Rotterdam – Police in Rotterdam conducted alcohol testing on 16,485 motorists in the country’s most large scale alcohol checks, reports Dutch news agency ANP. 

A total of 329 people were found to have drunk too much and 30 drivers had to surrender their licences on the spot, said Rotterdam police on Sunday.

From Saturday 11.30pm to Sunday 8am, all motorists leaving the Rotterdam centre had to take a breathalyzer test.

During the alcohol checks, several drivers tried to escape. One driver refused to stop and drove towards police officers who managed to jump away in time. He was later arrested and appeared drunk.

Police also had to chase a drunk driver who has been caught drunk driving thrice in the past five years The driver behaved aggressively after taking a breathalyzer test and gave a police officer a skirmish one knee.

Last week marks the first of alcohol checks in preparations for the year-end holiday season.

In 2008, police conducted a similar test on a smaller scale. Out of 14,000 motorists tested, 324 failed the breathalyzer tests.

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