Too many drinking drivers — Ministry

Press, 16 April 1984, Page 9

Too many drinking drivers — Ministry

Too many Christchurch motorists are still driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Ministry of Transport after its second Operation Checkpoint drink-driving blitz began on Friday evening. Some people did not seem to be aware that the Ministry was conducting a blitz, said Sergeant G. Edmonds. Traffic officers had noticed that many patrons at hotels and clubs had made alternative arrangements to get home, but felt that' too many were still driving after drinking. The Ministry manned a total of 15 checkpoints in

Christchurch at the weekend. On Friday evening, traffic officers at six checkpoints took four breath screening tests, three individual breath tests, and made one arrest. Checkpoints were set up near Shirley Lodge, the Black Horse Hotel, and the Caledonian Hotel. On Saturday evening, officers at nine checkpoints took four breath screening tests, four evidential breath tests, and two blood tests. Checkpoints were set up near the Hillsborough Tavern, the Phoenix Hotel, the Boon Hay Working

Men’s Club, and the Glenbyre Tavern. The Ministry did not have the figure of the total number of motorists stopped. Normal patrols were maintained and officers on these also stopped a number of motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. On Friday evening, officers on normal patrols took eight breath screening tests, seven evidential breath tests, four blood tests, and made one arrest. On Saturday evening, they took 10 breath screening tests, eight evidential breath tests, and four blood tests.