Drink drivers 'should lose cars'

The AA said 90% of members would support the confiscation of cars

A motoring body has called for the cars of repeat drink drivers to be confiscated to help prevent the rise of consistent offenders in Scotland.

The proposal from the Automobile Association (AA) follows a drop in the number of motorists caught drink-driving over the festive period.

The organisation said that while fewer people were being prosecuted there was a "hard-core" who habitually offend.

It said 90% of its members thought offenders' cars should be taken away.

Figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) revealed a total of 654 people across the country's eight police force areas were caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during a four-week crackdown, down on 839 on the previous year.

Edmund King said: "This year's figures are significantly down but if you look further into the figures you get this hard core of drink drivers who are not a bit over the limit, they are way over the limit.

"They probably have a drink problem rather than a driving problem, so just banning them won't actually solve the problem."

"They need to prove that they are no longer dependent on alcohol before being given back their keys."

National survey

More than 11,000 members responded to an AA survey which asked if repeat drink-drivers should have their cars confiscated. There were 1,062 respondents from Scotland.

Mr King said the questioned was posed at the request of Central Scotland Police as part of their drink-driving campaign.

The AA wants to see courts decide whether to return or dispose of the cars of repeat offenders.

They also suggested a roadside drug test to target those suspected of taking drugs and driving.

Among those caught during the festive campaign were a school teacher who was found to be almost twice the drink-driving limit after being stopped by police as she travelled to work in Lanarkshire.

Northern Constabulary said a 46-year-old man was found to be more than five times the limit, while in Tayside a 16-year-old boy was stopped on his motorbike on New Year's Day was twice the legal limit.