250 booked in drink-drive blitz

A 14-year-old boy was one of thousands of Auckland drivers stopped in a police drink-driving blitz over the weekend.

Twelve checkpoints were set up in Manukau and Papakura on Friday and Saturday nights, stopping 17,122 vehicles and netting 247 suspected drink-drivers.

Another 47 elected to have a blood sample taken.

Police also arrested 25 people for offences including failing to stop, stolen vehicles, assaults, outstanding warrants and driving while disqualified.

They impounded 37 vehicles and 86 drivers had their licences suspended.

A 14-year-old boy was stopped while driving his drunk mother and friend home.

His mother had thought it was the safest option, police said.

Another driver was stopped by police and had his car impounded around 15 minutes after his sober driver was processed.

The driver had given the keys back to his drunk friend.

Another youth was five times over the legal limit of 150 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

He already had two previous convictions for drink-driving as well as other serious driving charges.

The blitz also involved court bailiffs who checked vehicle registrations for outstanding fines and reparation payments.

They seized 66 vehicles and collected $12,641 in fines.

Counties Manukau road policing manager Inspector Heather Wells said the number of drunk drivers netted was disappointing, and they showed a total disregard for the safety of other road users.

- NZPA