15 charged after drink drive blitz

Nearly 9000 motorists in Taranaki were targeted by police in a drink drive clampdown over the weekend, with 28 drivers blowing over the limit, police say.

Police joined forces with ACC for the drink driving operation throughout the province from Thursday until Sunday.

A total of 24 police officers from the central district road policing unit worked alongside local police in the operation.

Major roads leaving New Plymouth were targeted on Friday night by checkpoints, with 7781 drivers breath tested. Of these drivers, 341 had alcohol detected and 15 will be facing charges in court. Drivers were of varying ages from 18 through to 62 and were both male and female.

Over the weekend rural areas from Mokau to Patea were also targeted, with a further 1123 vehicles stopped - 13 of these drivers will be facing court charges.

Court bailiffs confiscated 11 vehicles and New Zealand Transport Agency compliance officers checked modified vehicles, which led to nine vehicles being ordered off the road.

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson of the central district traffic support unit in Palmerston North said that police were disappointed that drivers in both urban and rural areas continued to think it was appropriate for them to drink and drive.

- NZPA