I started with an Acorn a3020, those machines were just amazing. I got my first PC shortly after running Windows for workgroups 3.11 jeez it felt like a step backwards.
If Acorn started in the Silicon Valley, we'd probably be using them today.
I don’t get how “field sobriety testing” in the sense of observing someone perform some coordinated actions is still a thing. In Ireland if stopped by a member of the police (Gardai) and they have suspicion they can require you to provide a breath or saliva sample. If you pass you are free to go, if you fail or refuse you are escorted to a police station and provide a blood sample or urine sample (I think this depends on if suspected of alcohol or drug offences) refusal to provide the sample is an offence
I don’t agree that it was eccentric, I used these as my first machine and they felt pretty natural. I would also suggest that these interactions weren’t completely standardised at that point.
In Ireland road tax (paid annually) are based on engine capacity for (pre 2008 cars) and CO2 emissions for everything after that. (Engine size is a ok proxy for vehicle size)