Herbert Martin blew 0.35, as 37 drink and drug drivers caught as part of ‘selfish prick’ campaign

A magistrate said a drink driver’s monumental reading is close to the highest he’s seen, after 37 ‘selfish pricks’ were busted drink and drug driving on the weekend.

A drink driver’s reading has shocked a magistrate who said it’s close to the highest he’s ever encountered.

Herbert Jungarrayi Martin, 57, will be off the road for 20 months after he was pulled over by police for driving slowly and then blew a staggering reading.

A police prosecutor told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday that police pulled Martin over on Whitmore Square in Adelaide on June 1.

“Police observed the vehicle travelling at a slow speed,” the police prosecutor said

Martin was breathalysed and returned a reading of 0.35, which is seven times the legal limit.

The court heard Martin received an immediate 12-month licence disqualification.

Martin, of Adelaide, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to drink driving.

Philippa Jones, for Martin, told the court they realised it was a very high reading.

“Mr Martin doesn’t remember the circumstances around why he was driving on this occasion,” she said.

“He travelled down to Adelaide and around this time had been drinking a lot.

“It appears that the only reason police pulled him over was that he was driving in a slow manner, not in any dangerous way.”

Ms Jones asked for Magistrate Simon Smart to consider the minimum licence disqualification.

Magistrate Simon Smart said Herbert Martin’s reading of 0.35 was one of the highest he had ever encountered. Picture: iSTOCK

“I’m not sure it’s the highest but it’s very close to the highest reading I’ve ever encountered,” Mr Smart replied.

“The minimum kicks in at 0.15, he’s 0.35 and so from the point of view of someone pleading guilty to 0.15 they might be somewhat aggrieved that they get the same as someone who was 0.35. It has to reflect the degree of intoxication.”

Mr Smart convicted Martin, fined him $1100 and disqualified him from driving for 20-months.

“If you drive and breach that disqualification anywhere in Australia, you’ll go to jail,” he said.

Martin’s sentence comes after police detected 37 “selfish pricks” either over the legal blood alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs.

From 7am Sunday to 7am Monday police conducted 5344 breath tests with 20 positive results recorded.

During the same period, 63 drug tests were conducted with 16 drivers returning a positive result to either methamphetamine or cannabis.

Eight vehicles were impounded and 11 drivers immediately lost their licence.

Superintendent and officer-in-charge of traffic services Bob Gray says the drivers demonstrated a lack of respect for their own lives and for other drivers on the road.

“These selfish people have chosen their own convenience over the safety of everyone on the road, they should consider themselves fortunate that they were caught before they caused serious harm or worse, death,” he said.

“Police will not tolerate drink or drug driving and will continue to target selfish drivers who make stupid decisions.”