140 arrested for drug driving in Surrey in December

Officers arrested 140 people for drug driving in December, nearly double the number of drink driving arrests during the same period.

Surrey Police made 196 arrests and stopped more than 8,000 vehicles as part of Operation Limit, the month-long winter crackdown on drink and drug driving.

Drink and drug driving is one of the “fatal five” causes of fatal or serious injury collisions on our roads, and these results show how drug driving is becoming increasingly more prominent in Surrey than drink driving.

Officers conducted increased patrols and set up random stop check sites along busy roads to provide a visible deterrent to offenders, and during December 8,847 vehicles were stopped and checked, up from 5,023 in the previous year’s campaign.

Some key results from the campaign included:

• A driver who decided to try and do a U-turn to avoid a check site in Guildford, who was swiftly intercepted and arrested for drug driving, possession of cannabis, no insurance, and a bald tyre.
• A driver and passenger arrested at a check site in Hersham after a vehicle search uncovered a large amount of cash and Class A, B, and C drugs.
• Four people arrested for drink driving in a single night.

Superintendent Rachel Glenton, head of Roads Policing for Surrey and Sussex, said: “This year we have stopped more vehicles and made more arrests than ever before. That is a testament to the professionalism of our officers who work to keep our roads safe.

“We carried out more drug tests to raise awareness of how illegal substances can stay in people’s bodies for far longer and impair their ability to drive safely.

“Our patrols on the roads continue 24/7, all year round, to catch offenders and prevent them causing serious harm to themselves and other road users.”

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Surrey’s fantastic roads policing teams are dedicated to targeting the arrogant and selfish drink- and drug-drivers who pay so little regard to the safety of others.

“The results from this year’s Operation Limit campaign speak for themselves. Across both Surrey and Sussex, thousands of people were stopped, and hundreds were arrested after failing drug wipes and breath tests.

“I’m very proud of the tireless efforts of our officers to prevent tragedies on the roads.

“No one has the right to endanger the lives of innocent people through this entitled, idiotic behaviour.”

The consequences of a drink or drug-driving conviction could include:

• A minimum 12-month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance;
• Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA;

You could also kill or seriously injure yourself or someone else.

SURREY STATISTICS FOR OPERATION LIMIT

• Officers made 196 arrests, 140 for drug driving and 84 for drink driving.
• Officers completed 8,847 vehicle stop checks, up from 5,023 in the previous year’s campaign.
• There were 474 Drug Wipe tests carried out, with 140 returning a positive result.
• There were 2310 breath tests carried out, with 84 that were positive, refused, or failed to provide.