North Shore blitz nets drink-drivers

Police have caught 60 people drink driving on Auckland's North Shore this weekend.

The pre-Christmas operation was carried out at 10 locations, including the main arterial on-ramps onto the Northern Motorway.

Codenamed "Gone Fishing Two" the operation took place between 11pm and 7am hours on Saturday and Sunday.

A total of 6,618 vehicles were stopped.

Those who tested positive for excess breath alcohol, included one female driver aged 14 and a 16-year-old male driver who is now on his second drink driving offence this year.

There were 22 drivers aged under 20 caught driving with excess breath alcohol.

Of those caught breaking the drink-drive law, 16 elected to have a blood test taken which will fully determine whether they will face court proceedings, police said.

Other arrests were for:
* 2 stolen vehicles
* 3 disqualified drivers
* 2 warrants for arrest
* 1 suspended driver
* 2 breaches of bail
* 1 possession of cannabis
* 1 perverting the course of justice

"These latest results at the weekend are most disappointing," said Inspector Dave Walker, who head's Auckland's Motorways and Traffic Alcohol Group.

"One male driver whom police stopped on the motorway was found to have 1490 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The permitted level is 400. This driver was almost four times over the legal limit."

He warned: "Police will continue to have ongoing checkpoints throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period and we would like to say to all those drivers who choose to continue to drink and drive, that you will be caught."

When a similar operation was carried out on the North Shore in August, 5,183 vehicles were stopped. Of these 68 drivers were prosecuted for driving with excess breath/alcohol.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF