The new airline thread

[uhhello]

1 hour ago, Lord Ratner said:

I've been breathalyzed twice and passed, and immediately sent on my way. Once for driving without headlights on, but it was well lit and I didn't notice. 

 

I do agree with minimizing interactions when you believe you are under threat of charges, and personally I would just ask for the breathalyzer *over* the FST, because the cop can't bias a breathalyzer. 

 

At a certain point you end up as the guy refusing to roll down a window when he's pulled over. Sure, you have the right to do it, but being a dickhead to a cop *before* the cop has proven to be a dickhead is just conflict-seeking behavior. Most cops are good. Plenty of places in the world where that isn't true, but America isn't one of them, no matter how many bad-cop videos the algorithm feeds you because they think you'll watch more ads that way. 

Does anyone in the states do roadside breathalyzer's anymore?

[Smokin]

To be clear, I don't think you should refuse a breathalyzer if you are told to take it.  What I said, and what ALPA says, is do not offer to take one to 'prove your innocence'.  There is a big difference.

Pulled over on the side of the road by the police, absolutely refuse the invitation to a field sobriety test.  They are not mandatory in any state that I know of and it is a no-win scenario.  I'd be interested to know the stat (probably doesn't exist) on the percentage of people that pass a field sobriety test.  Probably low single digits or a percentage that starts with 0.  The test is 100% subjective and the person grading the test is already convinced you're drunk or he wouldn't ask.  A sober Olympic gymnast could fail it. 

If a cop tells you to take a breathalyzer, there are many states where refusing to do that also is an automatic suspension of your driver's license, which is probably where the FAA got that idea.

[SocialD]

On 7/27/2025 at 11:17 AM, uhhello said:

If a cop is asking you to do FST, he already thinks you’re going to fail.  He’s just looking for more proof. 

 

This.  One of our pilots was a former cop.  He said if he's asking to do any tests, it's just adding more evidence fort he case WHEN he arrests you after the tests.

 

 

19 hours ago, brabus said:

Out of curiosity, I looked into the FAA side - as Arg mentioned, refusing any test is going to fuck you out of your medical for a while (length of time seems nebulous based on unpredictable speed of bureaucracy). I completely understand the perspectives above, just know your airline job is on hold for probably 6+ months if you refuse any test. No idea how the company would handle this (treated as disability, med leave, leave of absence without pay, double secret probation, etc?) That’s a real gut check in the moment. 

 

In my state, implied consent does not force you to submit to roadside breathalyzer.  So you can say you want to go to the hospital for a blood draw or go down to the station to use a real breathalyzer machine.  Ball walking on your FAA medical, but I could see how a case could be made that you're not refusing the test, just this test (as roadside units are known to be finicky).  I'm not anti-vaccine, just anti-this-vaccine, type of thing lol.  

[brabus]

@SocialD There may be something there - is asking for a different version/method of the test refusal? Seems logical that it’s not. 

[mp5g]

51 minutes ago, brabus said:

@SocialD There may be something there - is asking for a different version/method of the test refusal? Seems logical that it’s not. 

I was thinking the same thing. Auto license suspension for 90 days in Tx with a refusal, but you can appeal within 15 days. 
 

Does saying I would rather have a blood test count as refusal to the officer who stopped you?

[uhhello]

1 hour ago, mp5g said:

I was thinking the same thing. Auto license suspension for 90 days in Tx with a refusal, but you can appeal within 15 days. 
 

Does saying I would rather have a blood test count as refusal to the officer who stopped you?

FST is voluntary and refusing has no automatic repercussions.  Cop can still arrest you for DUI with probable cause.  You can then take the station breathalyzer or blood test.  Refusing either is implied consent violation and 180 day suspension appealable after 15 days.