Drink-drivers and drugged drivers be warned - police are out
in force this Christmas-New Year holiday period.
Southern district police launched a drink-driving campaign
this week and have a simple message for drink- or
drug-drivers: ''The answer is simple. Don't take the risk of
getting caught driving under the influence of alcohol or
drugs,'' Senior Sergeant Steve Larking said.
Throughout the holiday period drivers could expect to see
marked and plain police vehicles stopping motorists.
''We will be mass testing as many drivers as possible at peak
times at road checkpoints and also carrying out random
stops,'' Snr Sgt Larking said.
With many people attending work and family functions, it was
important food was available and travel arrangements were
made to ensure everyone got home safely, he said.
For drivers under 20 years, there was a zero alcohol limit.
Older adults caught drink-driving faced a range of penalties,
including three months' imprisonment, six months'
disqualification from driving and a fine of up to $4500.
Alcohol and drug-affected drivers continued to feature in
crashes across Southland and Otago and they represented a
real risk to the safety of all road users, Snr Sgt Larking
said.
Breath testing
• In Southern police district:Between December 2011 and
January 2012, 45,909 drivers were stopped and
breath-tested
• Of those, 291 were charged with drink- or drug-driving
offences.
• Of those drivers, 70 were under 20 years of age; 16 were
recorded in Dunedin/Clutha, 22 in rural Otago and 32 in
Southland.
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