Durban — Seventeen men, including a 21-year-old and a 66-year-old, were arrested for drinking and driving during an eight-hour roadblock in Durban over the weekend.
A multidisciplinary roadblock was held on Saturday from 6pm to 2am on Sunday on Solomon Mahlangu Drive.
eThekwini District SAPS spokesperson Captain Carmen Rhynes said the Brighton Beach SAPS and the Durban metropolitan police conducted the roadblock.
“Seventeen men aged between 21 and 66 years old were arrested for drinking and driving. This included three suspects from Bhekithemba and Chatsworth areas who were involved in serious collisions,” Rhynes said.
Reacting to the incident, eThekwini district commissioner Major-General Makhosazana Victoria Kheswa said: “Drinking and driving is a serious offence. I am pleased with the arrests by Brighton Beach SAPS. May this be a warning to all drivers who drink and drive, you will be arrested.
“We will have continued joint operations throughout the eThekwini District targeting liquor-related crimes. SAPS will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach towards drunk drivers.”
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, last month during a roadblock, 16 drunk drivers were arrested. The highest alcohol reading was 0.71mg/100ml and the lowest alcohol reading was 0.28mg/100ml.
According to police, your blood may not have an alcohol content of more than 0.05%. This means that even after what you may think is a “small drink”, you could be over the limit. If you have more than 350ml of beer, or if you have more than a single tot of brandy or another spirit, you may already be over the limit. These alcohol levels will remain in your system for up to eight hours after consumption.
If you are stopped at a roadblock, and if it is determined that you have consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol that you may legally consume while driving, you will be arrested and charged with driving under the influence of liquor. You will be held in custody until you can post bail (in certain instances bail may be denied). Depending on prior convictions against you, and the circumstances surrounding your arrest, you face a minimum fine of R2 000 or a two-year prison sentence, or both. You may also lose your driving licence, or have it suspended. You will have a criminal record.
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