Police crackdown on drink driving (From Gazette Series)

Police crackdown on drink driving

11:13am Monday 17th December 2007 in News By Jeff Bolitho

MORE than 100 motorists have been charged with driving with excess alcohol in just two weeks of a force campaign to target drink driving.

Police have stopped around 5,000 drivers since Avon and Somerset Police launched its annual clamp down on motorists who put themselves and others at risk.

A total of 117 motorists have been arrested after being found driving with excess alcohol in various areas of the force. Last year over the same period 113 people were arrested.

Of those arrested, around a third were people aged under 25 years of age.

In South Gloucestershire 12 motorists were arrested, 28 in Bristol, 21 in Bath and North East Somerset, 18 in North Somerset, 22 in Somerset West and 16 in Somerset East.

Police said they will continue to target drink drivers and have warned that motorists won't know where or when they are being watched.

The force has additional officers out in unmarked vehicles patrolling known hotspots and looking out for the tell-tale signs of drivers over the limit.