A Victorian man has lost his licence for at least 15 months after being caught drinking wine while driving, and subsequently blowing more than four times the legal blood-alcohol limit.
On Sunday, August 4 at approximately 12pm, Nunawading Highway Patrol officers observed a Toyota Yaris being driven on Whitehorse Road in Mitcham, with its driver allegedly having only one hand on the car’s steering wheel.
The driver’s other hand was allegedly wrapped around a bottle of wine, from which he was drinking.
The 24-year-old was subsequently pulled over and subjected to a roadside breath test, where he allegedly returned a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.234 – well above the legal limit of 0.05.
His Toyota Yaris was impounded for up to 30 days, and his licence immediately suspended on the spot.
The 24-year-old man will face court at an undisclosed date.
In Victoria, motorists caught with a BAC of 0.15 or above are issued a fine, as well as a licence disqualification and suspension between 15 to 24 months.
In addition to this, they need to complete an Intensive Drink and Drug Driver Behaviour Change Program, have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle for a minimum of six months when they resume driving, and also have a BAC limit of zero for at least three years.
