Police praise sobriety of fans

9th February 2010

Police are praising the sober behaviour of those attending Sunday's Tutukaka  More FM winery tour concert after only one motorist was charged with drink driving after leaving the event.

Musical stars Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga and Tim Finn attracted a crowd of just over 2000 to the concert at the Tutukaka Marina Reserve on Sunday.

The outdoor concert also featured Boh Runga and Che Fu, but despite it being a winery tour and there being plenty of alcoholic refreshments available on the night, Whangarei road policing Senior Sergeant Steve Dickson was full of praise for the responsible attitudes of the concert goers.

At a compulsory breath test at the exit of Ngunguru after the concert, police stopped and breath tested 424 motorists, and only one was over the limit.

"That's a great result. It's lower than the average number of people over the limit from these stops, which is about half a per cent of those stopped, so this is a very good return," Mr Dickson said.

Not every motorist leaving the concert was tested because traffic got backed up several hundred metres and drivers had to be let through without a test to keep the traffic flowing.

Mr Dickson  hoped Sunday's results were a sign that people were finally getting the message not to drink and drive.

"Also the people that would have attended this event would generally be the more responsible members of our community," he said.

 "It [the concert] was also quite a family affair, but ultimately it was good to only have one over the limit and I hope everybody enjoyed themselves."

What might have contributed  was that the  bars ran out of beer by 7.30pm, leaving only wine and pre-mixed drinks.