Breathalyse pedestrians, says minister

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 05:48 am

Breathalyse pedestrians, says minister
23 September 2009

Home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst wants to introduce breathalyser tests for pedestrians in popular night club areas to cut down on alcohol-related crime and violence.

The minister and justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin are working on amendments to local authority bylaws which would allow councils to bring in the tests for clubbers suspected of drinking too much in certain parts of town.

While it is illegal to be drunk in public, it is not always possible to see if someone has drunk too much, the minister, who has a drink driving conviction, told a tv show on Tuesday evening.

Drinking dens

Meanwhile, the hotel and catering industry has urged politicians to take stronger action against illegal drinking dens popular with teenagers particularly in rural areas.

The number of sheds, caravans and outhouses turned in to impromptu bars has risen from an estimated 2,500 in 2006 to 3,500 this year, says lobby group BEM which campaigns against unfair competition in the hospitality industry.

Only a handful of local councils take action against the drinking dens, a spokesman told the Telegraaf on Tuesday. 'The rest of the 400 turn a blind eye to their existence. It is a complete scandal,' the spokesman said.

Source

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 05:50 am

Minister proposes breathalysing pedestrians
23 September 2009

De Telegraaf reports Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst has proposed a change to the law that would allow police to breathalyse pedestrians.

According to the minister, the change will help to prevent drunken and aggressive people causing problems in areas with lots of cafés and bars.

De Telegraaf writes the minister believes that many problems in entertainment districts are caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

At present, the law allows police officers to breathalyse motorists and people riding mopeds and scooters but pedestrians are exempt, even though public drunkenness is a punishable offence.

Source

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 07:31 am

And people think the Netherlands is a progressive country

darkglobe · Post by **darkglobe** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 02:25 pm

It used to be...

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 03:05 pm

I agree with darkglobe. It sure used to be more tolerant and pragmatic, before the christian government.

darkglobe · Post by **darkglobe** » Thu 24th Sep 2009 04:49 pm

Yeah,I always thought that Church and State were supposed be kept seperate...How the fuck is a Christian political party allowed to exist,let alone RULE...Sheeit,you wouldn't even get that in this Catholic ridden country of Ireland ...

doobydave · Post by **doobydave** » Fri 25th Sep 2009 11:08 am

Man, the Dutch have a retarded government at the moment. I'd love to see one of their 'brain-storming' sessions. Would be a right laugh.

Perhaps it could even make a successful TV program....

happydaze777 · Post by **happydaze777** » Fri 25th Sep 2009 04:00 pm

Isn't it a oxymoron to serve booze to people (enjoying the taxes it creates) and then arrest them for being drunk?

This world is sooooooo back to front!