AIBU to get involved - banned from driving

[TwuntyFriend]

NC for this. It's more of a WWYD.

My friend has had a problem with alcohol for years. She drinks a lot. A few months ago she was pulled over and was found to be over the limit. She was rightly prosecuted, and recently received a 9 month ban.

She needs to be able to drive for her work (carer). She has decided to not tell her work and continue driving as if the ban didn't happen. I have told her this is a stupid idea and utterly reckless, but she's not listening to me and thinks the chances of her getting found out are slim.

The liklihood of her losing her job are high if they know about the ban. She is continuing to drive her small children around as well as for work.

I had hoped that this incident would have been the kick up the arse she needed to get help for the drinking and sort her life out - apparently not.

What on earth do I do? Say something? Keep schtum? I'm out of ideas.

Does she still drink?

You would be unreasonable if you know she's driving and DON'T report it, imo

If you give details to the police, and let them know when she leaves home etc, she will be on their radar as a disc driver and they’ll catch her driving

I don't think I would report her for violating the driving ban, but if she is driving whilst under the influence that would make me really quite concerned.

I think in this situation I would be inclined to call 101 for some guidance as to what your options are.

Report her to her work
Her work can quite easily check her licence
They just need her licence number and NI number
They can check it on line and the points and disqualification will show

Given she has a problem with alcohol and has not stopped drinking, this will not be the only time she's driven or will drive whilst drunk, just the first time she's been caught.

Do you know what school her children go to? You could report it to them as a safeguarding concern.

Presumably there is a news article somewhere about her conviction.

You could phone anonymously and tell them where the article is, and that you have seen her driving her kids.

My initial thoughts were to turn her in, but I didn't want to be the one who lost her her job and potentially 'ruined' her life

She's ruining her own life by doing this.

Anyway if she continues to drink drive she could ruin not only her own life but she could kill or seriously injure someone or even have an accident with her own children in the car.

I think I'd have to report this.

Better to report her than allow her to continue potentially drink driving and killing someone. That will weigh far more heavily on your conscience.

@MadeForThis

I would report drink driving. I'm not sure I would report breaking her driving ban.

I think they are as bad as each other. As it is, people are allowed to continue driving with more than 12 points on their licence which is completely ludicrous.

If you need to be able to drive for work or care purposes, you don't drink alcohol and drive! And though not relevant in this case, you don't build up points, either. Once you have 3 points you make sure you don't get anymore.

Has she shown remorse, changed her life, quit drinking?
If no, report her to the police.

Regardless of the amount of remorse shown she is still unlicensed, uninsured and shouldn't be on the road.

Yes report her to the police. They will send cars out when they know she is driving to school/work etc. You don’t need to tell anyone else like school/work. Just the police and she’ll be caught and it won’t come back to you.
You are not ruining her life or losing her her job, she is doing that.

I think you have to report her. Call 101 and tell them she's driving whilst banned, and give her reg, address, and times/places she's likely to be driving (like the school run)

Imagine she hurt someone - maybe one of her kids - driving drunk. You'd never forgive yourself if you hadn't done everything you could to prevent it.

If she's an alcoholic it's very very likely she's over the limit, even if she seems to be functioning OK. She's also likely impaired when she's at work, doing meds or care.

Stay out of it. No one likes a grass.

Tell her that:-

1. the first time she passes a speed camera or police vehicle after dvla records have been updated it will ping up that the car is owned / insured by a banned driver and the police will actively look for her.
2. Driving whilst disqualified straight after being banned is a likely prison sentence.

Yes, report. This isn't about spite or anything like that, it's about a dangerous and illegal driver.

Ok, does anybody know if Drink Driving cases are heard in the magistrates court or crown court? I'm trying to find their hearing listing.

@Wreath21

Stay out of it. No one likes a grass.

I do. I like anyone who keeps drunk drivers off the roads.

And, yes 9 months sounds about right with a low reading, sympathy for a job and kids, plus reduction with the drink drivers course.

It will go up significantly next time....

@Wreath21

Stay out of it. No one likes a grass.

Far more people "don't like" uninsured drivers who have probably been drinking.

She's utterly stupid to think she won't get caught. Hasn't she heard of Automatic Number Plate recognition?

You haven't ruined her life. She has. You need to report her you really so. She works with the vulnerable. This is a clear safeguarding issue. Report. Report. Report.

A family members was crown court. Three times over the limit.

The consequences of this are really scary. On the one hand, there is the obvious danger she presents to everyone she encounters on the road, and to her children; on the other, if she is caught she is committing the offences of driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance - which potentially attract a custodial sentence. If, on top of that, she's caught again driving whilst drunk, or is guilty of careless or dangerous driving, prison is virtually certain.