Woman blows over three times the legal limit in busy Hamilton traffic

Waikato Police are appalled at the high alcohol result a woman returned after an officer noticed her car in trouble during busy morning traffic in Hamilton today.

Acting District Road Policing Manager, Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno, said the dog handler was travelling along Wairere Dr about 9.30am when he noticed something wrong with the vehicle in front of him.

"The officer saw the vehicle shudder to a stop, getting out of his car to check if the driver was alright he established the car had run out of petrol.

"Two men came to the officer's aid as he moved the vehicle to the side of the road however while he was doing this he noticed fumes that obviously couldn't be fuel, that appeared to be coming from the driver."

Calling for assistance another unit arrived and the woman was required to undergo a breath screening test that came back negative and she was then taken for an evidential breath test.

"The woman returned a result of 1460mgms, given the legal adult alcohol limit is 400mgms of alcohol per litre of breath this is very concerning, particularly given the time of day when traffic flows are heavy with many parents transporting kids to school or child care.

"Like any District the Waikato has a small number of recidivist drink drivers who repeatedly put other road users at risk, this driver was no different in that it is the third time in two years she has returned a result over 1100mgms and she was charged with excess breath alcohol, third or subsequent offence."

Mr Penno said it was pleasing to see the dog handler involved had taken the whole of policing approach to road policing to heart, taking time to intervene and make other motorist safe.

"Currently with a road toll of 27 we are nearly double the number of road fatalities experienced in other Districts. To address this we need motorists to be our eyes and ears and if you see something happening on the roads call *555.

"It's not about sticking your nose in, its about positive intervention, this situation could have ended up a lot worse as people just don't have the cognitive skills to control a motor-vehicle after consuming such a large amount of alcohol."