22 young children found not properly restrained in cars

File photo / NZ Herald

Twenty-two young children were found not properly restrained in vehicles during a police operation in Auckland today.

Police stopped 141 cars and issued 133 offence notices over four hours at a checkpoint on Great South Road, Manukau.

Inspector Neil Fisher said police found 22 children under the age of five who were unrestrained or incorrectly restrained.

"We are shocked to find that parents are willing to make this sort of risk with their child's life.

"Additionally 18 children between the ages of eight and 15 were unrestrained, and three adults."

During the operation, 39 licence offences and 36 other offences were detected, one vehicle was impounded and two arrests were made.

"With over 5000 cars through the checkpoints it was a successful day in terms of the number of people we were able to speak to. However it is disappointing to see that some people still don't get the message," Mr Fisher said.

"The results we've found make it clear that people are still gambling with their lives, and the lives of their children, on the road. We can't emphasise enough that simply wearing your seatbelt can be the one thing that prevents a tragedy or saves your life."

The operation was run in conjunction with Plunket, Auckland Transport, Maori and Pacific Wardens and the Police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit.