Drink Driving message still not getting through.

Counties Manukau Road Policing Manager Inspector Heather Wells said it is disappointing drivers are still not worrying about drinking and driving. 9 checkpoints were set up in Manukau and Papakura on Saturday night. As a result 7,524 vehicles were stopped and 81 drivers will be going to court to answer charges of excess breath alcohol. 12 drivers elected to have a blood sample taken. Inspector Wells says it is unacceptable to have this number of drink drivers on our roads.

7 arrests were made for a variety of offences such as stolen vehicles, Dangerous Driving, failing to stop and possession of drugs. 29 drivers had their licences suspended.

Police are concerned that there were 32 females (out of the 81 drivers ) and 14 under 20 year olds apprehended for drink driving. At one checkpoint an unlicensed 15 year old blew nearly 400, a pregnant woman was processed and over the limit and another woman over the limit was going home to breast feed her 4 month old baby.

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. Police will be on checkpoints throughout Christmas and the New Year Holiday period.