Waikato drunk driver found behind wheel with 4 children in car

Just days after warning of a hard core group of recidivist drunk drivers putting the lives of other motorists at risk Waikato Police encountered three more intoxicated motorists, one carrying four children as passengers.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said the arrests happened overnight in the North Waikato when officers established checkpoints around Huntly.

"In the first incident one man drew attention to himself on account of the very low speed he was travelling at across Tainui Bridge. When stopped the man had to be helped out of his vehicle and he returned a breath alcohol reading of 1162mgms.

"Charged with third or subsequent excess breath alcohol the man was held in custody overnight and bailed this morning."

If officers thought that was going to be the worst incident of the night they were mistaken with an intoxicated driver encountered a short time later who caused them even more concern.

"A man was stopped at a checkpoint on his way home to a rural location outside Huntly. When breath tested he returned a breath alcohol reading of 640mgms and he had his four children in the car with him.

"This man has five previous excess breath alcohol charges and is indicative of the hard core recidivist drink driving element we warned about on Monday. Not only was he placing his life and that of other drivers at risk he was playing Russian roulette with the lives of four children."

Mr Tooman said a third driver was stopped but failed to complete a breath test. Arrested in relation to a warrant linked to a previous drink driving matter in July Police are currently awaiting the results of a blood test taken overnight.

"On Monday we spoke of our concern about women becoming an increasing risk on the roads driving under the influence of alcohol men still account for 55-65 per cent of drink drivers.

"Overall drink driving figures have dropped by about four per cent however there is this hard core group that seems to think that drink driving offences are little more than a speeding ticket, regardless of the risk they pose to themselves or other members of the public."

Mr Tooman said with the Waikato road toll already at 41 this year people should expect to see not only a greater number of alcohol checkpoints on the District's roads but be prepared to be stopped and breath tested by patrol cars any where and at any time.

"I really think the majority of people see drink driving as unacceptable, what we need to do together is to work towards the situation where it is not ok even for this small minority."