Intoxicated mother 'burst' through checkpoint

The 29-year-old recorded the highest drink driving reading of the weekend traffic operation. Photo / File

An intoxicated mother with four young children in her car allegedly "burst" through a police checkpoint and sped along suburban streets over the weekend.

The woman, who had a blood alcohol two-and-a-half times the legal limit, put the lives of police officers at risk when she fled a checkpoint in Tauranga, Acting Sergeant Lee Stringer said.

When she was eventually stopped, the 29-year-old recorded the highest drink driving reading of the weekend traffic operation, registering 1000 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Mr Stringer said the woman had four children aged between 8 and 11 in her car and has been referred to Child, Youth and Family.

She will appear in the Tauranga District Court on Friday charged with driving with excess breath alcohol, failing to stop for police and dangerous driving.

Mr Stringer said the woman was one of 22 due to face court as a result of the second weekend of Operation Profile in the Bay of Plenty.

In total the operation has caught 37 drink drivers.

"It is disappointing that people still are more willing to risk lives by drinking and driving than catch a taxi," Mr Stringer said.

Younger drivers appeared to be heeding advice with only two of the 22 drink drivers caught at the weekend under 20.

"This is an encouraging sign that our youth are now in a position to set a benchmark for the rest of the community," Mr Stringer said.

Also at the weekend, traffic police impounded eight vehicles and suspended 14 driver licenses for excessive breath alcohol.

More than 340 drink drivers have been nabbed by the Western Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group this year.