My bride and I were headed into Tucson in our new Class C RV. Highway 77/Oracle Road is mostly three lanes each direction that feeds into Tucson from the north. I saw several cars taking evasive action as a green Camry drifted all over the three lanes ahead. I had my bride get on her cell and call 911. I hung back for several miles until a clogged intersection with a red light forced this idiot to stop and I was able to get the plate and a complete description of the car.From that point on I stayed behind her and fed a running location report to 911, southbound on Oracle crossing El Conquistador, southbound on Oracle crossing Calle Concordia etc.. Soon I saw a local police car trying to turn south on Oracle to intercept and had the 911 operator describe our RV and alert him to the idiot being right in front of us (still weaving after 5 miles).As the LEO pulled out I waived him along side and pointed out the Camry 50 yards ahead. He dropped into a trail position and lit her up after just a half a mile. We gave our info to the 911 operator and continued on down the road. After I finished at the local tire store (where I was able to watch the 4 police cars surround her vehicle) I returned to the scene and introduced myself to the arresting officer.He confirmed that she was seriously drunk and probably stoned to boot (this was at 10 AM). :S I told him we didn't care why she was impaired, just wanted her off the road before she killed someone. Keep in mind the flow of traffic in all three lanes was 45 to 55. He had me complete a verbal report which he taped, thanked us again and we left the scene. I would love to know the judicial outcome but doubt if that will happen. I'll be glad to testify if it helps get this moron off the road but frankly a slap on the wrist is more likely. Oh well, it sure felt good to bust this bimbo and help out the local LEO's. :C

I had a similar experience back in 2000. Headed back to Beale AFB from the Sacramento Fairgrounds and picked up a truck that ended up going our way all the way to a house only three from the last on the road to the base. By the time LEOs arrived the driver was already across the street buying more booze.Among other things this bozo forced a car off the road just short of a bridge and the whole while DW was on the BRAND NEW cell Phone with the dispatcher.Since LEOs did not actually witness the crime I had to make the arrest and then I had to testify in court.This was the guy's 5th offense and he had been on a restricted license for work only and was driving his boss' work truck.I guess a combination of the defendant's history and my sitting in court in dress blues, testifying to the fact that as a course of my military medical duties was to detox patients for entry in to alcohol rehab made me a solid witness because the guy was sentenced to three years and permanent revocation of his driver license.

Good work but if AZ laws are anything like WA's, she'll be right back on the road in no time. :(

I am glad to report that DW and I also got a seriously impaired driver off the road a couple years ago.Very similar story as the OP, I was in my truck with fully hands free cell. Called 911 and relayed position as we followed, very happy to see LEO pull up behind me and then go around and light her up.

One year at Christmas, a friend and I were returning from Tyler, TX and her doctor appointment. We had this crazy idiot behind us and I saw everyone pulling over so he could have the road, then we were in a construction zone and bumper to bumper traffic. We were stopped, so I pulled out the cell (before GPS, smart phone, etc. it just made phone calls, no text.) and was able to get his license nr and vehicle description to 911.We were near one county, getting ready to pass to another, so the dispatcher had a trooper from both counties. The drunk driver was winding back and forth and we were almost wondering if they were going to use the orange barrels as an obstical course. As it was, both troopers saw his driving and arrested him. As we drove by, evidently the dispatcher told him what I was driving because he waved to us. I thought he wanted me to pull over, but we heard him yell thanks thru the window. It was one of our Christmases that you could wear shorts still.Anytime we can get these guys off the road, means we can be a little safer.I remember seeing the paper last week, some one was on his 55th ticket for dwi. By then he should be under the jail forever.

One less drunk driver on the road! | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2013
"With all due respect, there absolutely ARE things worth calling in immediately, and not everyone is an uncoordinated idiot or keeps their eyes off the road when using a cellphone."

Why not just pull over and make the call? :h

I never said anyone is "an uncoordinated idiot or keeps their eyes off the road when using a cellphone."

The facts are that no one can use a cell phone and give driving their full attention, it simply cannot be done. Blame the way our brains are wired if it makes you feel better but the facts in this regard have been clearly established. The biggest problem are the self absorbed egotists that maintain "I can multi task, it's the other people that are the problem."

Try watching "Brain Games" on one of the cable channels. They have demonstrated a number times that you your brain is physically incapable of doing multiple complex tasks at the same time with good results.

It would be the ultimate irony if your well intended attempt to report a dangerous driver led to your causing an accident. Let's all be safe out there which necessitates NEVER using a cell phone while driving .:C
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
All these drunks and druggies on the roads and yet a hood-mounted rocket launcher is still frowned upon :R LOL.

We have reported quite a few accidents and debris on the roadway. Last one was a tractor trailer BUMPER in the middle lanes of a 4 lane highway!

