Harrogate pensioner arrested as police begin summer drink drive campaign

A Harrogate pensioner and a Tadcaster teenager have already fallen foul of North Yorkshire Police's summer drink and drug driving campaign.
Drink driving in HarrogateDrink driving in Harrogate
Drink driving in Harrogate

The force launched its summer awareness campaign on Wednesday, June 1 and within three days, seven people across the county had already been arrested.

A 71-year-old man was arrested in Harrogate for being almost twice over the legal limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol, blowing 62, and was charged to court.

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A 17-year-old man in Tadcaster was also charged to court after blowing 46 whilst an 18-year-old man was arrested in Richmond for blowing 101.

Police said that, with better weather and lighter nights, incidents of drink and drug driving increase during the summer, especially with Euro 2016 starting on Friday.

The tournament runs from June 10 - July 10 and, as a result, the force has taken the decision to extend the campaign until the competition's finished.

Sgt Any Morton of North Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group said: "Over the next six weeks we will be on the roads looking for those people who break the law.

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"If you choose to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, we are out there and we will catch you. You will face a court appearance, a hefty fine, a driving ban and the possibility of a prison sentence."

More than 850 breath tests were conducted during last year's summer campaign, with 111 people being arrested for drink and drug driving. 12 per cent of those arrested for drink driving were three times over the limit.

To aid the ‘don’t drink or drug drive’ message, the force produced a video showing a number of the incidents that Roads Policing Officers have attended in the last 12 months.

All of the incidents depicted have been as a result of drink or drug driving and Acting Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said the video would show the costly consequences of the crime.

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He said: "As the images in the video very clearly show - drink and drug drivers are not only a danger to themselves, they put the lives of other road users at risk.

"To drink or take drugs and get behind the wheel of a car is a completely irresponsible and selfish thing to do. North Yorkshire Police are, as ever, committed to getting these dangerous drivers off the road.”