Man 'faints' when he sees cops

2008-04-29 10:10

Port Elizabeth - It is bad enough when someone has had so much to drink that they lose consciousness.

But nothing beats this happening in front of a traffic officer during a drunken driving campaign.

This was the case over the long weekend when a man, 63, was pulled off on the Bethelsdorp Road.

It was unknown whether the man behind the steering wheel "fainted" due to shock, but he apparently passed out behind the steering wheel when he saw the traffic officers.

He was nevertheless arrested and carried to the police vehicle where he joined other suspected drunken drivers.

The traffic department arrested 34 people in the Nelson Mandela Metropole over the weekend for alleged drunken driving.

According to Ncedu Kumbaca, spokesperson for the Department of Roads and Transport, the suspects were from all walks of life.

"Even a lawyer was arrested. Most of the suspects were between 18 and 35 years old. The highest alcohol reading was 1,25 mg/ - five times the legal limit."

Blood samples were taken from all the suspects.

Most of them were released on bail and were expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

According to Kumbaca the cases will be postponed until the blood test results are available.

"The department would like to warn motorists and emphasise that drunken driving is a serious matter. There will be no mercy shown for culprits."

Of the 34 suspects, 12 were apprehended in Humewood, nine in Gelvandale, nine in Algoa Park and four in Uitenhage.

According to Kumbaca the department will soon be announcing a brand new bus - known as the booze bus - costing R1,7 million.

"The bus will have all the necessary equipment to test the alcohol levels of motorists."

Kumbaca said the campaign against drunken driving would continue to ensure that roads in die Cacadu region were safe before 2010.

- Die Burger