Cops and Deaf suspects in DWI/DUI cases

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Fly Free

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i was talking with MizzDeaf ref to another thread that Lasza started abt fingerspelling which had me bring up the topic abt if a deaf suspect was pulled over for drunk driving and/or under influence of drugs (DWI/DUI) --

some of u might be aware that the cops would ask the suspect to do several things -- walking in a straight line, touching nose and reciting the alphabet -- my thought is what if a deaf driver was pulled over and asked to recite the alphabet -- would it have been done orally or have the officer allow the driver to fingerspell it out if an officer at scene is familiar with ASL/sign language qq

what are ur thoughts to this topic qq

note to mods: if this is an inappropriate forum to be in then by all means do move it to another forum -- i was debating between General Discussions and On-Topic Debates but in the end i posted in the GD forum.
 
Well, a cop can request a certified interpreter. That interpreter would be able to tell if the signing was "slurred" by how awful that person signs. If they stand there saying "A, B, C, ..." and wobbling their arms a bit or thinking too hard and responding slowly, then the interpreter could clarify that. Or, the cop could simply bring the interpreter and video-tape it as well. That would also be used if they try suing the interpreter.
 
I got busted by police for speeding ten years ago. I was driving drunk and stoned. I drove all way back home from Cleveland. The cop came to me asking for my drivers license, registration, and insurance. All I had were registration and insurance. I realized that I left drivers license at home. Opps. But, I was asked for social security number instead for identification purposes and gave him my ssn. I explained to him that I was tired and hurried to get home. The cop was distracted by my friend's beauty. She was drunk and stoned as well. I told her to act normal and I did not want to attract any more troubles from cop. He told me to slow down. I left..whew. I didn't mind him giving me a ticket instead of throwing me in jail for DUI!! I was very good at acting cool toward the cop!! :mrgreen: :fruit:
 
It don't happen in Australia, the police will give you a breathlyser! If its over 0.5 drinking limit, you will lose a licence!
 
I never had Problems Driving Drunk Cuz I never do... So I can't say much about this Topic cuz it never happend to me. :)
 
Great Topic..
I got remind me about my friend.. Who is not TOTALLY DRUNK.. He is natural moving his body called "ms or forgot name it" Police arrest him for jail a day... Guess what.. His parent really BLOWN their mind and angry to the police.. demand speak it out with supervisor and bought proof the paper his son is ms or forgot name for that" Supervisor willing to re-test breath on him.. found out it's ZERO.. He really angry the police.. and supensed two officer who were not proprite behave arrest him quickly and put him into jail for no reason.. Two officer really worst embrassement that they thought he is DRUNK.. none of true..
I know his real life.. he hate drinking... Natural he can drive and as well.. His parent demand them MTO put his drive license "Health reason" what he have..
Supervisor made lot of paper work and free him go..
His Parent want file press the charge to two officer.. Shown up the court.. They won the case... Beat two officer are banned record not allow work on force no longer.

Sometimes Officer are nice and being an asshole too.. Vary Officer!
*rolls*~ :rolls:
btw don't think so they could get an interpreter for that testing.. sound like wasting time.. Use body lang.. point finger you walk line.. I've seen them Deafies tells me about what happend pulled over and etc etc..

One of Deaf.. who cannot understand body lang and written english.. officer offer Deaf come with me drive over to Police station and will get an interpreter.. How's so nice and patience.. Then free Deaf person go..
Strange!
eh
 
Oh boy, Bullymom thats terrible..about your friend..I knew a woman a long time ago.. she was a diabetic and deaf..one day she woke up and found out that she is out of diabetic meds so she decided to go the pharmacy which was about 3 blocks away..she walked to the pharmacy cuz she was afraid to drive..well, she was walking funny cuz she was out of her meds, it started to make her dizzy..well, the cop saw her and picked her up for public drunk!! threw her into jail cuz they could not understand what she was trying to say (her speech was not good) so the cop assumed that since she talked funny and walked funny, she was drunk! She finally got the cop to give her paper and pencil..she wrote "Im deaf and a diabetic, please i need my insulin now"..oh boy, the cop called the ambulance and took her to the hospital..she almost went into diabetic coma! the azzhole cop even told the emergency room to test her for alcohol! imagine that! turned out she was not drunk, just near had diabetic shock..of course, she and her parents sued the police dept. She got settlement from that. I think the whole police dept learned their lesson! unreal!!
 
