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Police stop 48 drunk drivers on North Shore

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Police stopped more than 40 drunk drivers on the North Shore at the weekend

Police stopped more than 40 drunk drivers on the North Shore at the weekend

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:20a.m.

Police braved bad weather to catch 48 drunk drivers during an end-of-week blitz on Auckland's North Shore.

More than 10,560 vehicles were stopped with all drivers being tested for alcohol consumption as part of Operation Lockdown 7.

Forty-eight drivers, including four teenagers, tested positive for excess breath alcohol, with 16 electing to have blood tests taken, which will determine whether or not they will face court proceedings.

Senior Sergeant Brett Batty said the numbers were slightly lower compared to previous operations due to poor weather conditions on Thursday and Friday night.

"Inclement weather seems to have reduced the number of vehicles travelling through our area of operation. The timing and location of several of the check-points was also designed to reinforce the 'anytime anywhere' message around compulsory breath testing."

Officers also made a number of arrests for offences such as theft, assault and drug possession. Dangerous driving and sustained traction loss were also detected and prosecuted with police impounding five vehicles for traffic related offences.

Ministry of Justice collections officers assisted police resulting in another five drivers losing their vehicles at a check-point due to unpaid fines, while several others had to make on-the-spot payments.

"Operations like this are designed to shift the mind-set of drink-drivers in our community toward the realisation that their actions create significant risk for themselves and the community at large, and are not acceptable," Mr Batty said.

The message remains the same, he said, "if you're going to drink, don't drive."

"Police are committed to reducing crime and crashes, and one thing you can count on is that we will continue to be out testing drivers at any time and any place."

NZPA

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Comments [2]

Steve
04 Sep 2010 10:49a.m.

I wonder what age the teenagers were .If they were 19 ,one more year would have made there limit legal if under 400
Current legal limit for an under 20 is 150., which is a couple of beers . Either the limit for over 18s should be raised or the over 20s should be lowered so we have a level playing field .It is clearly a double standard and needs to be addresed .The current policy of this type of age discrimination only adds to the disrespect of the police and creates an ever growing hatred among the youth of today

lyn
24 Aug 2010 6:16p.m.

I live in central city and some of the worst offenders for drink driving are the police ... we live above the police station and they drink till all hours (the noise control wont go there to make them quiet down either) then you see them swaying to there cars and driving home ... so not cool but there a law unto themselves and can do whatever they want

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