Arrested drink-driver was nearly five times the legal limit

Police have now arrested 87 Leicestershire and Rutland drivers for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs in just the first half of this month.

One of those taken into custody was incredibly more than four-and-a-half times the legal limit.

Police are clamping down on motorists driving under the influenceplaceholder image
Police are clamping down on motorists driving under the influence

Officers are clamping down as part of their annual winter drink drug drive campaign, which was launched earlier this year because of the Qatar World Cup and the risk of people deciding to drive home from the pub after watching a match.

Jonathan Clarkson, spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership said: “I wanted to remind people to think about booking a taxi, using public transport or having a designated sober driver as the only safe way to get home and not to risk starting the New Year with a drink drug drive conviction.”

So far 64 of the arrests were made for drink-drive offences while 23 motorists had drugs in their system when stopped by police.

Four other drivers failed to take a drink/drug drive test.

Many of the arrested motorists were in Leicester city but many others were apprehended in rural parts of the counties.

Police say people of all ages, backgrounds and communities were found to be over the limit.

Anyone who sees someone who appears to be a drink or drug driver enter a vehicle to drive away is asked to make a note of the registration plate and the direction of travel and call police on 101 or make a make a free and anonymous call to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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