Motorists under the illusion that they can get away with drink driving in rural communities need to think again.
This message comes after seven motorists were found to be over the limit in Hunterville on Saturday night, with six of them having attended the annual Hunterville Shemozzle festival.
Officers from the Traffic Alcohol Group parked up the booze bus in the area then went on mobile patrols. Seven drink-drivers were located in the Hunterville area and a further three later in the night in Palmerston North. All were stopped after 11pm and a third of those drivers stopped were more than twice the legal drink drive limit.
One 18-year-old man from Whanganui absconded from Police on arrival for processing at the booze bus and was captured a short time later after falling headfirst into a deep water filled ditch in the dark.
Police also had to deal with a minor disorder after another man was found by Police urinating on the generator of the booze bus and another pelted the bus with a bottle.
Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson of the Central District Traffic Support Unit
said: "What is society coming to? How many people need to be killed through drink-driving before these motorists sit up and take note? We police all roads in roads in New Zealand, not just urban areas, and if drivers think that just because they are on a quiet rural road they are safe, or the rules are different, they are sadly mistaken. Drink-driving destroys lives and you can be assured we will continue to pop up anywhere at anytime until that message finally reaches home."
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.