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10
Dec 2022
18 arrests as North Yorkshire drink-drive campaign gets underway
Police in North Yorkshire have arrested 18 people in the first eight days of this year’s annual Christmas drink and drug-drive campaign.
Ten of the 18 arrests made were for drink-driving and eight were for drug-driving. Fifteen of the arrests were of men and the other three were of women.
Five arrests each were made the Harrogate district and York, three each in Richmond and Hambleton, and one each in Scarborough borough and Ryedale.
The message from the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety partnership this year is “save a life and call it in.” Members of the public are being urged to call out anyone who is behind the wheel when under the influence of drink or drugs, by dialling 999.
The force launched its annual Christmas drink-drug drive campaign on December 1 with the help of Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale. The actor participated in a mock road traffic collision to highlight the dangers of drink and drug driving to members of the public.
The highest reading recorded over the eight days by North Yorkshire Police was over four times the legal limit. The driver, a 43-year-old woman from Richmondshire was arrested and taken into custody where she was breathalysed again and recorded a reading of 141 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. The woman is due to appear in court on December 19..
Superintendent Emma Aldred, head of specialist 0perations at North Yorkshire Police, said:
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Police are actively patrolling in marked and unmarked vehicles across the county, as well as conducting static checks on the side of the road. Officers are keen to remind the public that the hazards are not limited to driving straight after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, as substances can remain at dangerous levels in the bloodstream well into the morning after.
Prevention is also a key part of the campaign. Road safety officers are working with colleagues at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to deliver ‘Survive the drive’ events. These hard-hitting talks aim to educate people about the risks and dangers that that are associated with drink and drug driving.
North Yorkshire Police urge people with information about drink drivers to share it by dialling 101 and selecting option 1, or by dialling 999 if the crime is in the process of being committed.
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