Drink Drive Operation in Auckland City District, 12:00am 23 Nov 2008

People driving around Auckland City over the period of Thursday 20 November through to Sunday 23 November were greeted by multiple Police Checkpoints set up to detect drunk drivers.

Auckland Police were assisted by the specialised Traffic Alcohol Group.

Over 13500 drivers were breath tested over the three evenings and early mornings at checkpoints strategically placed around the City and suburbs. Checkpoints ranged from Blockhouse Bay to Westmere, Glen Innes,Mt Albert and the Auckland CBD.

Of these drivers a total of 131 people were detected driving with excess breath alcohol with 16 of these drivers being under the age of 20.

Auckland City Road Policing Manager Inspector Gavin Macdonald said he was concerned by the numbers of people driving over the legal limit. Several drivers had babies and young children in their vehicle with them when they were stopped.

A 45 year old business woman gave a reading of 1055 micrograms of Alcohol per litre of breath. This was over 2 1/2 times the legal limit of 400 Micrograms/per litre.

18 vehicles were impounded and 37 people had their license suspended after returning a reading of more than 650 micrograms of Alcohol per litre of breath.

In addition two people were arrested (At different locations)for stealing a motor vehicle and 10 others arrested for a variety of offences including possession of cannabis and breaching their bail conditions.
Inspector Macdonald said a lot of offenders were shocked at the number of checkpoints being run in their local neighbourhood and had been caught out.

Inspector Macdonald's message to people driving around the Auckland City District was that they would be held accountable and prosecuted if they decided to break the law re drinking and driving.

The Police and the Public alike have had enough of intoxicated drivers irresponsible behaviour and offenders could expect to be stopped ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.

Two recent fatal crashes within Auckland City had both involved alcohol and Macdonald said it was unacceptable for drivers to put other road users at risk of death of serious injury by continuing to drive drunk.