IDIOT DRIVERS SHOCK COPS

Weekend police operation finds trail of high-range blood alcohol readings

A MAN had his licence immediately suspended after allegedly being caught driving nearly three times over the legal blood alcohol limit.

The Thomson man was one of a number of motorists caught driving with mid to high-range alcohol readings over the first two nights of Operation Scoreboard.

Geelong Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant David Ramm said police were “very con- cerned” some drivers were continuing to put their lives and the lives of others at risk by flouting the road rules.

Police intercepted the 30year-old driver of a Subaru on Boundary Rd, St Albans Park, on Saturday night. He returned a positive breath-test reading and later allegedly blew a reading of 0.140.

Meanwhile, a man who told police he was in such a hurry to get to the airport that he allegedly drove 50km/h over the speed limit was issued with an infringement notice.

Geelong Highway Patrol officers intercepted the 36year-old driver at Irrewillipe, near Colac, on Saturday at 1.30pm.

Police say the man was detected driving 150km/h in a 100 zone. In the back seat of the car was a five-year-old child without any restraint.

The man told police that he was in a hurry to get to the airport to catch an international flight. He was issued an infringement notice for speeding and for the unrestrained child.

In other incidents: A MAN was taken to Geelong hospital with injuries to his head and shoulder after he allegedly lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car in Hope St, Geelong West, about 11pm on Saturday. ALSO on Saturday, police were travelling along Ryrie St, Geelong when a 37-year-old man allegedly ran a red light. He was intercepted by police and later allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.077. The Hamlyn Heights man will lose his licence and front court at a later date. A 23-YEAR-OLD male driver of a Ford Falcon was travelling along Barwon Tce in Belmont when he was randomly intercepted by police and allegedly returned a preliminary oral fluid test returning a positive result for cannabis. He is expected to be charged. ON FRIDAY a 63-year-old woman was intercepted at Drysdale and returned a positive preliminary breath test and later returned a midrange reading. She was issued with an infringement notice.

Sgt Ramm said police were concerned by the number of drug and alcohol-affected drivers on Geelong’s roads.

“It is concerning that we have had a few drink and drugs drivers on the roads,” Sgt Ramm said. “We want people to get home safely.

“If you are going to drink you should always have a designated driver or seek an alternative type of transport.”

Operation Scoreboard ran from Thursday until 11.59pm yesterday.