Crimeline: Cops catch 18 drink drivers
Police netted two drink drivers with astonishingly high levels - more than four times the legal limit, among 18 caught in the Queenstown Lakes - Central Otago region late last week.
Otago Lakes road policing manager Senior Sergeant Steve Watt says that’s “a substantial increase” on previous weeks and he’s urging drivers to “hear the message”.
“That’s coupled with all those fatal accidents in Central Otago recently, and in some of those alcohol was a contributing factor,” Watt says. “If they don’t heed the warnings, they’ll kill either themselves or others.”
Watt says those alleged levels were “shocking” - one near Cromwell blowing 1100mcg, and a 24-year-old overseas driver blowing 1009mcgs in Wānaka.
“To think someone could drink to that extreme level and think they’re still capable of driving a motor vehicle is beyond comprehension.”
The overseas driver will appear in Queenstown District Court on 19 May, while full details of the other case weren’t yet available. That driver failed to complete a second breath test, so Police are awaiting blood test results.
Arrowtown stop
Constable Amanda Shute says a 39-year-old woman who was stopped by Police in Devon Street just after 1am in Arrowtown on Monday, 7 April, refused to provide a breath screening sample, refused to accompany Police, and refused a blood test at the station.
She's suspended from driving for 28 days and summonsed to appear in the Queenstown District Court on 9 May.
Seven downtown
Seven people were caught drink driving around the Queenstown town centre alone over the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson says three of them had blown over the criminal breath alcohol level of 400mcg – the highest 831mcgs. Among these a local woman, 35, blew 474mcgs at 4.34am on Shotover Street; a local man, 35, blew 590mcgs on Robins Road at 3.35am, both on Sunday, 6 April, and a local man, 29, blew 831mcg on Yewlett Crescent at 11.14pm on Friday, 4 April. He was suspended from driving for 28 days.
They’ll all appear in the Queenstown District Court on 9 May.
A 40-year-old local woman was also stopped just before 1am on Sunday, 6 April, after she was seen mounting a raised island on Lake Esplanade while reversing her vehicle out of a park. She then allegedly failed to remain in the lane, swerving across the centre line. The woman was unable to provide a sufficient breath sample, and Police are awaiting blood test results.
Overseas driver ticketed for Kelvin Heights turnoff crash
A 39-year-old overseas tourist driver was issued with an infringement offence notice for failing to give way when turning after a two-vehicle crash at the busy Kelvin Heights intersection with State Highway 6 on the Queenstown to Kingston Road just before 4pm last Wednesday (2 April). One person was taken to Lakes District Hospital with moderate injuries with four others treated at the scene for minor injuries. The road had to be closed several times during peak hour with commuter traffic backed up well along Frankton Road.
Watt says the overseas driver had failed to give way to a Wanaka woman driving straight along the State Highway.
Extra Police targeting Easter roads
Extra Police roading units will be on the region’s roads for next week’s busy Easter holiday break and the start of school holidays from Friday, 11 April, targeting drink driving and speeding.
The joint free sausage sizzle and coffee cart Fatigue Stop, sponsored by local councils and AMI, will operate at Tarras next Thursday, 17 April. Watt says the focus will be on speed and alcohol and drivers can expect increased Police activity. He’s urging drivers to plan, be patient, understanding and courteous.
Damaged bar dryer
A 23-year-old man was charged with wilful damage after allegedly damaging a hand dryer at Ballarat Bar at 8pm on Saturday, 5 April. The man, who’d been behaving in a disorderly manner, was being restrained outside when Police arrived. He appears in court on 9 May.
Bush campfire out of control
A campfire that wasn’t put out halfway to Macetown had the potential to burn thousands of hectares with dry conditions still not totally over yet, Fire and Emergency risk reduction advisor Mark Mawhinney says.
The fire in a gully beneath the canopy of a beech forest is thought to have been lit by either recreational users or hunters and spread beneath the trees.
“It looks like somebody stayed the night, but they’ve clearly failed to put out the fire. Maybe they tried but their efforts weren’t good enough,” Mawhinney says. “We’re lucky we had a bit of rain but in a few days when it’s drier that could’ve got into the tussocks and really taken off quickly,” he says.
“It is serious – some of those landscapes are very vulnerable.” There’s always the potential for prosecution as it’s a breach of the Fire and Emergency Act, he says. The district was still in a prohibited fire season but moves into a restricted season from today, Thursday, 11 April.
Mawhinney’s urging caution and check: checkitsalright.nz
Routeburn rescue
The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter airlifted a patient in a minor condition from Routeburn Flats Hut to Lakes District Hospital after an accident just after 8am on Sunday, 6 April, a St John Ambulance spokesperson says.
