Drink drivers have given Ballarat a poor start to the Christmas and New Year holiday season, police say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ballarat Highway Patrol members caught two men in the early hours of Sunday morning with blood alcohol content well above the 0.05 limit.
Police intercepted a 28-year-old Sebastopol man in Bell Street, Redan, at 12.20am Sunday morning.
The man recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.146 and had his license immediately suspended. He will be charged on summons to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date.
Just 40 minutes later, the same police officer intercepted a second man in Sturt Street in relation to drink driving.
A 23 year old Queensland man was pulled over and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.177 – more than three times the legal limit. The driver will be charged on summons.
Ballarat Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Glenn Kilburn said the offences were a poor start to the festive season on Ballarat roads.
“These are big readings,” he said.
“We’re pretty disappointed given it’s happened at this time of year and all the warnings that are out there.”
“Luckily no-one was killed in these incidents.”
Leading Senior Constable Kilburn said police were currently targeting drink driving, speeding, mobile phone and distraction offences as well as fatigue.
“It seems people are continuing to flaunt the rules,” he said.
“We’re setting up breath test sites in back roads and main streets all over Ballarat. If you do the wrong thing, we will catch you.”
Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Robert Hill said police were currently in the midst of the nation-wide Operation Crossroads – a 12 day crackdown over the holiday period.
“Every road user needs to take every action they can to stay alert, stay sober, stay within the limit and stay alive on our roads this Christmas,” he said.
jordan.oliver@fairfaxmedia.com.au