Weekend blitzes keep police busy

File photo / Herald on Sunday

More than 1000 infringements were recorded by police during a blitz on drink driving over Easter at the top of the South Island.

The blitz in Tasman district, which covers Marlborough, Nelson and the West Coast, saw 830 infringement notices issued, along with 588 speeding tickets.

"This is a huge amount of offending for our district over a four-day period," Tasman District road policing manager Inspector Jenni Richardson said.

Among those stopped was an offender who was charged with possession of cannabis for supply, possession of cannabis resin for supply, driving while disqualified, failing to stop and possession of a knife.

More than 40 people were arrested during a similar blitz in west Auckland.

Police stopped 8643 vehicles at five check points around Waitakere City in the operation between 5pm Friday and 2am Sunday.

Of those, 30 were recorded as driving with excess breath alcohol, nine of whom will have blood tests to determine their alcohol level. Ten of the 30 have had their drivers licence suspended.

Another 11 people were arrested for offences including breach of bail, driving whilst forbidden, fines warrants and driving whilst suspended.

The blitzes were part of a nationwide campaign to reduce road offending over the Easter period. Police conducted more than 70,000 breath tests over the weekend, much higher than the usual 20,000 over a weekend.

Five people died on the country's roads over Easter, well down on last year's horror total of 12.

- NZPA