A woman was allegedly caught driving three times over the legal alcohol limit after dropping her kids off at school in Whanganui on Monday morning.
Police said detectives Karin Wakefield and Piet De Vegt were on their way to an appointment in Taihape at around 10am when they were held up by road work traffic near Whangaehu on State Highway 3.
The driver in front of them approached their unmarked car and told the detectives a vehicle ahead of him had been “swerving all over the road”.
He pulled over to let the detectives pass when traffic started to move again.
“They observed the dangerous driving firsthand,” Sergeant Colin Wright said.
The swerving vehicle was pulled over in Whangaehu village, where the detectives waited for a nearby constable to bring a breath test device.
After taking the test, the woman was found to be 3.5 times over the legal limit.
“She was oblivious to her offence and even said she had dropped her children off at school that morning,” Wright said.
She was arrested and was scheduled to appear in the Whanganui District Court today.
Wright said it was “quite clear” the driver needed help, and a referral was made for alcohol and drug support.
He urged those who drove after drinking to stop, and said motorists could expect to be observed, stopped, and breath tested “anywhere, at any time”.
“We catch people driving impaired at any time of the day.
“Their families are put at risk. And as fellow road users, our families are put at risk.
“Our staff see devastating consequences of drunk drivers far too frequently.
“These detectives had to change their plans for the day, but it’s highly likely they prevented a serious incident.”
