Waikato Police say it's time community made a stand on drunk driving

A potentially lifesaving intervention is how a senior Waikato Police officer is describing a call made by a member of the public regarding a car weaving across the road near Cambridge overnight.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Freda Grace, said Police were called by a member of the public concerned about the manner of driving relating to a white Nissan Sentra station-wagon on SH1 at Karapiro about 7.40pm.

“The car was reported swerving and repeatedly crossing the centreline so obviously there was a concern regarding the risk this posed to the driver and other people using that stretch of the highway.

“A patrol car responded and pulled the driver over.

The 32-year-old man told the officer he was returning to Hamilton from Mt Maunganui and when he was breathalysed he returned a breath alcohol reading of 922mgs.

The man had his license suspended and is facing an excess breath alcohol, third or subsequent offence charge.”

Reflecting on how the person who made the driving complaint really made a difference, Mrs Grace said it was a pity more people didn’t step up to the mark to become life savers.

“We call driving complaints IUs, and though the number of 1Us we are receiving is climbing, other events overnight suggest there’s room for improvement.

“Drunk driving isn’t just an issue on rural roads, last night about 10pm officers noticed a Mitsubishi Lancer speeding past the Police Station on Hamilton’s Anzac Parade.

When stopped the 24-year-old male driver returned a breath alcohol reading of 866mgs and he too has had his license suspended for 28 days and faces court action for excess breath alcohol.”

Mrs Grace said those apprehensions and a driver aged under 20 who was stopped for speeding in Thames and returned a breath alcohol reading of 189mgs (the legal limit is zero) were particularly concerning as they came on the back of a very busy weekend in relation to intoxicated drivers.

“Last weekend, Road Policing staff alone processed 40 drivers for excess breath alcohol.

That figure is as high as we saw in the build up for Christmas and is absolutely horrendous.

It’s time the community took a stand and worked with Police to help reduce the risk.

“Already this year we’ve lost four people on Waikato roads and instead of increasing the risk by getting behind the wheel after drinking, we should be doing everything we can to make our roads a safe and social environment.”

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