Having a drink in your van when "wildcamping"

first '' CAMPING SAUVAGE INTERDIT ! '' sign i ever saw was on the shore of the big lake at the end of the Gorge du Verdun . lovely spot - we parked there for 3 weeks before the flics showed up at midnight with dogs and spotlights and guns and'' allez maintenant ! '' we'd been on the red plonk and couldn't stop laughing ,and when i pointed out we were all pissed they just said ''we don't care ,bugger off !'' and swore they wouldn't do any of us . all part of a fun interlude
 
It's nigh on impossible for the police to secure a conviction for 'Drunk in charge' UNLESS

You were sat in the drivers seat with the engine running ...

In a motorhome/campervan in parked mode ....
Engine off
Handbrake on
Seat rotated
Blocks under wheels
Blinds down
Table set up
Etc etc Etc

Not a chance ....

They frankly wouldn't waste their time trying for a conviction ....
And you would have to have acted like an entitled knob for them to even consider it



I've had direct experience

And advice from at least two traffic officers ...

There was even a letter kicking around from a high ranking officer at one point regarding this exact scenario .

And STILL it does the rounds nearly as often as the motorhomers/truck drivers gassing fable .
 
mistericeman said:
It's nigh on impossible for the police to secure a conviction for 'Drunk in charge' UNLESS

You were sat in the drivers seat with the engine running ...

In a motorhome/campervan in parked mode ....
Engine off
Handbrake on
Seat rotated
Blocks under wheels
Blinds down
Table set up
Etc etc Etc

Not a chance ....

They frankly wouldn't waste their time trying for a conviction ....
And you would have to have acted like an entitled knob for them to even consider it



I've had direct experience

And advice from at least two traffic officers ...

There was even a letter kicking around from a high ranking officer at one point regarding this exact scenario .

And STILL it does the rounds nearly as often as the motorhomers/truck drivers gassing fable .
Click to expand...
It may be the case now but back here 40 years they would and did my uncle, pissed with keys in pocket car on main street bangor.
Folk here to this day hand there keys to the bar staff and return a day later to pick it up.
 
Back in the 70s I had been in the local for a Sunday lunch pint (or three). I walked there and was almost home when I saw a large group of people watching flames coming from a bedroom window of a house over a mile away on the other side of a field. Someone dashed to the telephone box to call the Brigade and I jumped into my car and headed for the inferno .

When I got to the house there was no fire! What we had seen was the reflection of someone burning garden rubbish a few houses away.
The local fire station was retained and it was a few minutes before they arrived, shortly followed by a Panda car.
I explained to them both what had happened and the Fire OIC thanked me and said I had done the right thing.

The Policeman asked me if I had been drinking and I confirmed this. He then asked if I had driven to the scene,and I again confirmed it.

"Well" he said "we'd better get you and your car home safely. "I'll follow you home to make sure you don't have an accident"
I drove home at 20 mph followed by a Police car using his Blues and Twos.
 
My cousin was a Sargent in the traffic devision I asked the question about having a drink when parked up for the night. His reply an officer would have to be a total barsteward if he did try to do you and would unlikely reach court.
 
barryd said:
I Think the worst scenario I could think of was undesirables turning up or the usual "mad axe murderer". Then you are a bit stuffed for moving on if you are drunk. I got round this by naming my wifi hot spot actually "Mad Axe Murderer". As we know undesirables and other mad axe murderers always have phones and when they are looking for wifi they clearly see there is one already in the area and move on. Works for me.
Click to expand...
I just renamed mine, hope I remember it next time Virgin goes down on me.


It might be fun to start a thread to see who can come up with the best mobile hotspot name

1734691585564.jpeg
 
Last edited:
mistericeman said:
It's nigh on impossible for the police to secure a conviction for 'Drunk in charge' UNLESS

You were sat in the drivers seat with the engine running ...

In a motorhome/campervan in parked mode ....
Engine off
Handbrake on
Seat rotated
Blocks under wheels
Blinds down
Table set up
Etc etc Etc

Not a chance ....

They frankly wouldn't waste their time trying for a conviction ....
And you would have to have acted like an entitled knob for them to even consider it



I've had direct experience

And advice from at least two traffic officers ...

There was even a letter kicking around from a high ranking officer at one point regarding this exact scenario .

And STILL it does the rounds nearly as often as the motorhomers/truck drivers gassing fable .
Click to expand...
Oh yes please can we have a good gassing thread?
 
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