Alleged drink-driver speeds past police into cells

Release Date: Saturday, July 24 2010, 11:30 AM

ACT Policing arrested a 21-year-old Torrens man after he overtook a police car in Curtin early this morning at high speed, then later returned a high-range reading for the presence of alcohol.

Police conducting a patrol in an unmarked car on Yarra Glen in Curtin around 12.32am today observed a green Ford Falcon with Victorian registration plates overtake them at high speed.

Police estimated the offender’s speed at 164km/h, then observed the driver momentarily lose control while overtaking another vehicle on Yarra Glen.

The offender was stopped by police and subjected to a roadside screening test for alcohol, which returned a positive result. A later sample returned a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.187.

The driver, who holds a New Zealand licence, was also found to be driving an unregistered vehicle with no compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.

He will be bailed from the ACT Watch House later today to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (July 27) charged with various traffic offences, including drink-driving and furious/reckless/dangerous driving.