Operation Lockdown: Alleged drunk driver’s Macca’s mishap in police road safety blitz

More than 40 drink and drug drivers were busted on Geelong roads this weekend including a woman who allegedly blew 0.069 after she got stuck in a McDonald’s drive-through.

McDonald's in Geelong West. Photo: Google

A Geelong West woman has been disqualified from driving after she allegedly drove the wrong way through a McDonald’s drive-through on Friday night and got stuck.

The driver, 43, allegedly returned a positive preliminary breath test on the scene at the Geelong West McDonald’s, before accompanying police to the station where she allegedly blew 0.069.

The woman was fined $593 and disqualified from driving for three months.

She was one of 42 drivers busted for allegedly drink and drug driving in Geelong from Friday to Sunday.

Operation Lockdown coincided with the launch of the statewide Christmas and New Year blitz targeting impaired drivers.

Police said 23 people were caught drink driving locally. including one driver who allegedly blew 0.136, almost three times the legal limit.

Twenty were sprung allegedly drug driving.

More than 40 drink and drug drivers were busted in Geelong on the weekend in Operation Lockdown. Picture: Victoria Police

A 39-year-old Belmont man allegedly blew 0.065 after he drank in Melbourne, caught the train to Geelong and got behind the wheel to drive home.

A 31-year-old Charlemont man who allegedly blew 0.136 had his licence cancelled for 13 months and his vehicle impounded while a 34-year-old Newtown man who allegedly blew 0.122 had his licence cancelled for 12 months and his vehicle impounded.

Three probationary drivers who blew between 0.0 and 0.05 had their licenses suspended.

While heading to Geelong, state highway patrol detected a 37-year-old Coolaroo man allegedly driving at 172km/h.

His vehicle was impounded and he was released pending summons.

More than 40 drink and drug drivers were busted in Geelong on the weekend in Operation Lockdown. Picture: Victoria Police

Victoria Police data showed detections of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.050 and 0.099 rose six per cent from November to December last year.

First-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.05 and 0.07 will be fined $595 and have their licence immediately suspended for three months.

The penalties are even harsher for high-range and repeat offenders as well as those aged under 26 or who shouldn’t have any alcohol in their system at all.

Geelong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Travis Farnsworth said: “The vast majority of drink drivers were found with blood alcohol levels between 0.05 and 0.09, which suggests that many either misjudged their alcohol intake or chose to gamble with their safety after a few drinks.”

“Our message is clear – if you drink, do not drive,” he said.

“We know that impaired driving contributes to serious injury and fatal collisions so we are doing everything we can to detect and remove these drivers from our roads.”

Originally published as Operation Lockdown: Alleged drunk driver’s Macca’s mishap in police road safety blitz