REGARDING your correspondent’s query: What is the lw on breath-tests?
The power to stop vehicles is given by Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and allows a constable to stop any motor vehicle to; 1) Require the production of a driving licence, insurance and other relevant documents 2) To inquire whether a driver has consumed alcohol This does not necessarily give the officer a power to conduct a breath test other than forming suspicion of alcohol consumption within the vehicle, a moving traffic offence or an accident.
It is this power that is used for stop-checking vehicles especially over the festive period. Hope this helps.
Sent by a serving police officer in Hampshire.
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