ACT Policing allegedly detect Crestwood driver almost three times over the blood alcohol limit at Latham

Police allege the 31-year-old Crestwood, NSW, man recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.142 in Latham on December 6.

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About 10.26am, police patrolling Southern Cross Drive, Latham, allegedly observed a black Toyota Corolla travelling about 35km/h in the 60km/h zone.

When the driver stopped for police, he stated he was travelling slowly as his manual car struggled to go up hills and he was looking for an address, police said.

Police subjected the man to a roadside test and he allegedly returned a positive reading to alcohol, before being taken into custody for breath analysis and at Belconnen Police Station returning the 0.142 reading. The legal limit is 0.05.

The man's right to drive in the ACT was immediately suspended for 90 days, and he will receive a summons to face court for level three drink-driving on a date to be fixed.

ACT Policing officer in charge of traffic operations, Detective Acting Inspector Paul Hutcheson, said this incident was one example why police conducted random breath testing day and night.

"When we launched this latest drink driving campaign last week, I said drivers should remember we can test them anywhere, anytime," he said.

"Some people may be surprised that we detected someone at almost three times the 0.05 limit on a Monday morning, but that's why we conduct these operations.

"This driver was stopped before injuring someone or taking a life, the next drink-driver may not be as lucky.

"Once again I remind everyone, drinking then driving is an unnecessary risk. Don't do it."

ACT Policing has conducted targeted RBT operations in 16 locations across the ACT as part of a December traffic focus on drink-driving.

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