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Police warned ahead of the festive season that all motorists arrested for alcohol-related road offences would not get the option of paying a fine.
More than 85 people died in traffic accidents during the same period and police indicated at the time that the tragedies were attributable to drunk drivers, mechanical failure, speeding, bad roads or a combination of all four.

Of the 146 arrests, it is understood that dockets were prepared, but it appears just one suspect is before the Harare Magis-trates’ Courts.
Acting National Traffic police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luckmore Chakanza yesterday said the other 145 motorists were fined.
“These were mostly those who were fou-nd driving while drinking,” he said.

A senior judicial officer yesterday said police do not have enough equipment to gather evidence needed to convict suspects, hence the payment of fines.
“The challenge is that the police do not have working breathalysers and that is why several people get away with it.
“A person should be tested within two hours and after that, that evidence is not acceptable in court,” he said.

He said the judiciary had taken the position that all those convicted of alcohol-related driving offences should be imprisoned for between two and five years.
At present, only the police fleet of 40 highway patrol BMWs is equipped with breathalysers and cameras. Police as such tend to fine offending motorists for drinking while driving rather than the more serious offence of driving while under the influence.

Further, alleged corruption sees many offenders getting away with the crime as some police officers accept bribes to let them off the hook. Once arrested for an alcohol-related driving offence, a suspect is supposed to be taken for a breathalyser test to check the level of alcohol in his/her blood.
Police can also use Government hospitals to sample blood to determine a person’s culpability.