Drunk driving is no laughing matter. The cost in lives, property and public resources expended for first responders and others is a serious business.  Yet you can’t help but smile at some of the excuses offered by people caught in the act and facing charges of driving under the influence (DUI). Some are much used, others are quite novel.  Others will have you scratching your head and wondering how the person obtained their driver’s license in the first place.

Here are the top 20 excuses compiled from a variety of sources.  You are welcome to add your own to the list.

Top 20

1. “I can handle my liquor”

2. “I don’t want to pay for a taxi”

3. “Leaving my car overnight is a hassle”

4. “I always make it home after a few”

Image via Wikipedia

5. “It’s only a short drive home”

6. “I’m OK to drive”

7. “One more drink won’t hurt”

8. “They only take your license if you’re drunk”

9. “I’m more careful after a couple”

10. “I wasn’t drinking – I only smoked a joint”

Image via Wikipedia

11. “I haven’t seen my boyfriend in three months and I got needs”

12. (similar to 11) “I’m out of tampons”

13. Driver to officer: “I suppose this will help you reach your quota, huh?”

14. “I’m sorry officer for speeding, but without my glasses I can’t hardly see the speedometer.”

15. “I just had my brakes repaired and it was so expensive that I don’t want to wear them down.”

16. “My wife ran off with a state policeman and when I saw your flashing lights I didn’t stop because for a second, I thought you might be the trooper who is trying to bring her back to me.”

17. “Sorry officer for throwing the beer cans out the window but I didn’t want my wife to see how many that I have drunk.”

18. “Oh, officer, I’ve been living in Germany for so many years now that I forgot how to read the signs in miles per hour. I sure am glad to be home and have someone remind me!”

19. “Officer, I saw your high beams and considered for a moment that you were a drunk driver, so I sped up to give you some room.”

And perhaps the all-time best:

20. “Hey officer how about I buy you a drink and we forget all about this?”

As I said, you’re welcome to offer you own best DUI excuse.

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So, is it that some people underestimate their alcohol consumption?  Or is it that they simply take a chance, thinking they will never get caught by the authorities?

If caught, the maximum penalty for drink-driving is £5,000 and an obligatory ban from driving for anything between 12-36 months.   If a death occurs from this there is also the possibility of 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

As well as the wrath of the authorities, it is estimated that around 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured every year due to drink-driving.

Yet, for some reason, the message clearly isn’t getting through to motorists, that as well as risking a fine, prison sentence, and a ban on driving, they are also risking peoples lives (including their own).

However, it is possible to have a good time AND avoid these above risks completely. If you are attending an event, intending to drink, and not sure how much you’ll consume, (for example; birthday parties, wedding receptions, or entertaining clients over drinks), then you’d be better off designating a driver for the day.  The designated driver will avoid alcoholic drinks altogether, leaving you free to enjoy your evening without the worry of driving home safely.  

Another option would be to alter the cultural perception of what it means to have a good time.   Do you really need to be intoxicated to  feel as though you are having fun?  Is it not enough to be hanging out with friends, sharing jokes, and having a laugh?  If this really isn’t an option, then your better off practicing the first suggestion, but the first suggestion isn’t really ideal on a day -to- basis, when you might want to hang out with friends after a long day at work.   

It is said that there’s no safe limit to drink driving.  Even if you have one small measure of an alcoholic drink, several factors affect how soon it will pass through your system. These include your sex, your height and weight, and when you last ate, amongst other things.  If you have no choice but to drive home, then it is advised you avoid alcohol altogether.   In fact, this is very likely how some people get caught out – they have a drink thinking they’re within their safe limit, then, when caught, they find they are over that limit.

flikr0424 (Photo credit: flikr)

If these suggestions seem a little extreme or far-fetched, remember, a death or accident that happens as a result of drink-driving is also extreme.  Following these suggestions, one can enjoy a night out without ever upsetting the authorities – or their conscious.

