News

5 January 2012
ACPOS FESTIVE DRINK DRIVE CAMPAIGN – WEEK FOUR UPDATE

 

During the final week of the annual ACPOS Festive Drink Drug Drive Campaign, police officers across Scotland have detected 131 offenders who were driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit. In addition a further seven offenders were detected for driving whilst under the influence of drugs and three offenders were detected whilst under the influence of alcohol. This is an overall increase compared with the final week of last year’s campaign, in which 105 drink drivers were caught and a further four were caught driving while unfit through drugs.

In total, over the four week period a total of 478 offenders were caught driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit, 36 offenders were detected for driving whilst under the influence of drugs and 11 offenders were reported for driving whilst impaired through alcohol. This is an overall increase compared to last year’s campaign which saw 426 drink drivers caught and a further 25 who were found to be unfit through drugs and one who were unfit through alcohol.

During this year’s campaign, the vehicle forfeiture scheme was extended to include first time offenders who provided a high reading or who refused to provide a sample for analysis.  Over the campaign 10 repeat offenders were detected, 51 offenders provided a high reading and 43 offenders refused to provide a sample.  In total, the courts have been asked to give consideration to seizing 104 vehicles from these offenders.

Chief Superintendent Kate Thomson, ACPOS lead on drink driving, said:

‘Over the last four weeks, we have caught 478 people driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, 36 driving whilst impaired by drugs and 11 driving whilst impaired through alcohol. It is deeply concerning that so many people are willing to risk their own lives and the lives of others. As well as receiving a criminal record, a substantial fine and an automatic 12 month ban, some of these drivers may also have their vehicle taken away for good.

‘Although the campaign is now over, we will continue to target drink and drug drivers on a daily basis with patrols across the country out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Our priority is to make our roads safe and get the message through that driving under the influence of drink or drugs is dangerous and completely unacceptable.

‘If you suspect that a person is driving or attempting to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please report them to the police by either contacting your local police office, dialling 999 or report them anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’

Incidents of note

Central Scotland

Central Scotland Police detected six people for drink driving and one for driving under the influence of drugs.
About 0300hrs on 28 December police officers from the Dog section observed a Renault Megane motor car being driven erratically. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but it made of at speed and was pursued. The vehicle was abandoned and two males traced, the driver, a 26 year old male, was arrested for drink driving and later provided a sample of over twice the legal limit.  He was also charged with taking a vehicle without consent, failing to stop, driving with no insurance and holding a provisional licence.

About 1700hrs on 30 December, following a damage only collision in Denny where a vehicle struck a bollard, the driver, a 51 year old male, was traced nearby. He failed to provide a test at the incident and was arrested for drink driving; he later provided a breath sample of well over five times the legal limit.

Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary detected five offenders for drink driving.

Fife

Fife Constabulary detected 11 offenders for drink driving and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Grampian

Grampian Police detected 12 drink drivers and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.
On 27th December in Aberdeen, a 17 year old male driver was caught after crashing into shrubs on a roundabout, He has was arrested for drink driving and later provided a breath specimen of over twice the legal limit, he was also charged with taking and driving away the vehicle, driving without a licence or insurance and careless driving. He had previously been banned from driving in October 2011.

On 1st January in Aberdeen, a 30 year old male driver was arrested and charged under Section 4, as being unfit under the influence of alcohol. He was also charged with taking a vehicle without consent, driving without a licence or insurance and failure to stop for the police.

Lothian and Borders

Lothian and Borders Police detected 16 offenders for drink driving.

At 0135 hours on Friday 30 December, road-policing officers saw a Ford Transit van driver in the Portobello area of Edinburgh not wearing his seatbelt and signalled him to stop.  He briefly made off, before getting out his vehicle and making off on foot to a nearby house.  He was eventually traced concealed within a loft there.  He was arrested for drink driving and later provided a positive breath sample in excess of the prescribed limit.  He had a pending case for a similar offence and was detained in custody pending his appearance at court where an application was made to the court to consider seizing his vehicle.

Northern

Northern Constabulary detected 11offenders for drink driving and one for driving under the influence of drugs.

At 1445hrs on 29 December a 51 year old male driving his Audi motorcar, was involved in an collision on Bridge Street, Wick and failed to stop. He was traced and arrested and later provided a breath specimen of over three times the legal limit. Due to his high reading a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle.

At 1425hrs on 29 December Police in Stornoway received reports that a car had been stolen from a house in the Bragar area of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Officers out on routine patrol spotted the vehicle. It thereafter took off at speed and after a short pursuit the driver lost control of the vehicle and it left the road, colliding with a tree. The 20-year-old male driver was arrested by Police in connection with alleged drink driving, alleged theft of a motor vehicle and other road traffic offences.

At 2350hrs on 31December a 24 year old male was stopped driving his Seat Arosa motorcar on Longman Road, Inverness. He failed to provide any samples for analysis.  He was subjected to impairment test and being reported for driving whilst impaired through alcohol. As he refused to provide a specimen for analysis a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle.

At 0150hrs on 01 January within the car park at Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore, a 28 year old female was within her Vauxhall Corsa motorcar. Witnesses traced and evidence obtained to the effect she had been trying to drive the car. She was arrested for drink driving and failed to provide any sample for analysis when requested. As she refused to provide a specimen for analysis a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle.

At 2332hrs on 1 January, a 46 year old female was stopped driving a Landrover Freelander on Dunvegan Road, Portree. She was arrested for drink driving and failed to provide any sample for analysis when requested. As she refused to provide a specimen for analysis a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle. She was accompanied in her vehicle by her 6 year old daughter.
 
Strathclyde

Strathclyde Police detected 60 offenders for drink driving, five for driving under the influence of drugs and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.

On three separate occasions, over three consecutive days between 27 and 29 December, a 36 year old male was detected in the Glasgow area driving whilst impaired through drugs. Due to his actions a request has been made to the court seize his vehicle. 

Tayside 

Tayside Police detected 11 offenders for drink driving.
About 1900hrs on 27 December 2011, a male was detected driving erratically on the A9 near Ballinluig. On speaking to the 35 year old male driver officers detected the smell of alcohol, he was arrested for drink driving and later provided a breath specimen of nearly twice the legal limit. 

About 0945hrs on 29 December 2011, a male was detected driving in Provost Road, Dundee. On speaking to the 54 year old male driver officers detected the smell of alcohol, he was arrested for drink driving and later provided a positive breath specimen.

About 0830hrs on 1 January 2012, a 32 year old male was arrested following a road traffic collision in Clepington Road, Dundee. He later provided a positive breath specimen that was three times the legal limit.  Due to his high reading a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle.