Drink drivers a concern for police during Canberra Day weekend
ACT Policing conducted traffic targeting operations for the Canberra Day long weekend, and apprehended several drivers who should not have been behind the wheel.
Among the 101 infringements issued from Friday to Monday (5-8 March 2021), two people caught drink-driving were of particular concern.
The first driver was detected about 12.55am on Saturday, 6 March on Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City, after a 19-year-old male learner driver from Stirling was stopped after his silver BMW was observed driving with no headlights on.
The driver subsequently returned an alcohol reading of 0.059 (as a learner driver he was subject to a 0.00 limit) and after further investigations revealed he had been issued an Immediate Suspension Notice (ISN) for drink-driving in December 2020, the man was issued with a new ISN, suspending his licence for another 90 days.
He will be charged with level 2 drink driving, driving while licence suspended, driving while registration suspended, unaccompanied learner, not displaying L plates, and driving without headlights turned on.
The second incident occurred about 11pm Saturday, when police observed a red hatchback travelling at speed on the Tuggeranong Parkway in Kambah. When police caught up with the vehicle at the Glenloch interchange, they recorded its speed at 149km/h in the 90km/h zone.
After the vehicle stopped for police in Gordon Road, Acton, the 20-year-old female driver from Gordon returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.161.
She was released from custody and will be summonsed to face the ACT Magistrates Court in April on charges including level 4 drink driving, driving under the influence, and aggravated dangerous driving.
The same woman was arrested again after police responded to a report of a fight at a City night club about 1.15am Sunday, 7 March.
She will face court in April charged with failing to comply with an exclusion direction, possession of a drug of dependence and resisting a Territory public official.
Media enquiries
Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au