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Will you pay the price of drink or drug driving this summer?

Posted on 29/05/2009

arrest,villain,police,constabulary Will you pay the price of drink or drug driving this summer?

Would you rather pay the price of a taxi home or pay the price for drink or drug driving? 

That’s the question Leicestershire Constabulary is asking motorists as it prepares to launch its annual Summer Drink and Drug Driving Campaign on Monday June 1, 2009. 

Throughout the month of June, officers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be focussing their efforts on drink and drug drivers and will stop and breathalyse any motorist they believe may be driving under the influence. 

The same campaign last year resulted in 1,215 motorists being breathalysed. Of those 94 were arrested for providing positive breath tests. 

Sergeant Simon Greensmith from the Force’s Roads Policing Unit said: “If you are caught driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs you will be arrested and taken to a police station, you will receive a drink drive conviction and a criminal record and you will receive a minimum 12 month driving ban. You could also be fined up to £5,000 and you could go to prison for up to six months. In addition to all of that you could lose your job or miss out on future jobs. It simply isn’t worth the risk. 

“We want people to enjoy themselves over the summer months and make the most of the warmer weather. However if you’re going to a beer garden after work or a friend’s barbecue at the weekend then think about how you are going to get home. Book a taxi, get a lift with a designated driver or simply don’t drink.” 

The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.  However, any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely.  The effects can include slower reactions, poorer judgement of speed and distance and a reduced field of vision.  Alcohol also tends to make you feel over-confident and more likely to take risks when driving, which increases the danger to all road-users including yourself. 

Leicestershire Constabulary’s Summer Drink and Drug Drive Campaign will run from Monday June 1 until Tuesday June 30, 2009. 

Leicestershire Constabulary is encouraging anyone with information about people who are drinking or driving to report them to police by calling (0116) 222 2222 or Crimestoppers, which is free* and anonymous, on 0800 555 111. 

*Please note some mobile ‘phone networks may charge for this call.