Man allegedly three times over limit as he drove with family in car

A 31-year-old man allegedly drunk drove while more than three times over the legal limit in one of what police called “incredibly dangerous” incidents over the long weekend.

According to an ACT Policing spokesperson, officers observed an allegedly speeding blue Kia Carnival on Ashley Drive in Monash at about 3:30 pm on Sunday (6 October).

They followed the car until it turned into Theodore when police activated their emergency lights and sirens. The man allegedly did not stop for police and continued driving.

The 31-year-old man exited the vehicle, which police say was also carrying his partner and four children.

He was subjected to a roadside alcohol screening test, which allegedly returned a positive result.

Police arrested him and took him to Tuggeranong Police Station, where further testing allegedly returned a blood alcohol content of 0.179 grams of alcohol in 210 litres of breath – more than three times the legal limit.

The man was charged with drink driving and had his licence suspended.

He was one of three arrests General Duties officers attached to Tuggeranong Station made over the October long weekend for alleged road safety incidents.

At about 11:20 pm that evening, police were carrying out speed checks on Drakeford Drive in Kambah.

A 20-year-old man driving a black Volkswagen Polo was caught by police allegedly travelling at 144 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.

Police claim he was found to have a suspended licence and was an unaccompanied learner driver when police stopped him.

The man was charged with speeding, driving as an unaccompanied learner driver, not displaying L-plates, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving with a suspended licence. His vehicle was also seized.

At about 5:20 pm on Monday afternoon (7 October), police say they saw a blue and black motorcycle turn into Richardson and accelerate rapidly.

The rider allegedly continued to accelerate away from police and lost control of the motorcycle at an intersection and crashed a short time later in Chisholm.

Police apprehended the rider, who they said was a 35-year-old man from Lyons. He has been charged with failing to stop for police, aggravated furious driving, riding unlicenced, riding a motor vehicle without consent and breaching his bail conditions.

The Lyons man faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, with the other two men to face court at a later date.

Over the long weekend, officers carried out more than 1000 roadside breath tests, with the spokesperson alleging “several people” were caught driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Rural Patrol officers also caught four drivers allegedly speeding in the western fringe of the ACT and two drivers returned positive breath testing results.

Detective Inspector Mark Steel, Officer in Charge of ACT Road Policing, said while most motorists did the right thing over the long weekend, some deliberately made poor choices.

“Their actions were incredibly dangerous to themselves and the community,” he said.

“While the majority of drivers did the right thing on the weekend, it is concerning that we are still seeing people completely ignoring any sort of due care for other members of the community and driving under the influence.”