New ‘booze buses’ boost roadside CBT capability

Eleven new ‘booze buses’ are being deployed throughout the country.


Most districts will receive at least one of the custom-fitted Isuzu booze buses with the intention of expanding the total number of police booze buses and at the same time replacing older buses in the fleet.

Sergeant Peter Forsythe of Road Policng Support, OoC, managed the two-and-a-half year project to source and fit-out the new buses.

Peter says the new buses have significantly boosted police capability for roadside compulsory breath testing (CBT).

“The booze buses are fully-equipped with the latest Seres evidential breath testing devices which means we can continue to test and process suspected drunk divers on the spot without having to take them back to the station,” says Peter.

The buses are based on a design used by the New South Wales Police with some extra features added after consultation with NZ Police staff.

“We built a wooden prototype, which we tested on staff. As a result of their feedback we enhanced some features and added others such as a toilet/changing cubicle for staff, an area where suspects can make phone calls in private – as required by the Bill of Rights, and an ergonomic road cone storage compartment.

“The buses are also equipped with full wireless communication meaning staff have access to NIA, PIMS, TESSA and a faxing capability just like they would back at the station,” says Peter.

Booze buses were first deployed in Auckland and Canterbury in 1999 as part of the NZ Police/ACC Stop Bus programme. In 2001 the programme was extended to Northland, Waikato, Central and Southern police districts.

National Road Policing Manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald says the purpose of the programme was to assist the police to increase the level of compulsory breath testing (CBT) activities which is a proven, effective enforcement activity in reducing the number of alcohol related-crashes and injuries.

“The deployment of these new booze buses is the latest enhancement of a very successful CBT programme that began in 1993,” says Steve. He says the programme, along with mass media advertising, has produced dramatic gains over the last 12 years with alcohol related deaths halving from 273 (42 percent of all road deaths) in 1992 to 135 (31 percent of all road deaths) in 2004. There have been similar reductions in reported alcohol related injuries from 3672 (23 percent of all injuries) in 1992 to 1897 (14 percent) in 2004.

“With 135 people still dying on our roads as a result of alcohol and with the pressure of more and more vehicles on our roads each year the addition of these new booze buses is much needed,” says Steve.