British Truckdrivers strike?!

There was supposed to be mass chaos and whatnot in the Nanny state as the Truck Drivers all around Britain came to a full stop at entryways and off-ramps on major roads throughout the land. But so far, I've only been able to find briefist of mention on the subject with a Kuwait Newspaper article from two days ago:


Truck drivers in UK to strike soaring fuel prices

Power & Materials 5/26/2008 1:39:00 PM



LONDON, May 26 (KUNA) -- Truck drivers in Britain are to pour into London on Tuesday for what organisers hope will be the largest-ever fuel duty protest in the British capital, it was announced Monday.
Hauliers are angry at soaring fuel prices which have resulted in the average cost of diesel passing far beyond the 120 pence-a-litre mark, the organizers said. Led by lorry drivers from Kent, southern England, the protest is expected to attract hundreds of hauliers from all around the UK. The convoy will make its way to central London, parking close to Marble Arch. Police said a number of roads will be closed in London so that demonstrators can park their lorries. A delegation from the demonstrators will hand a letter to 10 Downing Street demanding the immediate introduction of an essential user rebate which would allow Huge lorries operators to claim some of the fuel duty back. Mike Presneill, a leading member of Transaction 2007, who is helping to organise the protest, said: "Fuel is rocketing. The Government has the power to act but appears not to be listening. Hundreds of UK transport firms are being driven to the wall. Thousands of UK jobs are being lost," he said. Another Kent-based haulier, Peter Knight, said "Foreign hauliers are entering the UK with cheaper fuel purchased abroad. They contribute nothing to our economy." Knight added. "This is the economics of the mad house. If we are wiped out, the work will be done by foreign hauliers who pay nothing to the UK in tax."

Drunk Cop

Decorated officer caught drinking on job, cops say
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A highly decorated Jersey City police officer was found drinking a beer in his marked patrol car yesterday afternoon and was issued a summons and allowed to go on paid leave, officials said.

Charles Casserly, 53, was found drinking while on duty early yesterday afternoon by Internal Affairs officers who got a tip, said city spokesman Stan H. Eason.

The 28-year veteran of the department was issued a summons for driving with an open alcoholic beverage and taken off duty, Eason said.

Police said they do not think Casserly was drunk at the time he was found with the beer. Officers requested a blood sample and are awaiting the results, Eason said.

Casserly received the Valor Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Police Department, after being shot multiple times while stopping bank robbers in the 1980s, Eason said.

Eason said the South District officer was allowed to go on personal leave pending the outcome of the probe and he will continue to collect his pay. Eason said he was allowed to go on leave due to the nature of the offense, which is not criminal.

Falling Asleep at a car

Driver who fell asleep at pump jailed for 18 months
By KIM RUSCOE - Fairfax Media and Stuff.co.nz | Thursday, 19 April 2007

A two-year-old who was left in the back seat of a car when her drunk father fell asleep while refuelling the vehicle called out "Bye, Daddy" after he was jailed for 18 months today.

At Waitakere District Court today Shannon Perenara, a 30-year-old Auckland labourer, was sentenced to 18 months in jail and disqualified from driving for three years, effective from today.

He was denied leave to apply for home detention.

The incident happened around 9am on March 24 when officers were called by a concerned Rotorua service station attendant who found Mr Perenara slumped at the petrol pump. Officers had to wait 40 minutes for him to wake up before he could be breath-tested.

The man's daughter was left unrestrained on the back seat while her father lay collapsed at the pump.

Mr Perenara tested more than four times above the legal limit, with 1729mcg of alcohol per litre of breath.

Police said at the time it was one of the highest readings in New Zealand. At Waitakere District Court today, Judge Barry Morris said he had no choice but to sentence Perenara to prison.

Judge Morris said Perenara had 23 prior convictions over nine years for offences including traffic, drugs and assault.

Included in this were six convictions involving drink driving, the first being 10 years ago, and four for driving while disqualified.

Mr Morris said that if Perenara was "stupid and irresponsible enough to endanger his own daughter then what concern does he have for us?"

Perenara showed no emotion while being sentenced but family members including his mother and his partner cried.

Perenara mouthed "I love you" to family members as he left the courtroom.

- With NZPA

Man Jailed After Taunting Police, Daring Them To Catch Him

POSTED: 8:00 am MST March 10, 2007
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Toxicology results for drugs haven't been released , but police believe a man who called 911 and taunted police for about three hours Friday was "obviously high on something."

Alexander Craig, 21, was being held on suspicion of vehicular eluding, DUI and resisting arrest after making about 10 calls between 8:30 and 11 p.m. Thursday and leading police on a chase.

"He called 911 and said, 'I'm hammered ... come get me,"' said Sgt. Rob Kelley.

He described his car, dropped clues of where he was and even gave his name.

About 20 officers were involved in the search, but could find Craig.

"He said we need to try harder to find him. He said he couldn't believe he hasn't been caught yet," Kelley said.

After nearly two hours, Craig found them. He pulled up in front of squad cars and drove off, running red lights, driving down the wrong side of the street and jumping medians. He was caught when his car, leaking fluids, broke down and police used a stun gun on him.

Intoxicated drivers usually try to stay under the radar, Kelley said.

"For somebody to call us -- that's a first in 20 years I'm aware of," he said.