Chinese police caught 3,167 drunk drivers last weekend after it started a two-month nationwide campaing against the serious problem, said the Ministry of Public Security on Monday.

Since Saturday, police across the country tightened monitoring on main roads near restaurants, hotels and pubs and set up checkpoints, said a statement issued by the ministry.

The nationwide action was launched to prevent serious traffic accidents ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October.

The campaign is also the latest ministry move against drunk driving following an increase in traffic fatalities and accidents in recent months that have raised great public concern.

On Aug. 4, a drunk driver in Hangzhou killed a 16-year-old girl. Two days later, another drunk driver in Shanghai killed a four-year-old boy and injured three others.

According to the ministry, if drunk drivers are caught, their licenses will be suspended for three or six months and, in serious cases, the driver would be detained for 15 days.

If a drunk driver is caught twice within one year, his or her license will be revoked for two to five years.

In eastern Zhejiang Province and southern Guangdong Province, government officials who were caught drunk driving were not only fined by the police but also handed over to the Party discipline departments for further punishment.

"We suggest every driving citizen not take the chance," the ministry statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2009)