With all due respect, there absolutely ARE things worth calling in immediately, and not everyone is an uncoordinated idiot or keeps their eyes off the road when using a cellphone.

OP- Good job calling in the drunk/drugged up idiot putting everyone else at risk!
paulm999
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
I live on 20 miles of a 2 lane winding road that feeds 6 casinos. DUI, reckless driving, head on collisions, and road rage are the norm. About 7 years ago, a women left one casino and 3 miles later hit a car headon with 4 occupants. Last year her final sentencing after a mistrial and plea bargain was 8 years and credit for time spent in jail. That's 2 years for each of the persons she killed. She's now a free women this year. Most times it doesn't pay to know the final outcome in court.
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
good work

we all have to help control the morons out there. better she be pulled over than her killing anyone!!
deltamaster
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
Someone mentioned something about judges and such slapping wrists and letting people go...

We were driving the RV, towing the pickup through a small town. Saw an interesting antique shop on the side of the road and decided to check it out. As we passed the shop... at the next intersection a mid 60's, paint faded pickup drove up to the intersection from the side road and blew the stop sign right in front of us. I slammed on the breaks, narrowly avoiding impact. I watched as the pickup weaved a bit and then turned down the next side street.

Parked the rig, composed myself (read cleaned my shorts) and we walked back to the store and looked around. Mentioned the incident to the clerk and described the truck. She then told us that it was the local "Old Man" that everyone in town knew. No longer had a driver license and had been stopped for it several times and let go. Since everyone in town knew about him they stayed out of his way but no one was willing to do anything to stop him.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2013
Tvov wrote:
I appreciate people describing how they are "safely" using cell phones to call in these situations, but my understanding of most cell phone laws is that it is legal to make an emergency call with a cell phone while driving. Calling 911 about a dangerous drunk driver fits my definition of an emergency.

.

OP here: You bring up an interesting point. Fortunately for us we were together. Had I been alone I would not have made the call on my cell. I do not ever use a cell phone while driving. What would I have done? Stay safely behind, try and get the plate/vehicle description and then pull over and call it in.

Study after study has shown that a person using a cell phone while driving is at least as impaired, often more so, than a drunk at .016 which = twice the legal limit. Texting is even worse. There is simply nothing anyone has to say that justifies driving and using a cell phone. Please folks, put the cell phone down or pull over and park if you need to make a call. :E
Queens_Carriage
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
With my job I would always be on the way home between 1am and 4am in Houston TX. They have a number just for DWI and if you stay with the offender they will respond. One night I watched a drunk hit a guard rail. One car accident. she wasn't hurt bad, but she was hammered. I did the best I could to talk to her and keep her in the drivers seat. The police arrived. They said that I did the proper thing since the car was off the road and in no danger. They saw her behind the steering wheel and was busted. She couldn't say somebody else was driving.
John_S_
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
A long time ago now, I used to go drunk hunting. We were a special group on the road tasked to look for drunks. It helped our country a lot but the toll was still terrible. The issue is the innocent people who are hurt. The drunk will usually hurt themselves or even die one day but the lives that are destroyed in the process leading up to it are sad.

I have called 911 and followed drunks before too. I have not had to testify though on any of them.
Tvov
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
I appreciate people describing how they are "safely" using cell phones to call in these situations, but my understanding of most cell phone laws is that it is legal to make an emergency call with a cell phone while driving. Calling 911 about a dangerous drunk driver fits my definition of an emergency.

When I was much younger, late at night I was driving home behind a person who was seriously weaving on the road. We actually passed a cop who was setup in a speed trap (we weren't actually speeding), but as we passed him the drunk accidentally drove straight down the road, so the cop didn't pull out. I almost stopped to wave the cop to go after him/her, but didn't. Yes, this was when few people had cell phones. For two weeks, it killed me looking at the local news for any drunk driving accidents in that area. Fortunately as far as I know nothing came of that, but ever since I have not been afraid to call in bad situations if I am able.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
Back in the early 1980s we were driving north on I25 around Walsenburg, CO. The wife was driving when she came up behind a very old pickup weaving all over the road going about 45. We could tell the guy was drunk. She waited for him to hit the shoulder, then she down shifted and blew by him on the other shoulder.

A Colorado HP was going the other direction and zapped the wife with the radar. He pulled around and stopped her several miles down the road. Told her she was going 65+. Ten over the old double nickel. He asked were why she was still accelerating when he hit her a second time.

We told him about the drunk and he said that was no excuse and went back to the car to run her DL and write her up. While he is on the radio, the drunk comes weaving by us all over the road. He jumps out of his car hands my wife her DL and blasts off with lights on.

We change drivers and catch up to the drunk and CHP down the road. The stumbling drunk is already cuffed and being led to the patrol car. We honk and the CHP smiles and waves.