The number of drivers caught drunk behind the wheel in South Otago has reached double figures in the past week, leaving police frustrated and also concerned.
Five drivers, ranging in ages from 17 to over 40, were caught last weekend with the help of the police "booze bus".
Sergeant Martin Bull, of Balclutha, said that tally, plus the arrests from the previous weekend, meant 10 drivers would appear in court for drink-driving.
With winter approaching and fog, rain and snow already about, the last thing anyone wanted was having lots of intoxicated drivers on the roads, too, he said.
In one incident, a 22-year-old Balclutha woman, with two young children in the back seat, was stopped and processed for drink-driving with a breath-alcohol level of 558mcg.
Another driver, a 17-year-old from Clutha Valley, was stopped with a breath-alcohol level of 692mcg - more than four times the legal limit for someone his age.
Sgt Bull said it was very disappointing so many people were caught and he wondered if that meant there were a lot of intoxicated drivers behind the wheel every weekend.
Police would continue their offensive against drink-driving with more regular patrols around the district.
All five drivers caught last weekend are expected to appear in the Balclutha District Court next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Balclutha man faces a wilful damage charge after being caught spraying the word "Kai" outside the Rosebank Lodge in Balclutha on Saturday night.
The man, who had earlier been kicked out of the hotel, returned soon afterwards and began spraying on the window of the hotel.
He will also appear in court next week.