Years ago PNDs used to be much more complex and tough to use – because of this they even became to target of jokes in many comedic films. Yet, they have since improved dramatically and are now designed for persons with both a terrible sense of direction and little to no technical understanding. Additionally, you no longer have to spend thousands of dollars for a PND – there are several lower cost, and even free, options for you to choose from.

In short, if you have a tendency to get lost around every new corner and during every unfamiliar road trip, there is likely a PND that will be helpful to you, even if you’re on a budget. Here’s a look at your options:

PNDs Installed into Your Car

These PNDs were the first ever made and are permanently fixed near the dashboard of your car. There are several advantages to this type of system:

1.Big Screen – These systems typically feature a large screen that is easy to glance at while you’re driving.

2.Voice – Many of these systems also have an audio component that tells you when and where to turn, allowing you to not even have to look at the map.

3.Customizable – Most of these systems allow you to set preferences and download specific maps and directions.

4.Easy to Use – Over the years these systems have been modified to become incredibly easy to program and use.

While these PNDs are very popular and great for road trips, they do have a couple of major cons to consider before you invest. Mainly, that you cant easily remove them from your car; they’re not portable. They also remain generally quite expensive.

Still, if the vast majority of your journeys involve your car and you can afford it, then a PND that is installed into your auto is likely your best bet.

Portable PNDs

Portable PNDs are becoming more and more popular. A younger generation of big, city dwellers find them particularly useful. These gadgets are typically very light (weighing merely ounces) and thus can be easily carried or thrown into a book bag or purse. There are several pros to these types of devices:

1.Portability – take it with you wherever you go

2.Limited Car Use – some of these PNDs can be used with your auto

3.Ideal for City Living – If you live in a huge metropolitan area, such as New York City, and walk to most places, you’ll likely find a portable PND a lifesaver when trying to find a new restaurant, office or event.

Likewise, there are cons to this type of device – mainly, you can’t easily use it while driving. Small screens make it difficult, if not dangerous, to use portable PNDs in your car. Another issue with some brands of this type of PND is the cost. Some hand held PNDs can cost in excess of $400, like the incredibly popular TomTom Portable GPS. While this type of system is very nice to own, some Americans, especially during these tough economic times, consider this device an over priced map.

These same Americans are considering a new and increasingly popular option in PNDs – turning your cell phone or smart phone into a PND. There are several free or inexpensive personal navigation applications you can download right on to your cell phone. This method is not as luxurious as having a TomTom, and the complex interface does make navigation difficult according to users. However, this method is unbeatably cost effective and offers ultimate portability.

Jessica Drew is a freelance writer and editor who blogs about a variety of money making topics such as personal finance, debt management and houses for sale by owner.

It is easy to put together an outdoor role play garage in your outdoor area. Young children in the EYFS and preschool love to play out familiar experiences and I was surprised just how much they knew about garages and mechanics when we recently had a discussion prompted by a child who is mad about cars.

Resources for an outdoor garage should include

1.       Tools for children to ‘fix’ the cars and vehicles that arrive to be mended

2.       Overalls in the form of waterproofs or old adult sized shirts

3.       Clipboards and pens to be used when ‘inspecting’ the vehicles

4.       Tea and coffee making equipment, cups etc for when the mechanics are on their break!

5.       Seating, magazines and plants in the waiting area

6.       A reception desk with a telephone, notepad, ordering forms, customer booking forms, pens and pencils etc

7.       Sets of old keys – real ones if possible as they are better than plastic play keys

8.       Nuts, bolts, screw and other toolbox staples – kids love junk to sift through

9.       Cloths that can be used as oil rags

10.   Timers and calculators for working out engineering problems and testing engines

11.   Cd player for music while they work

12.   Mats for children to lie down when changing wheels and inspecting lower parts of a car or bike

13.   Old tyres and other scrap  that is safe for children to touch and use

14.   Old mobile phones

15.   Signs written and made by the children or downloaded signs from sites like sparlkebox or twinkl

16.   Posters of cars, car magazines like auto trader

17.   A till or cashbox and money. Children are happiest when working with real money of course but smallest coins will do the job.

