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A Queensland man has had his driving licence suspended following allegations that police discovered over a dozen empty beer cans in his vehicle during a traffic stop for speeding.
Officers were conducting a patrol on the Bruce Highway near Guthalungra, roughly 100 kilometers southeast of Townsville, when they intercepted a red Suzuki Swift at approximately 11:30 a.m. on January 17.
Authorities claim that the driver, a 53-year-old man from Craiglie, was clocked at a speed of 148 km/h in a zone restricted to 100 km/h.
Upon inquiry by police about his alcohol consumption, the man allegedly confessed to having “had a couple” of drinks.
Subsequent inspection of the vehicle reportedly revealed more than a dozen empty beer cans stashed under the driver’s seat, along with a chiller bag believed to contain additional empty cans.
He returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.111, police allege.
The man’s licence was immediately suspended and he was charged with driving while over the middle alcohol limit.
In addition to the charge, he was issued a traffic infringement notice for high-range speeding, fined $1919 and received eight demerit points.
“It is extremely dangerous to speed or get behind the wheel while you are impaired by an intoxicating substance which impacts your ability to judge distance, speed, reduces your coordination and concentration, and distorts your perception of time, place and space,” acting Senior Sergeant Ivey said.
“Road safety is a shared duty, and everyone who makes the decision to get behind the wheel has a responsibility to ensure everyone makes it home safe.”
About 30 minutes earlier, a 21-year-old Cairns man was found driving 157km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Bruce Highway at Inkerman about 11am on January 17, police allege.
He was issued a traffic infringement notice for high-range speeding, fined almost $2000 and received eight demerit points.