A 34-year-old Weston man has been charged with two counts of high-range drink-driving and other driving offences committed in one morning, and is the second person arrested by ACT Policing in similar circumstances in a week.
Last Sunday morning, 24 October, a Gilmore man was caught drink driving twice.
Yesterday morning, Saturday 30 October, police were conducting mobile patrols in Canberra City. About 3.20am they stopped a Nissan 350Z driven by the 34-year-old Weston man. Police checks revealed the vehicle was unregistered.
The driver recorded a positive result for alcohol in a breath screening test, and was taken into custody. At City Police Station, the man recorded 0.202 grams of alcohol per 210 litres of breath. This is more than four times the legal limit of 0.05.
The man’s right to drive was suspended for 90 days via an immediate suspension notice.
He was released from custody and departed City Station having given an undertaking he would go to his residence.
About 5.10am today, police sighted the same Nissan 350Z being driven in Deakin.
Police stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as the same man. Subsequent breath analysis at City Station yielded a result of 0.159 grams of alcohol per 210 litres of breath.
The man remained in custody at the ACT Watch House overnight. He will face the ACT Magistrates Court on 12 November charged with two counts of driving a motor vehicle with alcohol in blood, two counts of using an unregistered vehicle, and one count of driving while suspended.
Officer in Charge, ACT Road Policing Detective Inspector Donna Hofmeier issued a stern reminder to drivers not to drink and drive.
“If you drink and drive, you are taking risks. The risk that you’ll injure or kill someone else. The risk that you’ll die in a crash. The risk that you’ll be caught by police,” Detective Inspector Hofmeier said.
“Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day may be the first social event for many people in several months. I urge people to make the choice. Drink or drive, not both.
“Furthermore, and I really can’t believe I have to say this, if we catch you drink driving, and your licence is suspended, don’t get in your car to drive yourself home.”
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