Drink drivers detected over long weekend in Moama

Road blitz: Moama police detected at least three drink drivers over the long weekend. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Moama police detected one high-range and two mid-range drink driving offences over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Murray River Police District Inspector Paul Huggett said a 50-year-old NSW man was travelling south on Deniliquin Rd, Moama, about 7pm on Sunday, June 12.

Officers said they had cause to stop the man because of the manner in which he was driving, he said.

Insp Huggett said the man returned a positive random breath test result, and was arrested and taken to the Moama Police Station.

He said the man had a blood alcohol reading of 0.159.

Insp Huggett said the man’s licence was suspended immediately.

At 8pm the same day, officers pulled over a 71-year-old Victorian man on Perricoota Rd. Insp Huggest said the vehicle was travelling east when the man was pulled over and randomly breath-tested.

A breath analysis at Moama Police Station returned a mid-range reading of 0.100.

The man’s driver’s licence were suspended in NSW, and he will appear at Moama Local Court at a later date.

A 49-year-old Victorian male returned a mid-range breath test of 0.091 when stopped by officers at an RBT station on Meninya St, Moama. Insp Huggett said the man’s licence was suspended and he will appear at Moama Local Court at a later date.

In Victoria, more than 5000 offences were detected over the long weekend, with more than 40 per cent of those recorded as speeding offences.

Victorian Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Glenn Weir said while it was pleasing to see the majority of drivers following the rules, the amount of offences detected was “unacceptable”.

“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,” he said.

“Police will continue to target and enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour, and we make no apologies for this. One bad decision is all it takes to cause a tragedy.”

Close to 200 drink drivers were detected in Victoria over the weekend from more than 75,000 breath tests.