More than 100 drink-drive arrests in Xmas campaign

POLICE have arrested more than 100 people for drink or drug driving across Avon and Somerset in the first 18 days of the Operation Tonic Christmas campaign.

Since it started on December 1, a total of 101 motorists who have been stopped have tested positive. The figure compares with 136 for the same period last year.

This Christmas police are again asking people to shop a drink or drug driver by ringing 999 or texting the word drunk to a special number, 81819, from their mobile and giving the driver's details if they see anyone getting behind the wheel while under the influence. So far 12 text messages have been received and acted upon. There were 14 in the same time last year.

A total of 873 vehicles have been stopped and checked. Fixed penalty notices have been issued for traffic offences, like not wearing a seatbelt, and 19 cautions have been given for minor vehicle defects. Two people have been issued with street warnings for possessing cannabis.

A police spokesman said: ''We will be maintaining our efforts as Christmas approaches, carrying out stop-checks of vehicles and targeting known hotspots at peak times to emphasis the 'don't drink/drugs drive' message.''

Tags:
News.