Fewer drink-drivers were processed last weekend than during the previous Queenstown Winter Festival opening, and the Rural Drink Drive Squad will be out on the roads again this weekend with its leader urging revellers to take taxis instead of risks on the roads.
Sergeant Bruce Martin and four police officers from the Alexandra-based squad, which was also helped by the highway patrol, dealt with eight drink-drivers while checking about 5000 vehicles between Thursday and Sunday nights.
Queenstown police handled four drink-drivers over the same period.
A 23-year-old Frankton woman allegedly recorded the highest breath-alcohol level, of 1006mcg - 606mcg over the legal limit - when she was stopped on Frankton Rd at 9.20pm on Friday. The incident was of extra concern to police as traffic was "extremely heavy" for the opening of the festival, Sgt Martin said.
The number of drink-drivers the squad dealt with at checkpoints on Lake Esplanade, Frankton Rd, Arthurs Pt Rd and Arrowtown was down from 18 last year and 17 in 2009.
"I take my hat off to all those responsible drivers," Sgt Martin said.
"It's really just a matter of planning ahead on how to get home. If people know they're going to be going out drinking, then put aside money for a taxi, or have a sober driver.
"Catch a cab to go out - that way, you have to catch a cab home."
Sgt Martin urged friends of intoxicated people - and bar operators - to stop them from driving.
The penalty for a first conviction for drink-driving is a fine determined by the judge, plus a mandatory loss of driving licence for six months.
Drink-drivers could also be jailed.
A drink-driving conviction lasts for life and could affect employment and block entry into some countries.
Sgt Martin said he had heard all the excuses before about why people drove while drunk.
Drink-drivers came from both genders, and all nationalities and occupations Of the dozen alleged drink-drivers processed last weekend, there was only one tourist, who came from Australia. The majority of those apprehended lived in the Wakatipu.
"They know the rules - it's not like we make it a secret we're going to be out doing the enforcement."
"The sheer factor of people putting themselves at risk and others at risk on the road, I still find it a little bit hard to understand."
