: Auckland City District: Auckland City

MEDIA RELEASE November 05-08, 2009

Auckland City Drink Drive Operation- Operation Safer Roads

People driving around Auckland City during the period of Thursday 05 -Sunday 08 November were greeted by multiple Police Checkpoints set up to detect drunk drivers. Auckland City Police were assisted by the specialised Traffic Alcohol Group.

Over 16,000 drivers were breath tested over the four early morning checkpoints strategically placed around the Central City and Tämaki Dr.

Of these drivers a total of 100 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 a real concern that 41 drivers were caught driving intoxicated on the Thursday and Friday mornings, as other road users were just getting up and on their way to work.

Inspector Macdonald said a lot of offenders had driven from other parts of the Auckland Region and were already intoxicated before they arrived in the Auckland City CBD.

These people had been caught out and were surprised by the number of checkpoints operating at that time of the morning.

The Inspector said offending drivers needed to start waking up to the fact that Driving whilst intoxicated was no joke and that it they continued to offend, it was only a matter of time before they hurt or killed not only themselves but other innocent road users.

Inspector Macdonald's message to people driving in Auckland City was that they would be held accountable and prosecuted, if they decided to break the law by continuing to drink and drive.

The Police and the Community alike have had enough of the intoxicated driver's irresponsible behaviour and offenders could expect to be stopped ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

Inspector Macdonald also thanked the majority of law abiding drivers passing through the various checkpoints for their patience and co operation.

ends

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