Police Blitz

[MattRSK]

NZ Police CommCens Alert 16:00 17-12-2006 Canterbury

Location of incident: Christchurch

Incident Type: Canterbury Road Policing Blitz

Over Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the last weekend Police ran the largest drink driving operation Christchurch drivers have seen.



Up to 80 staff from Canterbury, Tasman (Nelson) and Southern (Dunedin) operated four ACC Stop Buses (Booze Buses) targeting central city drinking. The aim of the operation was to remove as many drink drivers from the road as possible prior to Christmas.



× 25,000 drivers were tested over the three nights.

× 1500 had consumed alcohol that was detected by Police

× Of those 140 were over the limit and will be facing drink drive charges

× 21 drivers had their drivers licences suspended for 28 days due to their level of intoxication

× 9 cars were seized



Notable incidents included -



× One driver stopped in a stolen car who blew over twice the legal limit. He had proceeds from a burglary in the car with him

× Seven drivers to be charged with illegal street racing (not all in one race). They were involved in races on Harper Ave approaching a checkpoint. The highest speed detected was 123 km/h (it is a 50 km/h area)

× A mobile meth lab detected at a checkpoint. The occupants of the car were from out of town but were recognised by Police from out of Canterbury (the car occupants were dealt with by CIB)


The Canterbury Road Policing Manager, Inspector Derek Erasmus, said the Operation was terrifyingly successful. "Normally we catch 1 in every 500 to 600 drivers for being over the limit. This weekends catch rate was 1 in every 179 drivers. Disappointing is not strong enough to describe Police reaction to those caught. It shows that many drivers have forgotten the drink drive message in the festivities relating to Christmas"



"The pleasing aspects of the operation was the large number of people who were walking after having been drinking, and the support drivers gave to the operation as they were being tested."



"Police will not be letting up our focus on alcohol in the lead up to Christmas and the New Year so plan to be breathtested and make other arrangements if you are drinking alcohol this Christmas"





Inspector Erasmus can be contacted on 03 363 7417 from 0800 on Monday, or through the Christchurch Central Operator on 03 363 7400









Issued by: Inspector Doug Parker


Not bad eh

[WINJA]

Yeah Gotta Give The Pigs The Thumbs Up For That

[Toaster]

Bloody idiots drinking and driving. What a muppet drinking after doing a burg... twat.

[Hawkeye]

I headed up North on Friday. Got to the weight station at Bulls to find a swarm of them. Must have been 25 cops on each side stopping everything.
There was already a couple of cages getting the treatment after failing the basic test. This was about 6pm Friday night. Obviously trying to catch the afternoon xmas drinkers.

[Karma]

Good one for that...

I see a stop point every so often on a Friday night by the Quay Street foodtown in Auckland. Makes me laugh to see the coppers giving it to the boy racers, then I get waved through

[Calo]

Bloody idiots drinking and driving. What a muppet drinking after doing a burg... twat.

It's more likely that he drank BEFORE doing the burg.

[Storm]

Good work those men. There's enough crazy driving round here without throwing booze at the equation

[Whynot]

Notable incidents included -



× One driver stopped in a stolen car who blew over twice the legal limit. He had proceeds from a burglary in the car with him

× Seven drivers to be charged with illegal street racing (not all in one race). They were involved in races on Harper Ave approaching a checkpoint. The highest speed detected was 123 km/h (it is a 50 km/h area)

× A mobile meth lab detected at a checkpoint. The occupants of the car were from out of town but were recognised by Police from out of Canterbury (the car occupants were dealt with by CIB)

Some interesting bonus prizes there for the cops

[Robbo]

Thumbs Up to our traffic police as i see this as being constructive policing as opposed to wasting time and effort on motorists who are travelling a little over the speed limit.
Hopefully they might make an effort to target Tailgaters and Red Light runners soon as well. Either way, we need to get the "Dickheads" off our roads and to try and make it safer for the rest of us.

[Bend-it]

Yeah!! Maybe now they'll acknowledge that SPEED isn't all that kills...

Maybe I'm just hopeful?

[McJim]

Ultimately what's the point?

This is New Zealand - They will just drive while disqualified - result? Nutters still on the road.

[Bend-it]

Confiscating cars is a good move... make it hurt the pocket...

Repeat offence, you don't get it back. Auction and give proceeds to a charity...

[ManDownUnder]

Ultimately what's the point?

This is New Zealand - They will just drive while disqualified - result? Nutters still on the road.

Yeah but I'm all in favour of anything that makes it more difficult/costly/awkwared for the little bastards.

Good on the cops!!

[Lias]

I headed up North on Friday. Got to the weight station at Bulls to find a swarm of them. Must have been 25 cops on each side stopping everything.
There was already a couple of cages getting the treatment after failing the basic test. This was about 6pm Friday night. Obviously trying to catch the afternoon xmas drinkers.

Ratshit bastards were revenue gathering not just doing breath testing.. We were travelling down to welly for my sisters wedding on saturday and I was driving the missus cage becaue she was tired. They did me for no reg, no wof on the cage, and didnt even breath test me after giving me the fines.

[ManDownUnder]

Ratshit bastards were revenue gathering not just doing breath testing.. We were travelling down to welly for my sisters wedding on saturday and I was driving the missus cage becaue she was tired. They did me for no reg, no wof on the cage, and didnt even breath test me after giving me the fines.

Aw shit - the bastards - they're keeping death traps and drunks off the streets...?