Police beat: Warning for rural drink drivers

Waikato Police are warning people in isolated rural areas and smaller communities they need to change their attitudes toward drinking and driving or find themselves facing court action following several arrests during the weekend.

District road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, says in the most disappointing example, a 34-year-old woman now faces her fifth excess breath alcohol charge after being stopped at Te Poi shortly before noon on Sunday and returned a breath alcohol reading of 1240mgms.

"When you consider the legal alcohol limit for a fully licensed driver is 400mgms per litre of breath, the fact this woman was over three times the legal limit during the middle of the day is a major concern.

"But that's just one case. The night before six drivers were processed for excess breath alcohol in Coromandel, including one man who blew 992mgms and now faces his seventh excess breath alcohol charge."

Mr Tooman says on Friday five drivers were processed for excess breath alcohol in Matamata while one driver's passenger was also arrested for disorder.

"Friday night's arrests included a woman stopped in Matamata who blew 598mgms. She had been drinking in Tokoroa and was on her way to Auckland when stopped by police, which shows drink drivers aren't just posing a risk on their way home."

Last year, 22 people died in 18 fatal road crashes on Waikato roads in which alcohol, drugs or both were considered contributing factors.