Tonga Police have arrested and charged 50 motorists for drink-driving in their latest weekly operation, just days after reporting 32 arrests for the same offence.
The latest figures intensify concerns over drink-driving on Tonga’s roads, with Police repeatedly warning motorists that a single reckless decision can cost lives and leave families facing lasting consequences.
Police said 38 men and 12 women were arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol during the latest operation.
“Tonga Police remind all motorists that drink-driving puts lives at risk and urge everyone to make responsible decisions to help save lives,” Police said.
The announcement follows another Police report five days earlier that 32 people — 24 men and eight women — had been arrested during the previous week’s DUI operation.
If the two Police announcements refer to separate weekly operations, they represent 82 drink-driving arrests across the two reporting periods.
The latest figure of 50 would also represent an increase of 18 arrests, or about 56 percent, compared with the 32 reported in the preceding operation.
Police have been issuing increasingly strong public warnings against driving after consuming alcohol.
“If you drink, do not drive,” Police said following the earlier operation.
“One reckless decision can take a life and leave families facing consequences that last forever.”
Police urged people who had been drinking to find a safe alternative way home and called on the public to help keep Tonga’s roads safe.
