Ian Morellec from Guernsey Police with Tracy Merrien from Cherry Godfrey. Drink-drivers now face a significant increase in premiums if they are convicted. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0619986)

A MOVE by local insurers taking a firm line with drink-drivers has been welcomed by the police.
Drink-driving is classed as one of the highest categories of risk-taking.
Accordingly, the base premium of an offender will rise and in some cases insurers are taking the age of the driver into account.
‘Most insurers said they would only consider insuring someone with a drink-driving offence if they were over 25 years old,’ said Tracy Merrien, personal line manager for Cherry Godfrey insurance.
‘Some even said that they would only insure over 30-year-olds.’
‘Drink-driving stays on an offender’s record for a long time.
‘Insurers are now asking drivers whether they have ever been disqualified.’
Mrs Merrien said that motorists should consider that if they are banned for driving for more than two years, they would also lose their no-claims bonus, as such bonuses are only held for two years.
‘I’m hoping that all this will help,’ she said.