18.   Plastic bottles and brushes for touching up paintwork or oiling wheels and engines. Bottles can be filled with coloured water.

19.   Crates and planks to make ramps and inspection pits. Obviously supervise this closely as children may try to wheel and get under heavy outdoor bikes but this is a chance to have health and safety conversations and fill in a garage health and safety form of course.

20.   Toolboxes to take out on ‘breakdowns’

21.   Cars, scooters, bikes and other vehicles for the children to mend

As with any EYFS and preschool garage role play, children will bring a diverse range of knowledge and experience to the area. Some children will naturally take the lead. Observe who your leaders are in the garage role play and don’t be tempted to step in too early. If children have not naturally led you to this idea then think about taking a trip to a local garage (risk assess this first of course) and let the children see a real working environment. You may be able to make links with a local college to do this or maybe a parent will have a contact for you.

All areas of learning can be covered through role play in the EYFS. This article has given you some ideas on resourcing your outdoor imaginative play and I will be sharing ideas on how to develop literacy and numeracy skills in further posts.

Other Early Years topic theme Planning ideas

Windy Day planning ideas

Tiger who came to tea planning ideas 

Weather topic planning ideas for early years 

Science Maths Princess and the Pea planning ideas

It seems to me that everywhere I go the people around me are rushing about.  Is it because they have some emergency they need to get to? I highly doubt that to be the case as I see people rushing into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot.  How are donuts an emergency? I can just imagine someone saying “If I don’t eat a donut right this second I am going to die”!

Many times I see people zipping in and out of lanes while driving in an effort to get to their destination a few seconds faster.  And for what?  When they get there they may just end up sitting around waiting for the event to take place.  My favorite is when people rush around the store only to end up on line as there are five or six people ahead of them! Better yet is when those people get to the line and ask if they can get in front of you!  

I honestly think that the reason why a lot of people are always in a rush is because they don’t pay attention to time.  Think about it, if people left on time they wouldn’t be in a hurry! Or, if they accounted for traffic they wouldn’t have to hurry.  Personally if I know it takes an hour to get to my destination I will leave my home an extra thirty minutes earlier.  As my tenth grade Spanish teacher would say “Better never than late”.  I hate being late to anything!

So tell me, are you the type to always rush? Or do you plan everything so that you are not hurried?  Or is time unimportant to you?

1.Comprobar El Numero de Identificación vehicular (VIN). Asegúrese the most numero que en el Vehículos coincide con el numero en el título part Vehículos. El VIN puede see localizada en la base del parabrisas, en el umbral de la Puerta del Lado del conductor o en el compartimiento part engine dependiendo del modelo y la edad del Coche.

2.Va a look capaz de comprar piezas de repuesto para el coche? Esta es una pregunta valid, ya que los Coches Antiguo deben see mantenidos y reparados al Iguala que cualquier tipo de Vehículos. Say Dese Mantena let integridad de la Antigua Palabra, issuer querrá asegurarse de que las piezas see sustituyen por piezas Origination Ales coincida con el modelo de su Coche. Compruebe en la dificultad the Estás piezas sera Localize, lo que sera Caro, y que pueden hacer en el reparaciones modelo de Coche.

3.Son los organized religion they servicio completo para el coche que comprar quieres? Blocks acceso a los organized religion they servicio para su Vehículos puede recorrer un largo camino hacia el conocimiento de la Historia del Vehículos. SE indicará el que mantenimiento see have Hecho, lo que algunos they solve the problem que podría see, y qué parties son Nuevas.

Four!Haga su investigación antes de salir a comprar un auto Antiguo. Algunos Anos de algunos modelo puede Haber experimentado Problemas crónicos que see Aclare a Los Anos siguientes. Hablar con Otros propietarios the Automóviles Antiguo y averiguar lo que have Sido su Experiencia con CIS comprar those Automóviles Antiguo. La decision de qué comprar coche see puede determinar por say issuer comprando está el coche para ir y disfrutar de Todos los días, o say todo Sera Una Obra Maestra.

