Police Drink Drive Operation in Counties Manukau District

Police Swoop removes 220 Drink Drivers from Counties Manukau Roads.
Counties Manukau Road Policing Manager Inspector Heather Wells is offering no apology for coming down hard on drivers who break the law. There have been some horrific crashes recently and alcohol, speed and fatigue have been common factors in the majority of the crashes.
As a result Operation Safer Counties-Manukau 2 was run on Friday and Saturday nights with checkpoints on several roads within Manukau and Papakura. 9,429 vehicles were stopped and drivers breath tested. 220 returned positive results and these drivers will face prosecution in the next two weeks. 29 drivers had blood samples taken and are awaiting results.
Despite being apprehended and blowing tests over the limit a few drivers obtain other keys and drove again. A 19 year old youth was stopped at Mangere at 2325 and blew 400. The legal limit for this age is 150. The keys to the vehicle were given to a sober licenced driver. At 0325 the same youth was stopped at a checkpoint at East Tamaki Road where he underwent procedures and blew 580. He said 'I went home with my mates and had a few more beers. I knew the consequences but I just wanted to get my mates home.' He was subsequently arrested for driving whilst forbidden.
Inspector Wells say's 'they do anything to try and get home and by doing so put other peoples lives at risk. '
Early hours Saturday morning a vehicle was observed traveling at high speed. Due to the drivers reaction and vehicle default the vehicle skidded 90meters onto the wrong side of the road narrowly missing several patrol cars. The driver refused all tests. He now faces serious driving charges and Alcohol related charges. The vehicle was written off the road. It was fortunate no officers were testing at the time as it would have clearly placed them in danger.
On Sunday morning at about 0155 an alcohol impaired driver failed to stop at a checkpoint and crashed into the rear of vehicles stationary at the site. This crash involved three other vehicles one of which sustained extensive damage. The driver was processed and was found to be over the legal limit and will face a number of charges.
Several drivers returned a reading in excess of 1000 micrograms a number of these being females. One of these females also had 3 young children in the car.
There were a number of other incidents where the level of intoxication and driver behaviour drew the attention of police.
Bailiffs accompanied Police at a number of the checkpoint sites. They executed 43 Warrants, removed 29 vehicles and cleared outstanding fines amounting to $94,034.45c. 12 drivers paid their fines in full with cash totaling $10,708.

19 arrests were made for a variety of offences and 61 drivers licences were suspended.
Inspector Wells says police alone can not effect the change of attitude around Drink Driving and there is an urgent need for the community at large to change their behaviour toward this type of offending.
The results from this weekend show there are a percentage of drivers on our roads who show a total disregard for the safety of other road users. Police are committed to continue with this hard line approach to remove these high risk offenders to ensure safety for other road users.