“The national Police Scotland Festive Drink Driving Campaign has well and truly started and officers here in Dumfries and Galloway will be playing their part in robustly tackling the scourge of those who still think it is acceptable to take drink or drugs and then get behind the wheel of a vehicle” explains Constable Stephen Judge of the Roads Policing Unit at Stranraer.
“As always the force appeals to drivers to consider carefully the message about not drinking and driving. The dangers of drink driving are well documented now and the tragic consequences of being involved in a crash should be only too apparent.
Driving, or attempting to drive whilst over the legal limit will result in:-
• Loss of licence – automatic 12 month ban
• A fine of up to £5000
• Criminal record
• Offence which stays on your licence for 11 years.
Here in Dumfries and Galloway, in line with the rest of Scotland, we are also getting tougher on drink drivers this festive season. Enforcement practices now mean that drivers caught drink driving for a second time can have their vehicle taken off them for good. Powers also exist to seize and enforce forfeiture of the driver’s vehicle.
Speaking on the launch, Constable Stephen Judge said “It beggars belief why anyone would even consider drink driving. The dangers to road users, including the driver and those in the vehicle, are scary enough. The penalties are severe, with no licence, a heavy fine, no vehicle, very probably no job and all the family related consequences that are likely to follow. It just shouldn’t be on any driver’s radar to take the chance. The message is the same as ever DON’T DO IT”
“The campaign will run between Friday 2 December through to Monday 2 January and police patrols will be on the roads, 24/7, across the region targeting those who still don’t heed the message”.
