Vancouver police pulled 49 suspected impaired drivers off the road last weekend, according to new statistics from the third week of the department’s summer roadblock campaign.
Officers administered 305 breathalyzer tests between Friday and Saturday, nabbing 12 drivers who blew in the “fail” range and 22 who registered in the “warn” range. All received immediate roadside suspensions.
Six other drivers received 24-hour prohibitions for alcohol and one received the same penalty for suspected drug impairment.
The numbers represent a noticeable decline from the previous weekend, which saw 68 drivers’ licenses taken away, but are consistent with the same weekend of 2011.
Const. Lindsey Houghton said one concerning trend revealed in the latest set of statistics is the number of new drivers nabbed at roadblocks.
Eight drivers with a green “N” on their vehicles were hit with 12-hour prohibitions over the weekend, bringing the total to 30 since the start of this year’s roadblock campaign.
That compares to 36 for the entire 2011 campaign that ran from June 30 to August 7.
New drivers are reminded that they are not allowed any alcohol in their bodies when they drive.
