Queenstown nets alarming number of drink drivers

Police netted 16 drink drivers in the Wakatipu area alone in a week (19 – 25 November) – 12 of the 22 nabbed in a mass, joint Queenstown Lakes-Central Otago Police Checkpoint operation stopped around Queenstown – the highest level allegedly blowing 928mcg.

The major operation saw checkpoints set up at Peninsula Road, Kelvin Heights, Gorge Road and late at night on Frankton Road with Invercargill Police brought in to help. Even the Police National Director of Road Policing Superintendent Steve Greally flew down from Wellington to join staff on the frontline.

Another four drivers were caught around Queenstown separate to the operation, two allegedly blowing near 900mcg, Police say.

A 61-year-old Alexandra woman also allegedly blew 711mcg when stopped at Earnscleugh Road, near Clyde, late on Sunday morning (23 November), after allegedly crossing the centreline into the path of an oncoming Police patrol car.

Otago Lakes Road Policing Sergeant Bruce Martin says he believed the woman had been out drinking until about 3am the night before and was allegedly taking her cat to the cattery. Her licence was automatically suspended for 28 days, and she will appear in the Alexandra District Court on 11 December.

“Just because you’ve had a bit of kip for three or four hours from 3am doesn’t mean you’re sober,” Martin warns. “It depends too on your body size, when you ate, gender and fitness. Your blood alcohol continues rising for an hour to 90 minutes after your last drink,” he says. “Water makes no difference then and it’s too late to grab a Fergburger at 3am,” he says. “Eat before you start drinking to lessen the effects.”

People should wait 12 hours from their last drink before driving. “We’re reinforcing that people should be aware that they may still be over the limit within 12 hours,” Martin says. “If you’re feeling a bit seedy then go and get a large breakfast first and chill out a bit until you feel comfortable to drive.”

Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones says 12 drivers caught just around Queenstown during the four days of the checkpoint operation – Thursday to Sunday (20-23 November), was very concerning, let alone other drivers being caught outside of that. “We do a lot of prevention and apprehension everywhere and that’s a lot.” he says. There was a mix of people stopped – visitors and those new to town, as well as locals. “This was a massive effort, and people can expect us to be out there consistently through summer. They will see more of these checkpoints,” he warns.

A 27-year-old Jack’s Point man actually drove in to a Gorge Road checkpoint around 7pm at the weekend (22-23 November), turned his car off and handed his keys to the Police then allegedly blew 928mcg, Hannah-Jones says. “He knew his luck had run out.” His licence was suspended for 28 days because the level was allegedly over 650mcg.

A 56-year-old Australian man stopped at an Arrowtown checkpoint allegedly drove his Prado over the checkpoint road cones, leaving them lodged beneath. He was issued with an infringement notice after allegedly blowing 305mcg, while a local 27-year-old local man allegedly blew well over the legal limit after he apparently decided to take the back roads home from Gibbston Valley Winery. He requested a blood test. “He told me he had no choice but to drive,” Hannah-Jones says. “We hear that a lot. It’s the lamest excuse in the book, but drivers totally have a choice,” he says. “If you’re out drinking you always have a choice about whether or not you drive. If you’re out, make a plan about how to get home.”

In another surprise for Police, Hannah-Jones says a 62-year-old Lake Hayes man allegedly blew 849mcgs when the passenger in his vehicle was “stone cold sober”. “That speaks to the silly decision making.” That driver also had his licence suspended for 28 days.

Some of the drivers stopped at the checkpoints locally were issued with infringement notices while the rest will appear in court. Two requested blood alcohol tests.