Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the number of drink drivers caught this year has increased. Photo / File
Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the number of drink drivers caught this year has increased. Photo / File
More Western Bay motorists have been nabbed drink-driving so far this year than in the whole of last year with more than quarter of those caught falling within the new lower alcohol limit.
Head of Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion revealed as at October 10, 1004 motorists had been caught drink-driving on Western Bay roads this year - 133 more than the whole of last year, and only five fewer than in the 2013 calendar year.
Mr Campion said it was "very disappointing" the number of drink-drivers in the area was starting to creep up again.
"Even one more drink driver is one too many, and it's got to stop," he said.
Of those caught this year 260, more than a quarter, were nabbed for flouting the new lower alcohol limits.
Under the new rules which came into force on December 1 last year adult drivers who fail an evidential breath test of between 251 and 400mcgs receive a $200 fine and 50 demerits.
Even one more drink driver is one too many, and it's got to stop.
Drivers who have more than 400mcgs of alcohol per litre of breath or more than 50mls of alcohol in their blood face criminal convictions and other sanctions, including licence disqualifications.
A zero alcohol limit applies for drivers under 20.
As at September 30 this year, 883 drivers were fined $54,000, of which $51,000 was incurred by drivers flouting the lower alcohol limit.
Last year 871 drivers were caught drink-driving on local roads compared to 1009 in 2013. Last year 826 drink drivers incurred $11,600 in fines.
Since December 1 last year 267 adults in the district have been fined for driving in excess of the new alcohol limits and collectively been fined $57,000.
Recent Ministry of Justice figures also revealed only 30 drink drivers were sentenced by Bay of Plenty courts to have alcohol interlock devices fitted to their cars in 2013 and 2014.
Automobile Association Road Safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen said the number was far too few.
The devices prevent a drunk driver starting the vehicle.
During that time 23 people in Tauranga faced alcohol interlock sentences while there were seven in Whakatane and 568 nationally, with 420 interlock licences issued over that time.
Mr Thomsen said the number of people being given alcohol interlock sentences was "embarrassingly small".
AA research had found half the drink drivers caught met the criteria for an interlock, which would have been about 10,000 people in 2014.
Mr Thomsen said alcohol interlocks were effective at preventing drink driving, and the AA wanted all repeat offenders and those caught driving at twice the limit to receive this sentence.
AA also wanted more assessment and treatment for drink drivers, he said
Smart Start interlock provider Gavin Foster suggested the Government should offer some assistance as they heard stories every week about interlocks changing people's lives.
Earlier this month Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga announced a new pilot programme to fund interlock devices for at least 100 eligible repeat offenders.
Eligible offenders would also have the chance to shorten their disqualification period.
Corrections had also rolled out a nationwide programme of brief drink-drive interventions, with about 1310 offenders across 15 districts expected to take part, he said.
"Our Government is committed to reducing reoffending by 25 per cent by 2017. Breaking the link between substance abuse and offending is crucial," he said.
