Australian Police Tweeting Drunk Drivers
Australian police said on Thursday that they were joining the Twitter fad by using the micro-blogging service to discourage drunk-driving among young people.
Victoria state police deputy commissioner Ken Lay said he would tweet "embarrassingly boozy breath readings" recorded during traffic operations in an attempt to make young people think twice about drinking and driving.
"Many young people use Twitter on their mobile phones, even when they’re out drinking and socializing," he said.
"If posting the details of bad behavior on Twitter stops even one person from getting in their car and driving drunk, it will be worth it."
He said that police needed to become "smarter" about communicating with young people that use Twitter and Facebook, the world’s largest social networking site.
"Certainly, this is one way that we’re trying to communicate our issues, our concerns with young people," he said.
He tweeted about pulling over the same car on three separate occasions in Melbourne with alcohol-affected drivers behind the wheel.
"It’s another indication of young people taking unnecessary risks," Lay said.
"Fortunately last night we caught these people before they either hurt themselves or someone else."
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