The Traffic Police caught 16 motorists for drink-driving following an islandwide blitz on Saturday.

In the pre-dawn operation, road blocks were set up at Crawford Street, Fort Road, New Bridge Road and Outram Road from 1.30 am to 4.30 am. More than 80 drivers were stopped and tested for alcohol consumption.

Of these, 16 motorists comprising 15 men and one woman, aged between 24 and 45, were arrested for drink-driving. The highest Breath Evidential Analyser (BEA) test result was 82 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, which is more than twice the prescribed legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath.

Drink drivers, on conviction, will be disqualified from driving for at least 12 months. They will lose their driving licences and have to retake the theory and practical driving tests in order to obtain their driving licences again.

In addition, first-time offenders can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000, or jailed up to six months.

Repeat offenders may be punished with a maximum fine of $30,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to three years. They may also be caned up to six strokes should death or serious injury be caused.