South Milford man banned in Christmas drunk-driver purge
Fines and bans as police record 20% spike in drink-drive arrests on North Yorkshire's roads this Christmas.
Sherburn and South Milford
Eleven people from the Selby area were arrested this Christmas as part of an annual crack-down on intoxicated drivers.
Operation Attention, which ran throughout the festive season, saw 124 arrests made county-wide – a figure 20% higher than recorded in the same period last year.
Police estimate more than 2,000 breath tests were conducted by their officers during this year's operation, which ran from December 1st to 31st.
Of the 124 arrests, 32 were made for drug driving with 27 of those as a direct result of new roadside 'drug wipe' screening tests.
Some of those arrested in the early stages of the campaign have already been dealt with by the courts. Drivers convicted have been handed heavy fines and will serve lengthy bans before they can get back behind the wheel.
These include 56 year-old South Milford man, Anthony Sambidge, who has been ordered by York Magistrates Court to pay £375 in fines and charges and was banned from driving for 18 months. He provided police with a breathalyser reading of 70µg (micrograms) per 100ml of blood – the limit is 35µg.
Speaking about the arrest figures DCC Madgwick said, “At the beginning of Operation Attention we issued a clear warning that we would be patrolling our roads looking for drink and drug drivers and that on arrest, they would face serious consequences. That’s why it is both frustrating and disappointing to see a large number of drivers chose not to heed our warning and acted irresponsibly, putting themselves and other road users at risk.”
“In spite of the devastation that drink and drug driving causes being common knowledge, I find it staggering that people still choose to flout the law and drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. I have said it many times before, the safe limit is zero.”
“Whilst the Christmas campaign may of come to an end – there will be no let up from officers looking out for drink and drug drivers on North Yorkshire’s roads and I urge the communities of North Yorkshire to join us in the fight against drink and drug driving by reporting anyone they suspect of getting behind the wheel while impaired.”
The majority of arrests were made as a result of drink driving, with the highest breathalyser reading being provided by a 40 year-old woman from the Richmond area. She blew 180µg per 100ml of breath – a staggering five times higher than the legal limit.