Diabetics and Drunk drivers.

[Rob43]

Hi, Has anyone ever been pulled over for acting like a drunk driver because of their blood sugar getting to low? The police has told me they are trained to know if a person is drunk or a diabetic.


Thanks, Rob43

[zookeeper671]

I've never been stopped for driving while intoxicated (just don't do it) or for driving while hypo, but I have been pulled over for driving while too sleepy (they thought I was intoxicated).

Getting pulled over by an officer and having to take a breathalizer test is the best "No Doz" ever! I was WIDE awake for the rest of my drive home.

Angie

[WiseWords]

Originally posted by Rob43
Hi, Has anyone ever been pulled over for acting like a drunk driver
because of their blood sugar getting too low?
There was a Congressman in the news recently,
who tried to use the diabetes excuse.
It didn't work.
Originally posted by Rob43 The police has told me they are trained to know
if a person is drunk or a diabetic.
Thanks, Rob43
Most of them don't know **** about the wide variety of
symptoms associated with low blood sugars.
But, what else would you expect them to say?

It is up to the person with diabetes to check themselves
when necessary.
There is really no excuse to be driving with a low BG.

However, if you were actually drunk,
you might be able to get out of it with a good lawyer,
if you refused any tests.
But, they would probably want to know why you didn't ask for
a BG test, and some sugar, if you were low?

Best bet is not to drive when drinking or when low,
not even for a short distance.
If you wanted to make a legal case out of it,
if you were stopped when low, and accused of DUI,
you would need to have them call their paramedics
to do a BG with their meter, or take you to a hospital,
to get out of any ticket, if they gave you one.
Testing your blood by yourself, with your own meter,
even in front of them, would likely not hold up in court.
If you do not have a meter with you, and try to claim
being low when you go to court, refer to the case with the good congressman.
;)

[rzrbks]

WiseWords

you would need to have them call their paramedics to do a BG with their meter, or take you to a hospital,
to get out of any ticket,


Prolly be cheaper to just pay the DUI ticket considering what ambulance Co. charges

[EdnBama]

Best bet, legally, is to tell them your diabetic and want to go to hospital to have it checked and refuse roadside breathalyzer.

If they refuse to do it, then you have a case in the court.

And if they don't refuse ... then by the time they get you to hospital and check your bg and then get you to place for breathalyzer, your alcohol level would probably be lower. Assuming you were drunk to begin with and not just suffering from low bg.

--Ed

[EdnBama]

I forgot to put the winky-smile on that post regarding use of the hospital trip to register lower alcohol levels.

--Ed

[EdnBama]

Or maybe the tongue-sticking-out smiley.

--Ed

[fishy]

In the UK if you told a police officer you were driving erratically becuase of a hypo you may well end up losing your licence. It's not a criminal offence as such but T1 diabetics are only allowed to drive providing they are in control of their diabetes enough as to not have such a serious hypo it affects one's driving.

When you get diagnosed you have to inform the driving licence people and give them permission to speak to your doctors. If you have a history uncontrolled debilitating hypos you basically lose your licence.

[Littlebit63_99]

My grandfather would get pulled over frequently for drunk driving.........only to find out that he really had a low. By the time my father and uncles got to the jail to get him he was in bad shape. This happened often. It was back in the 40's.

Minnesota is like the UK for fishy.......we have to fill out a medical form(with doctors signature) and are requried to be in control to have a liscence. The doctor decides if the form needs to filled out every 6 months, one year, or (hurray for me!!!! every two years)

We lost a relative to drunk driving........

Please, all.......check b/s's......drink with caution ......

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

(how do I get the smiley face on here????????