Drinkdriving incidents ‘not good’

DUNEDIN Police are concerned the message about drinkdriving is not getting through.

It follows a string of drinkdrivers being caught in the city on Thursday and early on Friday.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said police were called to a car crash on Highgate, in Maori Hill, at 7am on Thursday. A 54yearold man crashed while driving to the dairy to get milk, but had been drinking the night before, he said.

The man recorded a breathalcohol level of 746mcg, about three times the limit. His licence was suspended and he will appear in the Dunedin District Court.

Police were later called to the Mornington BP after a woman came into the shop allegedly smelling of alcohol and displaying signs of intoxication, before driving off in a work vehicle.

Following the incident, police made inquiries at a Ravensbourne address and spoke to a 39yearold woman, Snr Sgt Dinnissen said.

The woman failed a roadside breath alcohol test, but passed the evidential breath test at the police station. Her work was contacted in relation to the work vehicle, he said.

A man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly attempting to flee police in Koremata St, Green Island, and recorded a breathalcohol level of 772mcg.

Another driver was stopped by police in Playfair St, Caversham, at 12.10am on Friday, and recorded a breathalcohol level of 872mcg.

Snr Sgt Dinnissen said it seemed the message on drinkdriving was not getting through. ‘‘It’s not good.

‘‘We are catching [drinkdrivers] all hours of the day now, which is a concern.’’