Police concerned intoxicated taxi driver found behind the wheel at midday checkpoint

Extremely disappointed is the reaction of Waikato Police after a taxi driver was found intoxicated behind the wheel of her cab in the Coromandel today.

Waikato Highway Patrol supervisor, Sergeant Paul Scoble, said the arrest of a professional driver was all the more concerning given responsible people often relied on taxi drivers to get them home safely after they have been drinking.

"The woman was stopped in her company vehicle by a Traffic Alcohol Group checkpoint near Tairua shortly before lunch. With alcohol detected on her breath the woman was subjected to a n evidential breath test and returned a result of 568mgms.

"This result shows drink drivers don't discriminate in terms of a preferred time of day to put other motorists' lives at risk and it's tantamount to a betrayal of the trust placed on cabbies by members of the public to provide a safe, reliable and sober service."

Mr Scoble said staff manning the checkpoint said a number of drivers had complained how pointless it was setting up alcohol checkpoints during daylight hours but today's result showed there is a genuine risk.

"This latest arrest follows a number last year where drivers were found intoxicated behind the wheel during the day. A number of drivers said the officers should be out catching burglars instead of picking on motorists but as a mater of fact about the same time the woman was being processed a man was also arrested in relation to thefts ex-car.

"Irregular, frequent checkpoints on our roads not only act as a deterrent to drink drivers they are also very effective in disrupting criminal activity. Not everyone who drives is a criminal but most criminals drive and we know from experience that impromptu vehicle stops are a very effective deterrent."