A disqualified driver has recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.226 while a P-plate driver under the influence of alcohol has been caught driving at more than twice the speed limit in two blatant weekend displays of disregard to road safety and the law. 

At about 4.30pm on Saturday 9 July, ACT Policing officers located a grey Jeep station wagon swerving on the Tuggeranong Parkway at Yarralumla. 

Police stopped the driver, a 35-year-old Chifley man, who had already been disqualified from holding a driver’s licence. When taken to City Police Station, he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.226. 

He was arrested and charged with drive motor vehicle with alcohol in breath (repeat offender) and drive while disqualified (repeat offender). 

In a separate incident at about 9.30pm on Friday night, 8 July, police caught a 19-year-old Phillip man on a provisional driver’s licence travelling at 162 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Yarra Glen in Curtin. 

The man was taken to Woden Police Station where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.057. He also had failed to display his P plates. His actions mean he will lose his licence and will need to attend court on a range of driving offences. 

Officer in Charge of ACT Road Policing Detective Acting Inspector Paul Hutcheson said these types of selfish and reckless driving behaviours needed to stop. 

“These two men have decided to completely disregard the law and their actions by either speeding or driving drunk, or doing both in one instance, could have had deadly consequences,” Detective Acting Inspector Hutcheson said. 

“Our road policing officers are on roads right across Canberra and if you do the wrong thing you will be caught and you will face the consequences.” 

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