crime

Police officer arrested on drunk driving charge in Okinawa

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Junichi Yamashiro, an inspector, denied the allegation, saying he believed the effects of earlier drinking had worn off prior to him getting behind the wheel. A breath analysis test, however, registered an alcohol level of roughly seven times Japan's legal limit.

Not surprising really! Just glad he didnt hurt anyone! Dude SHOULD be fired!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Junichi Yamashiro, an inspector, denied the allegation, saying he believed the effects of earlier drinking had worn off prior to him getting behind the wheel. A breath analysis test, however, registered an alcohol level of roughly seven times Japan's legal limit.

What a load of crap! He is a police inspector and would be fully aware of the effects alcohol in the blood and how long it takes to dissipate from the body. He's just a pathetic liar with a very lame excuse. He should be charged to full extent of the law.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Too bad for him that he’s a regular cop and not a white collar.

Guess the nice bowing and muttering option (for boys only) isn’t on the table? While drunk, do not operate vehicles on public roads! Simple

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Yamashiro has been on leave from work since mid-October due to illness.

Well that explains the drinking!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A breath analysis test, however, registered an alcohol level of roughly seven times Japan's legal limit

I thought you can't drive even if you have a drop of alcohol in your blood. I didn't know there was a legal limit.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

On leave????!!!!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Any amount is over the limit, correct? Must be a new method of curing illness: drink until you are drunk out of your mind.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the limit is zero, and his level was "roughly seven times Japan's legal limit", seven times zero is zero.

A good lawyer would get him off.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The legal limit isn't zero.

This is a common misconception, probably because it's below the level at which any normal person would feel any kind of effect.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The legal limit is 0.03 if I recall correctly.

I may not be recalling correctly though. But as others have said, it’s not zero.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The legal limit is 0.03 if I recall correctly.

And it is up to the discretion of the officer at the scene whether or not they will charge the person with "driving under the influence".

If he was 7 times over that, he blew at .21 which is the reason for the "drunk" driving charge and not the lesser "driving under the influence" a difference between a possible 500,000 yen fine and 1,000,000

At an alcohol level of 0.15 mg per 1L of breath, a driver is considered to be Driving Under the Influence (DUI), which is punishable by imprisonment with work for up to 3 years and a fine of up to JPY 500,000. Driving While intoxicated (DWI) is punishable by imprisonment with work for up to 5 years and a fine of up to JPY 1 million.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

He was quoted as saying 'I'm not so think as you drunk I am.'

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@ Yubaru - unless you are a police inspector, then it's punishable by a playful ribbing from your coworkers, and suspension with pay. But we all know there will be no followup story.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Junichi Yamashiro, an inspector, believed the effects of earlier drinking had worn off prior to him getting behind the wheel.

> > A breath analysis test, however, registered an alcohol level of roughly seven times Japan's legal limit.

Remind me never to hire him when I need an investigation solved.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You can solve a crime, or complete an investigation, but you don't solve an investigation

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The legal limit in Japan is 0.03% in Japan. In addition a police officer can judge you to be under the influence of alcohol based on your behavior or other evidence. It's up to a court to decide the penalty unless of course you cooperate and admit what you have done. Also, anyone who knows your are driving under the influence such as bar tenders, servers, restaurant owners, passengers, etc. can be held liable and penalized to the same level of DUI. So, for practical reasons, if you drink anything, don't drive! In the case of a police officer who gets caught DUI, he/she should get an extra stiff penalty.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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