Repeat drink-driver fools interlock device

A REPEAT drink-driver fooled the interlock device fitted to his car to stop him getting behind the wheel with booze in his system, but couldn’t get past the police, Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

P-plater Humberto Vasquez, 37, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.039 after being stopped at a breathtest station on Derrimut Rd, Werribee, on January 28.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said he’d heard of interlocks overlooking very minor alcohol readings but never for a reading of this magnitude.

“0.03 would definitely stop it (the car) running normally,” the magistrate said.

“I accept what he says; he was able to get the car started with an interlock.”

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Alex Good agreed it was “perplexing” that the interlock device didn’t immediately disable the vehicle.

Vasquez, of Werribee, said he had five stubbies of beer that day over a prolonged period at the beach, but necked the final two bottles “very quickly”.

“That’s probably as good an explanation as any; you’ve downed two bottles … (and) while you’re driving your system’s absorbed it,” Mr Mellas said.

The magistrate noted the new interlocks now being used were more difficult for drivers to work around.

“That will be hard to dispute,” Sgt Good said.

A welder with six children to support, Vasquez was fined $500 and his licence was cancelled for a year. Mr Mellas noted the man’s record of drink driving would likely sentence him to have an interlock on his vehicle for a longer period if and when he got his licence back.