Police are telling people to "expect to be breath-tested" after a Dunedin father was allegedly caught driving more than five times the legal alcohol limit with his child in the car.
The 49-year-old had his primary-school aged child in the car when he drove through an impairment checkpoint in Kaikorai Valley Rd at 7.15pm on Wednesday, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said.
He underwent breath-testing procedures and recorded a breath alcohol level of 1334mcgs — the legal limit is 250mcg.
His driver’s licence was suspended and he was summoned to appear in Dunedin District Court at a later date.
A police spokeswoman urged people to take road safety seriously and make good judgement calls.
Lives "literally" depend on it, she said.
"If you have had a drink, don’t drive ... organise a sober driver, someone to pick you up, or catch a taxi or Uber.
"If you’re driving, expect to be breath-tested; slow down, keep your phone down, buckle up and drive sober."
Out of 1149 drivers who were tested over two impairment checkpoints in Dunedin on Wednesday there were four people who recorded readings over the limit.
A 63-year-old woman drove through the checkpoint in Kaikorai Valley Rd at 7pm where she admitted to drinking "a couple of wines", Sgt Lee said.
She was summoned to appear in Dunedin District Court at a later date.
The woman failed her breath-test screening and recorded a breath alcohol level of 554mcg.
Two other people recorded over the legal limit, a 62-year-old man who also recorded a breath alcohol level of 544mcgs, and a 35-year-old who recorded 400mcg.
Balclutha police were also conducting an impairment checkpoint in Clyde St.
At 9pm, a 34-year-old man spotted the checkpoint and attempted to avoid driving through it.
He turned down a side street, however, his manoeuvre caught the attention of police who then pulled the man over.
They discovered he was on a zero alcohol licence, Sgt Lee said.
He underwent breath-testing procedures and recorded a breath alcohol level of 400mcg.
The man would appear in court at a later date.