Ahora que está issuer armado con un poco de conocimiento y Tienen una buena idea sobre lo que quiere comprar issuer, a ¿Donde ir en Busca de un buen coche para comprar Antiguedades? Tradicionalmente esto see hizo por las exhibiciones the autos de visita, Dealerships de Coches Clásico, buscando a su Periodico local o la Compra de la gente que Conocer. El Internet have cambiado la forma que en la Compra de Automóviles the dich normative, aportando un Mercado local Automóviles Antiguo de derecho de su Escritório. Ahora, cualquier enthusiasts de los Coches see pueden encontrar prácticamente todo lo que podium sonar con comprar Sólo a su alcance Navegar por los cientos the sitio web de Automóviles Antiguo. Compra y conduciendo su coche Antiguo es un viaje emocionante, y issuer see Sentir mucho mejor al saber que issuer hizo su investigación antes de hacer su Compra grande.

The Reading of the Will

Hollywood is famous for having scenes where the family of a deceased person are gathered and the will is read. The drama rises when the all the family members are told they are not in the will and the entire estate is left to a mistress. Not only is the reading of the will not something that commonly occurs, but additionally the court would rarely allow the entire estate to be turned over to a mistress.

Cars Flipping Easy

In the movies cars flip really easy, they are often on their side or upside down for almost no reason at all. While cars can, and do, flip, they do not flip over with the ease we see on the Hollywood big screen.

Cars Bursting into Flame

In Hollywood cars tend to explode seconds after the occupants get out. People who, in real life, crash their cars panic and flee at a mere fender bender. In order for a car to explode the gas tank must be ruptured and a flame source must be present (or sparks).

Girls have Pillow Fights in their Panties

Sorry, apparently this is not true. Girls do not spend their time running around in panties looking for pillow fights with other half dressed girls.

Silencers Make Guns Silent

In Hollywood the simple act of using a silencer, or even a potato, over the end of a gun is enough to turn its loud sound into a soft whisper. This is simply not true, while a silencer does not make big gun this quiet, it does make bit quieter but they are still loud enough to be heard clearly from other rooms.

Bullet Proof Vests will Save your Life

This is also not necessarily true, a bullet proof vest offers some limited protection from some kinds of weapons, but some guns are powerful enough to go right through the basic vest that can be worn under clothing, and even those that are not strong enough to do so will probably have the force to knock the victim to the ground and leave a nasty bruise or even cracked rib.

10 yr Old Girls can Train Wild Stallions

My wife suggested I add this.  So many Hollywood stories revolve around young horse loving city girls who happen to go to the country for a weekend, they catch a wild stallion and before you know it they are best pals.  In reality horse training is tough, and stallions can be especially dangerous, they should not be handled by inexperienced people, and certainly not by children.

Would you like to write for sites like this, and get Paid, please join me on Triond by clicking here.

And what is that American Dream but in most cases the dream of material things? Most Americans are uncomfortable about their possessions, naturally looking out for the self and family before country— their idea of patriotism. America is the biggest producer and consumer of cars, clothes, and scientific devices than any other nation, but they live with these objects rather than by them. America is a consumer culture, and when they change what they buy, they also change who they are. It is high time to  think that most of the luxuries in life are dispensable. Living within one’s means, to reduce cost to its lowest terms if possible is important to keep the light in the home burning.

The Americans should stop talking about the American Dream for the time being and start listening to the Dream of the American: all for one, one for all, “to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Let the hearth in the home continue to glow and not allow the warm heart to stand still like a frozen waterfall when it is deprived of material things. When life  is greeted with joy in spite of the deprivation of material things, this becomes your  real success. Deprivation is a sharp word but in life it is sometimes necessary to lose than to gain. “A seed will only germinate when it dies.” ###

Courtesy of lawyer Monica Risam Nicklin

On the Saturday of November 19, 18-year-old Olivia Ornelas of Aurora, Illinois, was picked up by police. They hauled her, or so we might presume, out of the ditch she fell into when she spun her car off the road just after midnight near Route 71 and East High Point.

