Over the weekend North Shore Police have continued with Operation Lock-Down, a serial operation targeting drunk drivers.

Operation Lock-Down 5 was the fifth operation of its kind in a continuous series aimed at shutting down specific locations by swamping them with compulsory breath testing sites.

Sergeant Chris McKenzie of the North Shore Police said that the weekend operation ran over Friday and Saturday nights and involved staff from North Shore, Waitakere, Rodney and the Traffic Alcohol Group.

As a result 8,834 vehicles were stopped at 16 checkpoints around the North Shore, with all drivers being tested for alcohol consumption.

In excess of 570 drivers were found to have consumed alcohol prior to driving and 69 drivers tested positive for excess breath alcohol. 22 elected to have blood tests taken, which will determine whether or not they will face court proceedings.

7 of the drivers detected were teenagers aged under 20 years.

Sergeant McKenzie says that while the number of vehicles stopped during the operation was somewhat lower than previous, the ratio of drivers over the legal limit had in fact increased.

In addition to the drivers processed for Excess Breath Alcohol a further 8 were arrested for offences including Drugs, Driving whilst Disqualified, Failing to Stop, Reckless Driving and Warrants.

12 vehicles were impounded and 15 drivers had their driver licence suspended.

Sergeant McKenzie said that further Operation Lock-Down’s are already in the planning stages and that North Shore Road Policing staff will continue to be vigilant in testing and apprehending drunk drivers. One thing you can count on is that we will continue to be out testing drivers at any time and any place.

The message is simple and doesn’t change, "If you're going to drink, don't drive”.


ENDS

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