Police catch drink drivers in Auckland blitz

A police campaign against drink driving in Auckland this weekend stopped more than 10,000 vehicles, and netted more than 100 people who tested positive to breath tests.

Inspector Dave Walker said Operation Early Bird, conducted by Auckland City Police and the specialist Traffic Alcohol Group, saw 105 people detected driving with excess breath alcohol.

He said 26 elected to have blood tests taken, which will determine whether or not they too will face court proceedings.

"The results are disappointing as they show that the message that drink driving is dangerous is not getting through," Mr Walker said.

Operation Early Bird was run in and around the city from 3am on Saturday and today.

Mr Walker said sleep deprivation studies showed that tired drivers caused more crashes at this time of the morning.

He said 19 of those who tested positive for excess breath alcohol were teenagers aged under 20.

Several people were arrested for a range of offences, including possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon, and posession of class A and C drugs for supply (pseudo ephedrine and methamphetamine).

One offender was arrested and charged for refusing to supply blood twice -- once on the Saturday and once on the Sunday.

He was charged with dangerous driving after he allegedly drove through the checkpoint and reached speeds of 100km/h in a 50km/h zone , Mr Walker said.

When a similar operation was run in May more than 6000 drivers were stopped and more than 70 were subsequently prosecuted for driving with excess breath/blood alcohol.

In July more than 15,500 vehicles were stopped and 92 drivers were subsequently prosecuted for driving with excess breath/blood alcohol.

"There are options readily available so people don't have to drink and drive," Mr Walker said.

"The price of a taxi, dial-a-driver, or sober driver are all a lot cheaper than being prosecuted for drink driving, and a lot easier to live with than killing or injuring someone."

- NZPA