131 drink-drivers caught in Auckland blitz

More than 130 drivers were caught over the limit in a drink-drive blitz in Auckland at the weekend.

Over 13,500 drivers were breath-tested between Thursday and Sunday at checkpoints ranging from Blockhouse Bay to Westmere, Glen Innes, Mt Albert and the Auckland CBD.

A total of 131 people were detected driving with excess breath alcohol and 16 of them were under the age of 20, said Auckland city road policing manager Inspector Gavin Macdonald.

Several drivers had babies and young children in their vehicle with them when they were stopped, he said.

A 45-year-old business woman gave a reading of 1055 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, over two-and-a-half times the legal limit of 400mcg per litre.

Eighteen vehicles were impounded and 37 people had their licences suspended after returning a reading of more than 650mcg per litre.

Two people were also arrested at different locations for stealing a motor vehicle and 10 others for a variety of offences, including possession of cannabis and breaching their bail conditions.

Two recent fatal crashes within Auckland City had both involved alcohol and Mr Macdonald said it was unacceptable for drivers to put other road users at risk of death of serious injury by continuing to drive drunk.  

- NZPA