Taxi Driver Caught Drinking Beer Camouflaged as Coke Can while Driving

On Friday, the emergency police (UP) published a picture of what was apparently a coke can, which the taxi driver drank from at work. It turned out to be a beer can, camouflaged with a can cooler.

– In connection with a speed check in an 80-zone in Skien on Thursday, the taxi driver was stopped due to excessive speed. He was routinely tested for rust, and it yielded results, says press manager at UP, Kristin Bjørntvedt to Dagbladet.

Telemarksavisa mentioned the case first.

Was reported for several conditions

She does not have information about how fast the person was driving, or how much the breath test yielded.

The taxi driver admitted that he had been drinking beer, and that the beer can was camouflaged as a Coke can. There were no passengers in the car when he was stopped, but he had dropped passengers off before the check.

– What is UP’s general impression of the taxi industry?

– I can’t answer that straight away, replies Bjørntvedt.

– We encourage everyone to drive without drugs, to encourage others to do the same – in addition to tipping the police if you suspect that you are driving under the influence of drugs. During Whitsun, we encourage drivers and road users in general to be patient. Allow plenty of time, take breaks, and don’t make dangerous overtaking. Take the time it takes, she adds.

The taxi driver was taken for a blood sample, and his driver’s license and driver’s license were confiscated. He has also been reported for drunken driving and rough driving.

– Completely incompatible

Director of the Norwegian Taxi Association, Torbjørn Brenna, is clear that being a taxi driver is completely incompatible with driving while intoxicated.

He does not know the said case specifically, and speaks on a general basis.

– It is clear that this is obviously not good. Taking a taxi should be a safe and good experience for all passengers – both those sitting in the car and other road users, he tells Dagbladet.

Brenna points out that the association is completely clear when it comes to the topic, which he refers to as both correct and important.

– It’s nothing but, even. That’s just how it is. It is bad to drive under the influence of drugs anyway, you put both yourself and others at risk.

When asked if this is something the union sees as a challenge for the industry, he replies that they hear about such cases very rarely.

– But it’s not like we can expect to hear about everything. Fortunately, we rarely hear about this. But it is clear that we take it extremely seriously when it first happens.