The results of the weekend's intensive Operation Unite blitz against alcohol-fuelled driving and disorder left Hawke's Bay police smiling and hoping "long may it continue".
"People knew we were going to be out there and busy so it was not a huge surprise," Eastern Region Road Policing Senior Sergeant ClintAdamson said. And the heat would stay on in the lead-up to the festive season.
About 30 police and Maori wardens were out on Friday and Saturday nights, working at drink-drive checkpoint operations as well as checking on bars and enforcing alcohol bans.
On Friday, the focus was on Hastings and Havelock North. Mr Adamson said checkpoint operations and random stops resulted in 3171 cars being stopped, but only two drivers tested positive for drink-driving.
Although police would have preferred a clean sheet, the number was low in relation to the number of cars stopped, "so we were very pleased".
Preliminary reports from police doing street and bar checks in the Hastings and Havelock North area showed a few warnings for breach of alcohol bans but no arrests.
On Saturday, while regular units continued to patrol Hastings, the focus switched to Napier.
Checkpoints stopped 1706 cars and five drivers were found to be over the limit. Bar patrols, focusing mainly on the West Quay district, ejected three people and made one arrest.
"The feedback we received from a lot of bars was that more patrons than usual were ordering taxis or having a sober driver with them," Mr Adamson said. "That was good." The reason for early publicity of Operation Unite, which was the fifth combined New Zealand/Australia operation targeting alcohol offending, was to get the point across that police would be out in force and would much rather people took precautions than get caught.
It appeared to work as the drink-drive numbers and reported offences, were down.
Mr Adamson said people could expect to see a continued and focused police presence.
