NYE’s dodgy SA drivers revealed as police say most people behaved themselves

A number of drink drivers were nabbed on SA roads – but police say a “majority of people” enjoyed themselves responsibly this New Year’s Eve. Here’s where they were caught.

South Australian police said a “majority of people” behaved themselves and were able to enjoy themselves responsibly this New Year’s Eve, but there were also some who did not.

There were five drivers on New Year’s Eve who didn’t play by the rules and decided to drink drive.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duvall said police had conducted over 5,600 driving tests and of those, 35 people tested positive to alcohol and 11 tested positive to drugs.

“The highest of those drink driving results was from a static RBT station at Seacliff Park where that person record a result of point 176.” Commissioner Duvall said.

Police said 89 people were arrested across the state, and 57 people reported.

“The majority of those included behavioural, traffic and drug possession offences,” said Assistant Commissioner Duvall.

SAPOL officers carry out random breath tests. Picture: File

“So overall, a very peaceful and a majority quiet night, which is great to see as we welcome in now 2023,

“There are always those that just can’t make good decisions and subject themselves to arrest or report but if you look at the numbers of people out enjoying themselves, really the numbers of arrests and reports really in a pro rata sense are quite low.”

There were a total of 171 traffic expiation notices issued and 179 general expiations issued, which include offences of possession of drugs, possessing or consuming alcohol in a dry zone and behavioural offences.

Commissioner Duvall said the offence range is “very difficult” to compare to last years.

“The offence range is very difficult to compare because last year, if I take for instance, we had 9,000 people at the cricket, this year we had 40,000. So we’ve chosen not to compare the two years because they’re quite different years.”

In a general sense, Commissioner Duvall said there are more offences than last year due to more people being out in public in a non-Covid environment.

SA Ambulance received 278 triple-0 calls between 8.00pm and 2.00am, which is five per cent less call outs than last New Year’s Eve.

SAAS’s incident count was also down by ten per cent compared to last year for the six hour period with the main types of cases seen being falls, sick person, breathing problems, chest pain, unconscious and lacerations.

The SA Ambulance Service 000 call centre. Picture: File

“We had additional ambulance crews working on the road and additional staff in our Emergency Operations Centre to ensure the community remained safe, knowing that after a few challenging years of COVID-19, locals would want to head out and celebrate at festivities across the state,” SAAS Operations Manager Chris Howie said.

SA’S DODGY NYE DRIVERS:

Seacliff Park

A driver produced a positive result of 0.176 from a static driver station at Seacliff Park.

Port Augusta

On Saturday morning an unlicensed 45 year old man submitted to a breath test and returned a positive reading of 0.181 after being stopped by police on Young Street in Port Augusta.

The Coober Pedy man was charged with drink driving and driving unlicensed. He was issued with a 12-month loss of licence and his car was impounded for 28 days.

He was bailed to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on January 23.

Coffin Bay

A teenage driver received a fine for drink driving on Saturday night.

About 9.30pm Coffin Bay Police conducted a mobile driver test on Sheppard Ave at Coffin Bay. The P plate driver was a 17-year-old boy from Arno Bay, who provided a positive breath test of 0.036.

The boy was issued an expiation notice for drink driving and breaching his probationary licence condition.

Elliston

A 63-year-old Hyde Park woman was reported for drink driving after being stopped by police at Elliston last night.

About 11.30pm police stopped a woman driving a Nissan 4WD on the Flinders Highway for a random mobile breath test.

The driver allegedly produced a blood alcohol reading of 0.100.

The woman was reported for drink driving and issued with a six-month instant loss of licence. She will be summoned to appear in court at a later date.

Seaton

A man was arrested after allegedly failing to stop and drink driving last night at Seaton.

Police noticed a care with a blown tyre on Tapleys Hill Road about 11.15pm and attempted to stop the driver but he refused.

The car was pursued a short distance before stopping on Alfred Street.

The driver was a 19-year-old man from Evanston Park who submitted to a breath test which returned a positive reading of 0.143.

He was arrested and charged with driving dangerously escape police pursuit, aggravated due care and drink driving. He lost his licence for six months on the spot and his car impounded for 28 days.

He was bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on February 14.

New Year’s Day stabbing at Davoren Park

A 28-year-old man from Paralowie was stabbed in Davoren Park in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police and ambulance officers were called to Bristol Crescent after reports a man was stabbed in the upper arm.

The man was treated at the scene and his injuries are not life threatening.

The suspect is not known to the victim and has been described as being caucasian, about 177cm tall with a slim build wearing all black clothing and a black hat.

Police searched the area but were unable to located the suspect.

Police are investigating the incident and anyone with information that may assist is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.