Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been telling you about the drink and drug drivers we have stopped and arrested over the festive period, as a part of #OpLimit.
Whilst stopping drink and drug drivers remains a priority all year round, we want to let you know the results of #OpLimit over the festive period.
In total, our officers arrested 271 people for driving impaired, whether that be through drink or drugs, or for refusing to provide a sample of breath.
Our officers stopped a total of 1804 vehicles at our checkpoints across the month, and conducted 1514 breath tests, and 34 drug wipes.
Before we give you some examples of what our officers have witnessed throughout this campaign, here’s a quick reminder: The legal limit for alcohol is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100mls of breath. Unlike alcohol, there is no legal limit for drug driving, so anyone found with traces of drugs in their system is liable to prosecution.
Over the last two weeks alone, we received a report of a suspected drink driver on New Mill Street in Eccleston. The driver of a red Hyundai was spotted eating a number of mints after hitting a parked car.
She was challenged by a quick-thinking member of the public, who took her car keys from her. Our officers stopped her on Lawrence Lane and conducted a roadside breath test. The woman gave a reading of 130 (that’s almost four times the legal limit!) and was subsequently arrested.
Once in custody, she provided a reading of 119. Claire Hesketh, 34, of Moss Bridge Lane, Ormskirk was charged with driving with excess alcohol, and she will next appear at Preston Magistrates Court on Monday, January 29.
On December 30, one of our officers spotted a Seat Ateca driving at double the speed limit. Our officers signalled for the car to stop, yet it sped up, leading us on a pursuit through the Ribbleton area of Preston.
The driver was arrested on Leyburn Close, Preston after refusing to provide a sample of breath or a drug wipe. Once in custody, he provided a reading of 44.
Kristopher Dimmock, 36, of Watling Street Road, Ribbleton, was charged with failing to stop a vehicle, failure to co-operate with a preliminary test and driving a motor vehicle with alcohol above the limit. He has been bailed to appear at Preston Magistrates on April 12, 2024.