Comment permalink

"We can't police stupidity and ignorance.''

That's the message from frustrated Dunedin police after more than a dozen drink drivers were caught in the city over the weekend.

Inspector Craig Brown said police nabbed 13 motorists in Dunedin and Mosgiel who were over the limit, including one person who blew 970mcg  - nearly four times the legal limit.

There were no specific police operations running over the weekend, meaning the drivers were picked up as part of normal policing.

On a standard weekend police would catch between four and seven drink drivers in the city.

"We can say it's disappointing until we're blue in the face, but people still seem to be thinking they can get away with it.''

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said people needed to plan their nights out in advance, to make sure they had a sober driver.

"Arrange your mates to do it, and those mates need to step up and stay sober.''

Police could police "so much, but we can't police stupidity and ignorance'', he said. 

Comments

As an ex drink-driver, who did a lot of drink-driving, I can tell you that if you want to stop drink-driving, then the penalty should be the loss of the right to drink - because that is all that is important to a drunk person.
This has the benefit of not negatively impacting the offender and their family by making transport a problem, and it benefits the family by not having a drunk around.
1st offence 1 year, 2nd offence life. And anyone who supplies them with booze loses their right to drink.
It's the drinking, not the driving, that is the problem.
Bring in a right to drink alcohol licence if need be.

Well done NZP however there are attitudes on Social Media in Dunedin that might say this is ok to drink drive ??? Because they condone other things that are really socially unacceptable, like Students smashing up houses, People Dumping Rubbish, sure not as bad but it makes society not give a....... and no accountability. As Grizz has said time to get tough

The dd is a crime. So is 'smashing' property.

Do drunk drivers go to Court? Remember the ODT's photographs of the convicted?

 

Advertisement