The three stages of testing: Police administer three tests; the first is a passive test, which detects whether a driver has been drinking. Then they administer the screening test, which concludes whether the driver is above or below the limit for their age. Finally, if the driver's breath alcohol is too high, the officer will administer the evidential test, to get the official result.
Since October, the Eastern District's Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG) has increased resources and messaging in an attempt to make the road safe for all and reach as many localities as possible.
The group has been working tirelessly day in and day out from Waipukurau, all the way to Tolaga Bay and Gisborne.
On Thursday night, the police were out in force in Clive, along with support from Road Safe Hawke's Bay, and within two hours a queue of people were waiting to be tested on the "Traffic Alcohol Booze Bus," after failing the first "passive test".
She was a disconsolate figure in her pristine white caregiver's uniform, on her phone after a life-changing incident.
Just moments before, a police chase had led to her blowing an alcohol reading of 383mcg per litre of breath - 133mcg over the limit.
Her car had sped across the Clive bridge, before slowing down and entering a nearby driveway, only to resurface minutes later, with her lights off, travelling in the direction she'd come from.
Little did she know, the watchful eyes of at least three police officers were tracking her every move and not long after, the familiar red and blue lights had caught up with the indefinitely disqualified driver outside the BP on Main Rd.
Close to 8.30pm on Thursday, the Traffic Alcohol Booze Bus was set up in Clive on one of the main arterial routes between Napier and Hastings and waved hundreds of cars through.
Earlier in the evening, Hawke's Bay Police Sergeant, Steve Murray had asked "what can you do?
"How do we get it through to them?" In response to the drink-driving problem.
"The disappointing thing is that people are still prepared to drink and drive and risk an infringement notice."
He claims that it is 50/50, with people blowing between 250mcg to 400mcg, receiving an infringement notice, with a $200 fine and 50 demerit points.
While others are being taken to court because they are still blowing over the 400mcg limit.
Senior Constable Andy Clinton adds that it is also not just one geographical location or age group, but rather "professionals all the way down to the unemployed".
In the last week, offenders have been averaging a breath alcohol reading of 600mcg to 800mcg and on Saturday police stopped eight drink-drivers across three separate locations in the region.
Sergeant Murray noted that, "wherever we go we pick up at least one drink-driver".
It reached melting point when, on Tuesday, a traffic officer stopped a regular offender in the afternoon who blew an evidential breath test reading of 1509mcg.
On December 8-9, police stopped 16 drink-drivers - 10 of them were caught outside Gisborne police station within an hour.
While, from December 13 to 14, 13 drink-drivers were stopped by police in Hawke's Bay - not taking into account those that were identified by their traffic colleagues or by the public safety teams or community officers.
Eastern District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Dan Foley expressed that, "everything we do is about the long term effects to stop people from drink-driving, save lives and make the roads safer. If we can get that message out there that if you drink and drive you are an idiot".
The Traffic Alcohol Booze Bus, which is supported by Road Safe Hawke's Bay is trying to be as visible as possible in the Eastern District.
"You don't know where we will be next and it won't be constrained to the central business districts," Sergeant Murray said.
"The main things we are focusing on is restraints, the use of mobile phones, speed, obviously the use of alcohol or drugs whilst driving and then focusing on encouragement to progress through the graduated driving licence system so that people are actually driving with the appropriate licence," Senior Constable Clinton said.
"Road safety is everyone's responsibility" and "Drink Driving stops here ... before here" are the two of the catchphrases painted on all three sides of the Booze Bus.
The tension in the air was palpable and the shame associated was written on the face of a number of drivers who were forced to stand on the side of the road and call their relatives to pick them up.
The formidable words, "I now require you to accompany me to the booze bus" will send a wave of anguish through anyone.
This was no more evident when Constable Hannah O'Leary ushered a 43-year-old former RSE worker from Vanuatu, who now lives in the region, into the back of the parked police car.
Adamant that he "only took one" after blowing 671mcg, Constable O'Leary noted that "they always say that".
"We always get asked how much can I have to drink and the best advice we can give is not to have anything to drink before driving," Senior Constable Clinton said.
Road Safe Hawke's Bay Regional manager Linda Anderson repeated this sentiment saying, "sober driving is the only way".
Senior Constable Clinton said "it is each driver's responsibility and the sooner people wake up to themselves and get that mindset then hopefully all these statistics will change".
Sergeant Murray said, "there are too many different factors within the equation; we are all different shapes and sizes, so the simple message is just don't drink and drive."
For those who were under the legal limit, they received a bag of lollies - most of which went straight into the eager hands of the kids in the back.
Road Safety Co-ordinator for Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay and Regional Child Restraint Technician, Liz Schlierike believed this simple gesture changes the whole atmosphere.
Sergeant Murray said those driving without the correct licence had become a real issue, with laziness as well as cost being the cause.
Before 10pm, a driver was pulled over with a breath alcohol reading of 320mcg and no licence.
"We try to encourage them to progress by issuing them an infringement notice but offering them compliance so they get so many days to progress to the next level of driver's licence and if they do and they can show they've done that then the fine is expunged."