Auckland Drink Drive Operation

People driving around Auckland City over the period of Friday 9 and Saturday10 July were greeted by multiple Police Checkpoints set up to detect drunk drivers.

Saturday night was also used as a dress rehearsal for next years Rugby World Cup with an extensive Police operation in and around the All Blacks test match at Eden Park.

Auckland Police were assisted by the specialised Traffic Alcohol Group.

Over 12,000 drivers were breath tested over the two evenings and early mornings at checkpoints strategically placed around the City and suburbs.

Of these drivers a total of 45 people were detected driving with an excess breath alcohol reading over the legal limit of 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Auckland City Road Policing Manager Inspector Gavin Macdonald said it was pleasing that the majority of people breath tested had not been drinking.

It was also good to see that a lot people going to the test match at Eden Park had used Public Transport and that the roads were relatively quite and free from congestion, both before and after the match.

It was a great dress rehearsal for the next years Rugby World Cup and the Auckland Public are to be congratulated for their efforts Inspector Macdonald said.

One act of stupidity came when 33 year old man who had originally walked home from Eden Park after drinking then decided to drive to the shops to get some cigarettes. He didn't get far and was stopped at a checkpoint. When he was processed he gave a reading of 859 micrograms of Alcohol per litre of breath. This was over twice the legal limit of 400 Micrograms/per litre.

12 vehicles were impounded and 20 people had their license suspended after returning a reading of more than 650 micrograms of Alcohol per litre of breath.

Inspector Macdonald's message to people going to future test matches at Eden Park was to continue to use public transport and that if you decided to drink alcohol make sure you didn't drive.