I also have heard some deaf ( maybe Im wrong but I have heard ) that they do walk wobble at nights I am not sure if it was just because they had tinnitus but the person is totally deaf anyway..
wobbles during nights or in dark because unable to see and the balance wasn't great too.. so I wonder about that one too because cop might have think they were drunk too.. It is sad when cop think something else.. same with hearing people.. such as my step father Richard .. The cop asked my mom if he was drinking or not.. my mom told him no he wasn't drinking, we have a good suspect he may be in stroke or sign of getting stroke.. so the cop said OK.. drove to where my Richard parked and wait.. they found him. and His mother was in truck with him anyway and she told the cop that He was getting worse and the EMT took him to the hospital in springfield, Ma.. turn out he had a STROKE !!
He was lucky for calling my mom reporting her that He wasnt feeling great and need some helps.. so He did that and thank god he did NOT drive anymore.. but few years later he died with espg. cancer that already spread out (he didnt seek some help due of no insurance but had 1 more month once he get new insurance which start next month * at that time*).. So he end up in hosp again due of vomit with blood, and blockage etc turn out he had cancer so He had to be fed thru feeding tube.. and passed away within 6 months later I woke up at 2 33 AM.. Felt a " big wave into my belly" and said " oh god.. He finally seek a peace" few min later my mom called I was right He passed away on June 12, 1998 then on June 15th I moved to my new home.. It was tough o n all of us..
sorry i went off topic LOL so I was just making point it was terrible when Cop though Richard was drunk due of slurred speech it was part of his stroke..


Wendy
 
Good Topic FlyFree....Interesting stories here....

I have never been pulled over for DUI, because, I never drink and drive...I don't drink heavy or get drunk either....

If a Deaf Driver has been pulled over in the result of that then I would suggest the officer to try to commiucate with that Deaf driver by writing or fingerspell it out if an officer is familiar with sign language...I don't believe that the officer will call in to request a certified interpreter to come out and meet them because it not likely asking question in a so-call murder, questions the driver about a serious crime or etc....
 
I have got a deaf friend who had DWI 2 times.. The cop simply give him a breath test and blood test. right after the cop find out he's deaf.

It's probally the same as other deafies who got DWI.. since the police knows that if any person who have physical disabilities.. they can fail the line test easily.. so they're not allowing to give those test to any physical disabilities or deaf. since deaf lose balance blamed by the ear.

also for that "9876.6789" Many Deaf ppl can't pass that if they're drunk.. u can notice that.. and try it for urself. most of them skip a number or etc.
 
well upon reading from the first post, to the last post, I have to say i had a friend going thru a checkpoint and he was very drunk that night, but all he did was close his mouth and just pointed his ears saying he was deaf and they gestured if he was drinking and he said no then they let him go i was like jeez and he had ALOTo f poeple in his car and they were drunk too, i was pissed cuz one of them was my close friends h e was driving drunk all the way home took a good 2 hrs still uncalled for considerting the other poeple in the car, So some deafies are *pros* at by passing the breathlyzer test and blood test which was dumb to suffice, i would NEVER drink and drive and i know alot of deafies don't tend to drive if thier drunk so result???? they don't go home if thier having a party the night before they crash at the party house but if it's a bar only one person is not allowed to drink whilist rest can bomb away and we usually will drive all of them home and get home ourselves real simple! most who are AA usually don't respect the others, so in all considerations most Californians know u have to sign papers to givep ermission to take the blood test and or breathlizer, at the county jail which to me is a waste of time, but ofc for prevention. if thier drunk thier already in jail with no worries. Still concept is i know that they are required to get permission to do so.
 
DeafSCUBA98 said:
It's probally the same as other deafies who got DWI.. since the police knows that if any person who have physical disabilities.. they can fail the line test easily.. so they're not allowing to give those test to any physical disabilities or deaf. since deaf lose balance blamed by the ear.
Click to expand...

Scuba -- yea thats true but would that apply to EVERY police department (regardless of how large the department is) nationwide qq
 
I've never been apprehended for DWI or DUI at all -- just had been lucky not to drive past a cop on his beat, :lol: I only drove drunk twice in my life time and after that, I realised how dangerous it was.
So have never done it again.
 
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