Police to warn drink-drive suspects named by public

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 10:09

MOTORISTS suspected of drink-driving by members of the public are to be sent warnings by police in the Lothians, even if they have not been caught.

The move is part of the annual drink-driving campaign and comes after it emerged a mother was charged with being twice over the limit in Edinburgh after being caught behind the wheel of her car with her three-month-old daughter in the back seat.

The 26-year-old woman was stopped by police after being spotted driving erratically in Baileyfield Road, Portobello in the early hours of the morning. Officers found the baby asleep in the rear of the vehicle after it was pulled over last Thursday before breathalysing the woman.

The woman is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at the end of the month.

That arrest was one of 14 made by Lothian and Borders Police during the first week of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland's (Acpos) summer drink-drugs driving campaign, which began last Monday.

Officers said they would continue their efforts to detect offenders over the second week, with marked and unmarked patrols taking place across the area.

As well as enforcement action, the force is using a Bluetooth transmission device to send a short message to mobile phones with an anti drink/drug-drive message at locations including shopping centres and at public events.

Also, letters will be sent to the owners of vehicles seen and suspected of drink-driving by members of the public.

A police spokesman said: "We are determined to drive the message home that drink-driving will not be tolerated, and we have in place a comprehensive enforcement plan.

We would also encourage members of the public to report to us anyone they suspect of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs."

The Lothian arrests in the last week included a 36-year-old man who was pulled over in Edinburgh last Tuesday after he was spotted driving while holding an "insecure load" on top of his car.

After being breathalysed, he was allegedly found to be twice over the limit.

Another man, aged 44, was allegedly three times over the limit when he was caught speeding on the A1 in East Lothian last Monday.

Across Scotland, the first week of the campaign saw 122 people charged with drink-driving offences – a figure down almost 17 per cent on the previous year's results.

A total of 22 of those were involved in collisions and a further 100 were stopped for suspected drink-driving. In addition, nine motorists were found to be driving under the influence of drugs.