News

December 19 2011
ACPOS FESTIVE DRINK DRIVE CAMPAIGN
– WEEK TWO UPDATE

During the second week of the annual ACPOS Festive Drink Drug Drive Campaign, police officers across Scotland have detected 113 offenders who were driving while over the legal alcohol limit.

In addition a further 14 offenders were detected for driving while under the influence of drugs and one driver was suspected by officers to be  driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. This compares with 119 drink drivers and seven offenders who were unfit through drugs for the similar period last year.

The vehicle forfeiture scheme was also extended to coincide with the launch of this campaign and during the first two week it has been requested that consideration be given to seizing over 50 offenders’ vehicles, the large majority of which were under the new criteria.

Chief Superintendent Kate Thomson who is the ACPOS lead on Drink Driving said:

“Yet again, I am reporting that in one week over 100 offenders have been caught whilst driving either over the legal limit or whilst impaired by drugs or alcohol. This is a worrying pattern and I can assure members of the public that all partners involved in tackling these offences are doing their utmost.

“However, we cannot do this alone, first and foremost we need the message to get out to those offenders who consider and then choose to take the risk to drink and drive, that it is illegal, dangerous and at times a fatal decision. We need to educate these people and hope that in the future when they face that decision or consider driving whilst unfit, they will decide to take alternative transport and not drive. They will choose to keep their licence by not getting behind the wheel.

“We have extended the vehicle forfeiture scheme this year to target those who provide a high reading or refuse to provide a sample for analysis and as the statistics show a considerable number of offenders will, on conviction, face the added consequence of losing their vehicle for good. During the first two weeks of this campaign, we have asked the court to consider seizing over 50 vehicles, where on conviction these vehicles will be sold or destroyed.

“I would encourage anyone who suspects that a person is driving or attempting to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs to contact the police. They can either call the police direct via their local office or by dialling 999 or through the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 where the information will be treated in confidence of anonymity."

Regional breakdown and incidents of note.

Central Scotland

In the Central Scotland force area, six people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Dumfries and Galloway

In the Dumfries and Galloway force area, five people were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

Fife

In the Fife force area, nine people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and a further one person was unfit through drugs

About 1510hrs on 12 December, as a result of anonymous information, a 32 year old male stopped in Dunfermline and arrested for failing a drugs impairment test. A request has been submitted for the court to consider seizing his vehicle as he has a pending case for drink driving.
 
About 1905hrs on 12 December officers reacting to anonymous information, found a male in Kirkcaldy drunk in charge of a vehicle, he later provided a breath sample of nearly three and a half times the legal limit.  Checks showed that the male was a disqualified driver as a result of a conviction for drunk driving.

About 1651hrs on 17 December officers observed a van driving in Glenrothes.  On stopping the vehicle officers’ detected alcohol from the driver, the driver was arrested a provided a breath specimen of three and a half times the legal limit and driving without Insurance.

Grampian

In the Grampian force area, six people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol, a further one person was unfit through drugs and one person was unfit through alcohol.

At 0100hrs on Friday 16 December, police officers attended a report of a vehicle having crashed in Aberdeenshire, the male driver having fled the scene. Officers attended and traced the male nearby; enquiries revealed that a 26 year old man had unlawfully removed the vehicle in the New Pitsligo area, he was a disqualified driver and had no motor insurance. The male was arrested and provided a breath sample of twice the legal limit.

At 0300hrs on 17 December in Aberdeen, following a report from a member of the public in relation to a vehicles manner of driving, a 42 year old man was charged as he was found to be unfit to drive through alcohol.  He failed to provide any specimens for analysis and a request has been submitted for the court to consider seizing his vehicle.

At 2135hrs on 18 December in Lossiemouth a 33 year old man was detected and charged as he was found to be unfit to drive through drugs, he was also found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs.

Lothian and Borders

In the Lothian and Borders force area, 19 people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and a further one person was unfit through drugs.

About 1450hrs on 12 December Road Policing Officers in West Lothian responded to a circulation for a red Ford Fiesta where the occupants had been involved in a disturbance in the Whitburn area. The officers attended in the Armadale area and located the vehicle as it was being parked on a pavement. Two males aged 43 and 25 were detected and they both claimed to have driven the vehicle on its journey from Whitburn to Armadale. Both males were breath tested and failed, they both later provided a breath sample of over twice the legal limit.

About 1120hrs on Saturday 17 December Road Policing officers were driving in Musselburgh when their attention was drawn to a silver Vauxhall motor car which was being driven in the opposite direction with the headlamps being flashed and the driver making obscene hand gestures. The vehicle was stopped and a strong smell of alcohol was detected from the 32 year old male driver, the driver was arrested and a blood sample taken to ascertain the level of alcohol in his body.

At 0120hrs on 18 December Road Policing Officers attended in Bathgate regarding an alleged drunk driver. The vehicle, a black Ford Focus was found parked with the engine running and a 30 year old male asleep in the drivers seat. The male was arrested and later provided a breath sample of over three times the legal limit.

Northern

In the Northern Constabulary force area, seven people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and a further two people were unfit through drugs.

About 0400hrs on 13 December in the Aviemore Area a 20year old male arrested for drink driving and theft of motor vehicle.

At 2330hrs on 17 December in the Dingwall Area, two males aged 20 and 22yr old were arrested and reported to procurator fiscal in connection with drink driving offences and theft of a car.

About 0100hrs on 18 December in the Inverness Area a 25yr old male was arrested and will be reported to procurator fiscal in connection with drink driving offences and theft of a motor vehicle from business premises in Inverness. 

Strathclyde

In the Strathclyde force area, 51 people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and a further eight people were unfit through drugs.

At 2100hrs on 17 December officers observed a Vauxhall Vectra driving erratically in Glasgow.  The vehicle was stopped and the 27 year old driver male refused to provide a roadside breath test and was arrested. He further refused to provide a specimen at the police office and was charged. A request has been submitted for the court to consider seizing his vehicle. The male was also charged with various other offences in addition to the Drink Driving offences.

At 0100hrs on 15 December staff at a fast food outlet in the south side of Glasgow reported a suspected drink driver. Police attended and detected a 49 year old male who was arrested for drink driving and he later provided a sample for analysis of more than three times the legal limit.

Tayside

In the Tayside force area, eight people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and a further one person was unfit through drugs.