ALCOHOL IN BLOOD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29684, 30 November 1961, Page 11

ALCOHOL IN BLOOD

Drivers’ Tests Urged (N 4 Ptsm Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 29. A person drinking 6oz of spirits or three pints of ordinary strength New Zealand beer had 0.1 per cent, of alcohol in bis bloodstream and was therefore unfit to drive a motor vehicle, the Government Analyst (Mr O. H- Keys) told Auckland Justices of the Peace yesterday. He said he had advocated for years compulsory analytical blood tests for persons arrested on the grounds of drinking “but our legislators have so far failed to take the necessary action. “Our police tend to refrain from apprehending a driver unless he is really tight, because they know they must have a strong case to get a conviction." Mr Key* said he would like to see magistrates in the position to convict if a person had 0.1 per cent in his blood, unless, of course, there were other mitigating circumstances. ‘Tfcns analytical test would also protect the innocent person from conviction and relieve the medical profession of an impossible task in defining a borderline case," he said. The country doctor, in particular, with little experience in testing drunken drivers, was not really fit to pass juxhgment. "But with the evidence of ■ bkxd test there is no room for any doubt,” said Mr Keys.