The largest ever drink drive operation conducted in the North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police District, set out to be highly visible with the aim of highlighting the perils of drink driving.
O/C Motorways/Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG), Inspector Dave Walker, says, "The aim of Operation Spike was to be proactive and the Operation can be judged by its outcomes. During the official holiday period there was no fatal or serious injury crash in the whole District, let alone any involving drink-driving, says Inspector Walker.
The Operation targeted a number of rural areas in Rodney and Waitakere as well as the North Shore urban area. Locations such as Rodney still had a number of holidaymakers present, so a visible police presence helped in controlling traffic. Police in rural areas noticed a corresponding improvement in traffic while checkpoints were operating.
Highway Patrol vehicles concentrated on the Highways, while cars patrolled the District roads and the large number of personnel available meant four checkpoints could operate simultaneously anywhere in the District, on any given night.
Operation Spike figures.
A total of 190 checkpoints
123,114 drivers were stopped
192 drivers failed an evidential breath test
A further 49 opted for blood tests
83 vehicles were seized from drivers either suspended, disqualified or unlicensed
33 drivers were suspended for 28 days immediately as they exceeded 800 micrograms of alcohol, per litre of breath, which is twice the legal limit
21 people were arrested as they had outstanding warrants issued for their arrest
39 disqualified/suspended drivers were arrested at checkpoints
Operations similar to the past six weeks will continue in various areas of the District.
Issued by
Jayson Rhodes
Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police District
4889-758 or