"The practice of young persons when going out and having a designated driver is frequently encountered by police staff and is applauded and encouraged.
"[The Rotorua police] are pleased with the amount of drivers stopped who are abstaining from drinking, seeking advice and direction in relation to these changes when driving friends and family home safely."
The numbers of offences detected may reflect the police's renewed proactive approach to preventing and deterring drink driving, Mr Keenleyside said.
"One of these activities is Op Tri City which involved an inter-district co-operation between the Bay of Plenty and Waikato tactical alcohol groups deploying into the major centres leading into the Christmas and summer period."
During this operation in Rotorua 4000 vehicles were stopped and 16 drink drivers were detected.
Police deployment and focus on a particular area could also influence rates of detection, Mr Keenleyside said.
"That said, drink driving figures remain relatively low and consistent."
The legal limit changed in New Zealand in December 2014, with the alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over lowered from 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath to 250mcg, with the limit for drivers under 20 remaining at zero.
The number of people caught over the legal limit from July to December 2014 was 174.
Anecdotally, Mr Keenleyside said police believed the lower limit had encouraged people to be more responsible and aware of their requirements under the law change and their limitations.
Our Backyard Pub owner and Rotorua Central Liquor Accord chairman Richard Hazeldine said people were definitely more conscious before they got behind the wheel, helped along by the advent of lower alcohol options in beer, wine and cider.
"There has been a shift in people's attitudes, they are more organised and educated."
He said talking to bars and nightclubs around Rotorua he had found people asking for water around 1am, knowing they would have to get up in the morning for work.
Mr Keenleyside said Rotorua police encouraged the public to continue to make the right choices when consuming alcohol and considering driving.
"From time to time Rotorua police still detect drivers with high readings of alcohol but it has become less prevalent than in the past.
"We ask that people continue to be aware of their requirements and limitations under the legislation and their licence conditions to ensure the safety of themselves, their family and other motorists on the road."