She confessed to apprehending officers that she was furious with her boyfriend for not taking her to see the new “Twilight” movie, as he had allegedly promised to, and her response, quite naturally, was to drink and drive. Police say she had been driving minus her right front tire, and, apparently, minus a few figurative nuts and bolts, too. She was given a little more time to continue to brood about her “Twilight”-disliking boyfriend when she was booked for driving under the influence as well as for illegal consumption of liquor by a minor and hauled off by police again this time to jail.

Just two days earlier, on the evening of Thursday, November 17, police picked up 24-year-old Michelle Watson of Prescott, Arizona. They actually had to lift her off the ground and carry her bodily to the police vehicle when she resisted arrest.

Witnesses had reported her driving erratically, repeatedly going up and down on the curb, and driving on the sidewalk in her white Honda Civic. According to the police report, when officers first attempted to take Watson into custody, they encountered heavy resistance. They observed that her eyes were bloodshot and her pupils dilated. Her breath was also described as heavy with an intoxicating beverage. Watson cursed the officers, shoved one officer away, and when a second officer attempted to remove the purse she wore slung over her shoulder, she kneed him in the groin, sparking a scuffle. Watson was brought down to the ground and handcuffed. She then refused to get to her feet and had to be picked up and carried to the police vehicle. Once inside, she proceeded to kick at the interior, necessitating further restraint from the officers.

Watson was charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault of a police officer, and resisting arrest. But at the station, her demeanor took a surprisingly agreeable turn. Gamely posing for mug shots, disheveled appearance notwithstanding, she smiled broadly, giving not just one but two thumbs up to the camera. Perhaps she managed to find some humor in her situation. But when she learned this includes spending a minimum of 45 days in jail, and paying more than 3,000 dollars in fines and other costs, she might not have found much to grin about, after all.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council Conference on Road Traffic, held from the 7th of October to the 8th of November in 1968, was the convention that introduced the agreement. Contracting parties agreed on this on the final day of the convention and it finally became enforced on the 21st of May, 1977.

The Countries Involved with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic

The countries that contracted with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 1968 to supersede the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic are many; however, there are some countries – the United States, New Zealand and Australia, for instance – that are no longer valid signatories of the Vienna Convention. Yet, as of the time of this writing, there are more than 140 different countries that are currently still believed to be signatories of this agreement. That is an abundance of participation on any front, and one that should be recognized for its efforts, certainly.

Recognition of Signatory Vehicles

Although the convention offers several benefits to motorists, one of the most important is the   recognition of legality of other vehicles from signatory countries. Of course, there are some requirements that must be followed if a motorist is driving in a country other than the one that the vehicle is registered in.

For instance, motorcycles are only required to display their respective registration numbers at the bike’s rear, but vehicles must have their registration number clearly displayed at the vehicle’s front and rear end, even in the event that this is not a requirement in the country of registration. Registration numbers are also required to be present in Latin and Arabic, as well as one other optional alphabet choice.

In addition to the requirements above, the vehicle’s rear must also display a sign distinguishing the country that the vehicle was registered in. The driver should also ensure that the registration for the vehicle is carried at all times and that the vehicle meets all requirements to be considered legal for the road in its registering country only.

Additional International Conventions Regarding Transit Transport

Obviously, the hope of International Conventions such as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is that an even keel of rules can be placed worldwide to ease the burden of travelers and provide safety to all motorists. The same is true with other international conventions, such as those on transit transport. In fact, there have been several conventions focused on this very topic, with the first being held in 1949 as a portion of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

Transit transport discusses Customs treatment as well as safety, security and environmental protection during transport. This topic has been addressed and laws have been modified accordingly over the course of the past 60 years.

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