Nelson partygoers opt to drink and drive

Relevant offers

Crime

Suppression lapses for kidnap accused New Zealand's 'biggest' P-lab busted Farm worker burst cow's eyeball with bar Gisborne stab victim named Illness delays Urewera trial Police bust nets 'substantial' cash, meth Urewera four trial: 'Gunfire' from camp Woman charged over Gisborne death Earthquake stress blamed for murder Criticism over Auckland motorway shooting

Nelson police are startled by the large number of young people caught drink-driving in the Maitai Valley yesterday after a boozy New Year's Eve.

Police set up a checkpoint and stopped all motorists driving down Maitai Valley Rd towards the city, catching and charging 37 drink-drivers in just four hours yesterday morning.

Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed said most of those caught were young men aged 16 to 20, who had been staying and partying at the Maitai Valley Motor Camp.

"It's really disappointing. It really is," Mr Koefoed said.

Police set up a checkpoint in the Maitai Valley every New Year's Day but this was the first time so many drink-drivers had been caught, he said.

While the alcohol levels were "not excessively high", they were still concerning.

Police had had a heavy presence in the valley in the days leading up to New Year's Eve and on the day, so the 2000 young people staying at the camp knew they were in the area, Mr Koefoed said – so it was surprising that so many got up yesterday and drove while still over the legal alcohol level.

They had other transport options, he said, "yet still decided to take the risk and drive".

Those at the camp would probably have known about yesterday's checkpoint from those who had passed it or had been stopped, but "they are still coming down", he said.

Some of the drink-drivers caught were accompanied by sober passengers who had licences.

Between 15 and 20 officers took turns manning the Maitai Valley checkpoint during the day.

Police also held checkpoints in other areas yesterday and on Thursday.

Over a 24-hour period, Nelson Bays police charged a total of 53 drink-drivers, who will appear in court within the next two weeks.

Mr Koefoed said that if people had any doubts about whether they might still be over the alcohol limit after drinking the night before, they should not drive.

"It will be in your system for up to 12 hours," he said.

"If they have been drinking heavily overnight, there's every prospect they'll still be over the limit."

- © Fairfax NZ News