The cold weather dosen't stop drink driving

Counties Manukau Road Policing Manager Inspector Heather Wells said despite the colder weather people were still out drinking then driving. 12 checkpoints were set up in Manukau and Papakura Districts on Friday and Saturday night. 13,593 vehicles were stopped over two nights and 216 drivers will be going to court to answer charges of excess breath alcohol. 58 drivers elected to have a blood sample taken. Inspector Wells says it is unacceptable to have this number of drink drivers on our roads.

The Court Bailiffs were also out checking vehicles that were registered to people who have outstanding fines and reparation owing to victims. In total Court Bailiffs seized 35 vehicles and collected $6,130 cash. They cleared $94,502 warrants.

25 arrests were made for a variety of offences such as stolen vehicles, failing to stop, assaults, wanted on warrant and Driving whilst Disqualified. 86 drivers had their licences suspended and 37 vehicles were impounded.

One driver was apprehended and processed and found to be over the legal limit. His vehicle was taken off him. He then went home and got his fathers car and was stopped at another checkpoint and processed again. Once again he was over the limit. When Insp Wells questioned him as to why he drove after being processed the first time he replied he wanted to get to a Kava party in Otahuhu! There were 3 drivers who obtained spare keys or another car and drove after being processed. All these drivers ended up with two Drink Drive charges for the night. One male passenger wasn't happy when his wife was stopped and taken into the Booze Bus to have further tests. He abused Police and then attempted to take a patrol car - without success. A 17 year old male was stopped for driving at 190 km/h on the Southern Motorway. He blew 589 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath which is nearly 4 times the legal limit for under 20 years of age. He stated he was in a hurry to pick up his girlfriend.

The results from this weekend still show there are a percentage of drivers on our roads who show a total disregard for the safety of other road users. Inspector Wells says that it is time people thought about the consequences of Drinking and driving. Too many innocent people are being killed or injured on our roads through drivers who break the laws.

Police are committed to continue with this hard line approach to remove these high risk offenders to ensure safety for other road users. Inspector Wells says this is a community problem which needs a major attitudinal change.