And on an entirely different note...

[RealBlackStuff]

As told to me by a friend who (obviously) doesn't want to be named:

I would like to share an experience with you, about drinking and driving.

As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the authorities
on our way home from the odd social session over the years.

A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends at the Marriott Hotel and
had a few too many beers and some rather nice red wine.

Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit,
I did something I've never done before: I took a bus home.

Sure enough I passed a police road block but as it was a bus, they waved it past.

I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise!

As I have never driven a bus before and am not sure where I got it...

[goofyGAguy]

[Tasurinchi]

had a few too many beers and some rather nice red wine.

Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit,

Slightly? After too many beeers? Just out of curiosity... What's the alcohol limit in the US?

[twistero]

The real question is: Did the bus actually stop at the bus stops?

[yak]

The real question is: Did the bus actually stop at the bus stops?

Here in Germany buses have Stop buttons. If you want to get out at the next stop, you have to press it. If nobody presses the button and there's no one waiting at the stop to get in, the driver knows he can just keep driving.

The public transport is well thought through here and it's natural to use it if you were drinking.

[killer]

Good one, matey. It's an Irish or UK joke for sure.

[rkawakami]

Just out of curiosity... What's the alcohol limit in the US?

I'd guess it's as much as you can consume and still maintain consciousness Joking aside, I assume you mean legal limit for DUI (driving under the influence). Generally speaking it's 0.08% BAC, although it's up to each state to set both the limit and penalties. Here in California, for drivers under 21, the limit is 0.01%.

A recent news article in the local paper: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_20884491/
Previous account of the accident and conviction: http://www.bicyclelaw.com/news/n.cfm/ju ... n-accident

69 year old driver seriously injures a bicyclist during a hit-and-run back in 2009. At the time he was on probation for a DUI conviction. He asked his mechanic to fix his car by ordering a replacement mirror from outside the area. Mechanic then reports to police his suspicions after hearing news reports on the injured cyclist. February of this year he is convicted of felony hit-and-run causing serious and permanent injury. Then just this past week, right before being sentenced, he's stopped for erratic driving in the same area as the accident 3 years ago. He admits drinking a couple of beers and his BAC is 0.039, not enough to meet the legal limit so he's released. Judge sentences him to 3 years in state prison and revokes his driving privileges for the rest of his life.