work (he's unsupervised as he's his own boss and his clients are not usually around) so he could even be drinking in between jobs in the middle of the day on a very bad day.

He has called me in the past telling me he's driving to get something for work and he was clearly drunk but I couldn't confirm he was 100% driving or just telling me he is so I didn't think he was blowing off work and I couldn't pin point his location.

I just don't know if it will bring anything...
And also feel very conflicted as he cant do his job if he lost his licence...

I understand, OP. But he could kill himself or others if he keeps his licence and continues to drink drive...