22 Jun 2009

Police net more than 200 in drink-drive blitz

3:03 pm on 22 June 2009

More than 200 drivers are facing drink-driving charges after a police blitz in South Auckland over the weekend.

Twelve checkpoints in Manukau and Papakura districts stopped 13,593 vehicles on Friday night and Saturday night.

Of the drivers tested, 216 were over the legal limit. Twenty-five people were arrested for a variety of offences including assault, stolen vehicles and failing to stop.

Among those stopped was a 17-year-old, who police say was driving at 190 kilometres an hour along the Southern Motorway, and registered at almost four times the legal breath-alcohol limit.

Police say one man tried to steal a patrol car after his wife was pulled over for testing.

Another man, who had his car taken off him when he was found to be over the limit, went home and got his father's car, only to be stopped at another checkpoint.

The man was one of three people ticketed twice in one evening for drink-driving.

Police say the results show some motorists have a complete disregard for the safety of other road users.