Drunk tries to outrun cops on motorised bike

File photo / NZ Herald

A drunk man tried to outrun police on a motorised bicycle with a top speed of 40km/h, says police.

A 43-year-old man rode through a police alcohol checkpoint in Hamilton last night, said road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman.

"The cyclist has refused to stop and driven through the checkpoint before turning off Victoria St on to Bryce St. A patrol car began following the rider and recorded his speed at about 40km/h - probably not the most dramatic fleeing drive we've encountered of late."

He said police caught up to the rider, who recorded a reading of 644 micrograms per litre of breath, 244mgms over the legal adult limit.

He said the man's bike had been impounded and the man had been charged with failing to stop and excess breath alcohol.

"Trying to outrun a late model Commodore on a motorised bike with a maximum speed of about 40km/h was probably not the most well thought out strategy someone could come up with and was possibly a judgement that was reached that was clouded by alcohol."

A series of alcohol checkpoints were established around Hamilton city as part of the ongoing Summer Safe Driving Campaign.

Later in the night, police saw a second example of a driver trying to avoid the same checkpoint.

A man about to turn on to Victoria St at about 2.20am noticed the same checkpoint and tried to reverse away without being noticed, Mr Tooman said.

"Unfortunately for the 27-year-old man driving the car a general duties patrol was passing and went to stop the car but the driver fled, stopped about a minute later the driver refused to be breath and blood tested, and he has been charged with failing to stop and refusing to provide a specimen."

Mr Tooman said of the 5810 drivers stopped overnight, only 290 had been drinking and of those 290, 14 drivers face court action for excess breath alcohol.

He said the numbers indicated people were still drinking but they were moderating their drinking.

Mr Tooman said drivers could expect to encounter even more checkpoints throughout the summer as police will focus on drink driving.