New laws net Wairarapa drivers

NABBED: Police caught three Wairarapa drivers over the new drink-driving limit last weekend. PHOTO/FILE

Police have caught the first Wairarapa drivers to break the tougher drink-driving laws introduced on December 1.

Three drivers were found to be over the new low limits with one driver over the former higher limit of 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath when the booze bus stopped several hundred drivers on Masterton's High St last Friday night.

In accordance with the new law, the three drivers who blew between 251 to 400mcg were issued a $200 fine and 50 demerit points.

The driver over 400mcg will face a criminal charge in court.

All four drivers had their keys taken from them and were suspended from driving for 12 hours.

Acting District Road Policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Martin said Friday's result showed drivers needed to consider not drinking at all.

"To pick up three within that limit just shows people need to adjust their behaviour ... it's not a matter of how much can I drink, the message we really want to push is don't drive at all."

Drivers across the wider Wellington region were put to the test, with the booze bus identifying four drivers over the limit in Waikanae on Saturday.

It seemed Wellington drivers had got the message, with the booze bus failing to find any drivers over the limit, Mr Martin said.

Traffic police would be spending time in Wairarapa in the run-up to Christmas and summer holidays.

"With the new alcohol limits, we are trying to increase our visibility across the whole district."

Masterton Traffic Sergeant Chris Megaw said it seemed Wairarapa drivers were largely aware of the new law coming into force as fewer drink drivers had been apprehended during November.

"I think most people are aware of it. It's noticeable that November has been particularly low.

"Normally we get 12-15 drink drivers a month but in November there was five.

"Whether that's people being more aware of the new law, who knows?"

Mr Megaw expected drivers would be more cautious during the first few months after the new law's introduction.

"My anticipation will be that December and January will probably be quite low as well because people are more aware of it."

With summer under way, police would be increasing checkpoints. "We are encouraging our staff to do drink-driving tests on anyone, anywhere," Mr Megaw said.

Officers would take a holistic approach when stopping vehicles and would be checking seatbelts, the condition of the car, as well as speed and alcohol levels.