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That may be the case in the UK, where this study was done, but in many states in the US there is so-called "implied consent", and refusal to do the breathalyzer

That may be the case in the UK, where this study was done, but in many states in the US there is so-called "implied consent", and refusal to do the breathalyzer results in your license being suspended regardless of any DUI conviction. This may or may not be as big of a deal nowdays, what with WFH. But I'd have a hell of a time explaining myself if they asked why my wife was dropping me off and picking me up from work for the next 2 years.

SketchySeaBeast 3y ago
The article points out that Failure to Provide "can have serious consequences for the offender including driving disqualifications, a maximum possible sentence of six months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.", so it's a bad move there as well.
sys_64738 3y ago
> but in many states in the US there is so-called "implied consent", and refusal to do the breathalyzer results in your license being suspended regardless of any DUI conviction. It depends. Certainly most states you can refuse field sobriety tests and portable breathalyzers. But as the station later you generally can't refuse the breathalyzer machine. Check the laws for your state. This isn't to say I condone consuming alcohol before driving. It's about knowing your rights in law and protecting yourself.
earthling8118 3y ago
Why is that their business? Why does it matter how you get to work? What if you share a vehicle?
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y ago
  Because our jobs are more than just our productivity. They are a social performance. If you do the former well, but the latter poorly... people can be and often are fired for it. If you do the former poorly, but they latter well, these people can even be promoted. I don't think I could pull that last one off, so my life strategy is "high productivity with genuine effort on the social performance". I did not realize this in my life as a younger man, and career success was mixed at best. Now I know, and while I struggle with the social performance, I at least attempt it. Because I am so bad at it, I honestly do not know if the car thing would matter. Would it? Maybe it wouldn't, maybe my answer when they asked is what would sink me or not. Maybe they're an old boys club, and the thought that I was worried that a 0.05BAC would show as a 0.09BAC and so I refused and lost a license... maybe that earns me brownie points. They chuckle, and I get my promotion next year. Or, fuck, maybe they lost a loved one to a drunk driver once, and they manufacture a reason to fire me a few months from now. How do you even figure it beforehand? I don't drink, but the implications of losing my driver's license over shit like this wouldn't make me feel good at all. Ulcer-inducing.

SketchySeaBeast 3y ago

The article points out that Failure to Provide "can have serious consequences for the offender including driving disqualifications, a maximum possible sentence of six months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.", so it's a bad move there as well.

sys_64738 3y ago

> but in many states in the US there is so-called "implied consent", and refusal to do the breathalyzer results in your license being suspended regardless of any DUI conviction. It depends. Certainly most states you can refuse field sobriety tests and portable breathalyzers. But as the station later you generally can't refuse the breathalyzer machine. Check the laws for your state. This isn't to say I condone consuming alcohol before driving. It's about knowing your rights in law and protecting yourself.

earthling8118 3y ago

Why is that their business? Why does it matter how you get to work? What if you share a vehicle?

NoMoreNicksLeft 3y ago
Because our jobs are more than just our productivity. They are a social performance. If you do the former well, but the latter poorly... people can be and often are fired for it. If you do the former poorly, but they latter well, these people can even be promoted. I don't think I could pull that last one off, so my life strategy is "high productivity with genuine effort on the social performance". I did not realize this in my life as a younger man, and career success was mixed at best. Now I know, and while I struggle with the social performance, I at least attempt it. Because I am so bad at it, I honestly do not know if the car thing would matter. Would it? Maybe it wouldn't, maybe my answer when they asked is what would sink me or not. Maybe they're an old boys club, and the thought that I was worried that a 0.05BAC would show as a 0.09BAC and so I refused and lost a license... maybe that earns me brownie points. They chuckle, and I get my promotion next year. Or, fuck, maybe they lost a loved one to a drunk driver once, and they manufacture a reason to fire me a few months from now. How do you even figure it beforehand? I don't drink, but the implications of losing my driver's license over shit like this wouldn't make me feel good at all. Ulcer-inducing.