Brian W,
There is also the possibility that someone in the establishment called the cops, told them you had been drinking and were leaving. It happens all the time, "weather or not you even had been".
The thing is, they can't stop you just because someone reported it, that's hearsay and can't be acted upon. However, they can investigate the call, (they're supposed to, it's thier job) observe your driving and if probable cause is established, pull you over. Obviously they didn't establish that, all appeared well.
That is not hearsay, what makes the difference on whether or not an officer can make a stop alone on that persons eye witness account is if that person is willing to sign a statement and testify to it in court. It's often up to the people to follow through and put a voice to there complaint.
When was the last time there was a fatal drunk driving accident within the city limits of Miles City?
To the person who said, "When is the last time Miles City had a fatality in city limits from drunk driving?" Really does it matter? What you should ask is when is the last time property damage was caused by a drunk driver in Miles City. I would put money on this weekend and sometime during the week and last weekend and so on. Do you have any idea how many times a month somebody gets woke up in the middle of the night or wakes up in the morning to find the back or side of there parked vehicle pushed in and no accountable driver in sight. Why do I say this because I know from experience that it happens on average a couple times a week. Now I know we shouldn't assume that when your vehicle gets hit at 2:15 a.m. and the driver drives off that that driver was intoxicated. But please use your biased for drunk driving brain and realize that if you were a gambling man and wanted to make a lot of money you should put your money on that person was under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.
Being followed by cops is a long-standing Miles City tradition. It doesn't happen in bigger towns in Montana, and is one of the many, many, many reasons I don't live there anymore, nor ever have any intention to move back.
Really? or maybe now that your older and don't drive home drunk so much you don't notice it as much. Or maybe you have a bad taste in your mouth from some unfortunate event that took place with you, so now every single Miles City cop is a dirty car following, out to get drunk driver jack booted crime fighter. Shame on them, shame on them for trying to enforce Montana's DUI laws.
To those defending driving while intoxicated, and yes a few of you have in this thread. Guess what times have changed the majority of people no longer want it taking place on their streets, which is why Montana has amped up it's DUI laws. It's just unfortunate that a lot of people don't think it's a problem until it affects them. Just know it affects everyone in one way or another. Rant over.
[This message has been edited by Brandon Loomis (12/31/2012)]