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Counties Manukau police say there is an urgent need for a change in community attitudes towards alcohol and driving after a major weekend operation netted more than 300 suspected drink-drivers.
Operation Safer Counties-Manukau was run on Friday and Saturday nights with checkpoints on several major roads, including the Southern Motorway.
Road policing manager Inspector Heather Wells said 13,356 vehicles were stopped and drivers breath-tested. Of those, 274 returned positive results and would face prosecution in the next two weeks. A further 34 drivers had blood samples taken and were awaiting results.
Ms Wells said illegal street-racing activities also reduced "dramatic-ally" while the operation was running.
"There were fewer crashes on the roads, the [Middlemore] hospital had quieter-than-normal evenings and police response vehicles had time to be proactive," she said.
Bailiffs were with the police at some of the checkpoints and executed 48 warrants, taking 34 vehicles off the road and clearing outstanding fines amounting to $94,867.
Police-rostered salvage operators towed away 100 vehicles whose drivers were disqualified or driving while forbidden.
Twenty arrests were made for threatening to kill, stolen vehicles, weapons, refusing blood, breach of bail, wanted on warrant and wilful damage. Seventy-one drivers had their licences suspended.
- NZPA
