THIS year’s Christmas drink-drive campaign has so far seen the police conduct more than 340 road side checks and make 10 arrests.
A total of eight people so far have been charged with drink-driving and in one case, the motorist earned himself a £1,000 fine and a three-year ban after exceeding the limit.
Two others have received driving bans in the campaign’s first fortnight.
Inspector Derek Flint of the Isle of Man police said: ‘We seem to have got the campaign off to a good start depending on which way you look at it. Despite our best efforts and clear messages being sent by the courts, people still persist with drink-driving.
‘The message could not be clearer and our resolve to deny drink-drivers the use of the roads is stronger than ever: we will find you and deal with you appropriately.’
The recent announcement of industrial action by bus drivers over the Christmas period would also provide no excuse for drink-drivers, he said.
‘We are coming up to a difficult few days regarding the bus dispute,’ he said.
‘But this is no excuse if you are caught drink-driving because you failed to plan appropriately. However expensive a taxi ride home might seem, it pales into insignificance against the fine, disruption and possible prison term you could receive on the back of a drink-drive conviction.’
Inspector Flint said statistics were currently roughly on a par with last year but the aim was to see the numbers reduce.
The campaign runs until January 3.