Of the 520 drivers stopped and breath tested by Western Bay of Plenty Police during a week-long option, five are facing charges of driving with excess breath alcohol.
A 32-year-old woman recorded the highest reading when she blew 1228 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath – more than three times the legal limit of micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
Police will be carrying road side breath tests in an effort to stomp out drink driving.
Sergeant Mike Owen says this result is absolutely horrendous.
'There is no excuse for this at all.”
Police ran the operation from June 9 to June 15 in an effort to crack down on drink driving in the area.
Mike says five people caught drink driving is too many.
'Drink driving is never okay but this result is particularly disappointing when you look at the high levels of intoxication these drivers had.”
A 42-year-old woman blew 1031 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, while a 33-year-old man blew 905.
Police also arrested a 27-year-old man when he blew 633 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, along with a 20-year-old man who blew 555.
Mike says in addition to those arrested for drink driving, six people were also caught driving while disqualified.
'In total 374 tickets were issued for a number of offences, including speed, restraints, intersection breaches and graduated driver licence breaches.
'Police will be having regular campaigns on drink driving so if you are going to drink and drive, expect to get caught.”
2 comments
Problem is...
Posted on 18-06-2014 08:53 | By penguin
...that the penalties for drink driving are too lax especially for the major offenders. The first time penalty should be severe which may get the message across at the outset. Don't wait for someone to become a recidivist offender. Impounding their cars for a significant period may also help. Fines are too easy to accumulate and then to be eventually written off. After all, a drunk driver has the potential to kill people. Isn't society owed the right to be safe?
oldtimer
Posted on 18-06-2014 18:22 | By oldtimer
I lost a son a few years ago through drink driving and yes it was his own fault. It,s not a nice feeling when you see so many people fluanting the law they know the risks, it,s a great pity that the courts don't give harsher penalties as I would like to see the offenders loose their lience suspended for at least 10years on the first offence and increase by 5years at atime if they keep breaking the law. And it still works out a lot cheaper than killing themselfs or some innocent persons
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