By Matthew Sims
Police apprehended a 21-year-old driver in Laverton after he was allegedly found to be driving erratically and more than four times the blood alcohol concentration limit as part of the Operation Regal statewide blitz during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said police received reports of an erratic vehicle in Laverton about 4pm on Sunday, June 13.
“Reports stated the driver was sticking his head out of the window while driving,” the spokesperson said.
“The 21-year-old was under the influence of alcohol and allegedly blew 0.226 on an evidentiary breath test.
“The driver received an immediate suspension of his licence, and his car was impounded for 28 days.”
Overall results showed police detected more than 5000 alleged offences as part of Operation Regal, which included eight drink driving offences, four disqualified driving offences, six unlicensed driving offences, one speeding offence, four disobeying signs or signals offences, three mobile phone offences, four unregistered vehicle offences, two impoundments and two cyclist offences across the Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay areas.
Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said police would remain highly visible on roads across the state as the Victorian school holiday period begins.
“It was pleasing to see the majority of road users doing the right thing over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, with reduced levels of road trauma overall,” he said.
“However, it’s completely unacceptable that so many motorists are continuing to take risks on our roads – especially with wet weather to contend with.
“We continue to detect a high number of speeding and unauthorised drivers – these are people that are making a conscious decision to blatantly disregard the road rules.”
Wet weather over the Queen’s Birthday period did not deter motorists from slowing down, with more than 40 per cent of all offences detected for speeding.
With six lives lost to date in June, police have urged motorists not to be complacent during the remaining winter months, with poor visibility and wet and slippery roads likely over the coming weeks.
